825 Posted April 17, 2021 Share Posted April 17, 2021 Here's my first contribution to the GB. The strangely configured Beech Staggerwing which I'll be building as a Fleet Air Arm Traveller MkI. The boxing gives 4 options, an RAF, FAA (it does say RAF but the Royal Navy ID over the serial sort of gives it away), Finish and Chinese Nationalist options. Mine will be the FAA option in the US blues. Obligtaory sprue shot. Single sprue with minimal flash and most things reasonably well moulded but only time will tell. Nice transfer sheet and two tiny transparency sprues. And typical AZ instruction sheet showing vaguely where things go. Though to be fair on the other side there is a rigging diagram. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted April 18, 2021 Share Posted April 18, 2021 Welcome, ah yes, the old "guess the correct positioning" instructions. Always makes things intersting! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted April 18, 2021 Share Posted April 18, 2021 Hmm. One I missed but have built the Sword version that was around before this AZ kit, Look forward to seeing this done. Also it looks to be the exact same plastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted April 18, 2021 Author Share Posted April 18, 2021 Some paint on to the interior and detail parts. The moulding is a bit mixed, there were a lot of big ejection pins on the other side which have been sanded down. Some parts are nicely moulded while others are a bit chunky and/or a fair bit of flash. The mould gates are substantial, especially on the smaller parts. In general I find AZ kits good for fit and shape but need a bit of care when cleaning up. This is modelling isn't it. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted April 24, 2021 Author Share Posted April 24, 2021 Started to assemble the cockpit, the plastic is quite hard so produces a fair amount of dust when tidying up. Anyway seats and side in. I'll do some dry brushing to lift the colour of the leather. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandboof Posted April 24, 2021 Share Posted April 24, 2021 interesting choice watching Martin H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul J Posted April 25, 2021 Share Posted April 25, 2021 Nice so far. How is it coming along? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted May 1, 2021 Author Share Posted May 1, 2021 On 4/24/2021 at 12:31 PM, Grandboof said: interesting choice watching Martin H Thanks Martin On 4/25/2021 at 7:59 PM, Paul J said: Nice so far. How is it coming along? Had a busy old week at work so not much time at the modelling bench Paul. But some work done today. Interior completed with the addition of seat belts from Tamiya tape, engine and cowling assembled and clear parts dipped in Kleer. Small windows inserted and then the fuselage closed up. Took a little bit of care but went slowly but surely along the seams and wee bit of tape to close over the cockpit roof. I'll leave overnight to firm up before seeing if some filler is needed. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted May 2, 2021 Author Share Posted May 2, 2021 Lower wings, tail plane and engine on and some filler around the joints. Starting to look like an aeroplane. I'll paint the airframe at this point before putting the upper wings on. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted May 9, 2021 Author Share Posted May 9, 2021 The underside has a few coats of white on and looks about done. However despite being filled, sanded and polished to within an inch of its life that seam is still sticking out like a sore thumb. White is very unforgiving. I'll have to do something about it. I'm now thinking I'll have to some more work on this seam too. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted May 16, 2021 Author Share Posted May 16, 2021 Cleaned up the seams and after a few coats the white is complete. Masked off the white areas and a first coat of intermediate blue laid down. I'll leave the upper wing off until I've finished painting get the main body of the aircraft. I know some touching up will be needed but it's better than trying to squeeze a paint brush in between the wings. I bought a couple of Citadel blues to see if I can get a reasonable match for non specular Sea Blue and layered them onto the wing. Here they are from the fuselage out Kantor Blue, Leviadon blue over Kantor blue and Leviadon blue alone. I'm thing the combination is probably closest. The Leviadon blue looks just about right in the bottle. Anyway best get on with the intermediate blue. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted May 23, 2021 Author Share Posted May 23, 2021 Intermediate blue finished, but there's been a fair amount of tidying up of joints along the top between coats. I'll remove the masking and then mask up for the Dark Sea Blue. Coming along but taking time. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted May 28, 2021 Author Share Posted May 28, 2021 This stage of painting finished. I'm waiting to think whether to get the transfers on and the canopy finished before getting the upper wings on. Or get the wings on. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted May 30, 2021 Author Share Posted May 30, 2021 Decided to put the transfers on. The IP was popped in and fixed too. Dipped the canopy halves in Kleer and fitted one side. It took a little bit of gentle sanding to get to fit. Lifted it up to put second side in and thought the better of it. Best leave well alone until the first side is firm. The fit of the side windows is not great, but they'll be under the top wing so I'm not sorry worried. The canopy on the other hand is very prominent so it's important to get right. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted May 31, 2021 Author Share Posted May 31, 2021 It took a long time to get here no it's the best I can achieve, although close up photos are cruelly perceptive. Thankfully there's a frame that runs down the centre so hopefully that'll hide the join. I have filled the join with Krystal Klear so it should be almost smooth. Checking on photos for the framing layout there are a couple of internal frames on some Travellers but I'll have to forego them. There's no way I'm taking the canopy off and trying to re-fit it. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted June 2, 2021 Author Share Posted June 2, 2021 Framing done and unmasked. next step is to add the upper wing, but it'll need another coat of white on the underside. Then the undercarriage which is pretty complex, the doors are moulded as a single piece and there doesn't appear to be any locating points for the tail wheel. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted June 4, 2021 Author Share Posted June 4, 2021 Upper wings on and a first coat of paint. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted June 6, 2021 Author Share Posted June 6, 2021 Paint on upper wing completed and a layer of Kleer to give a gloss finish for the upper wing roundels. Then the undercarriage started, took less effort than expected though it did take a while to clean up the parts. I've also added a strip of plastic strip into the tail wheel aperture, I'd visions of the tail wheel disappearing into the void and being lost inside for ever. I'll also use plastic strip for the tail wheel doors as the kit part, as well as needing sawn into two halves, is really thick and the strip will look better. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted June 8, 2021 Author Share Posted June 8, 2021 Undercarriage on as well as prop. More or less finished apart from some touching up, varnishing and some rigging. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted June 9, 2021 Share Posted June 9, 2021 Excellent build, I always look at this and think the wing is on backwards! Well done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted June 20, 2021 Author Share Posted June 20, 2021 On 6/9/2021 at 2:56 PM, Brad said: Excellent build, I always look at this and think the wing is on backwards! Well done. It does look a little odd doesn't it. I've added a little bit of rigging. The wires should be duplicated but I'm not sure I have the patience. Just a little bit of touching up to do, as well as deciding what to do with the Sea Blue. On combat aircraft it was semi gloss on the wings and fuselage sides and non specular (pretty much matt) on the leading edges and along the fuselage spine. The leading edges are straightforward enough but there isn't a spine just a flat top to the fuselage. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
825 Posted June 27, 2021 Author Share Posted June 27, 2021 Fnished 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CliffB Posted June 27, 2021 Share Posted June 27, 2021 It's always nice to see a Staggerwing - an unlikely looking, but beautiful aircraft Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brad Posted June 28, 2021 Share Posted June 28, 2021 I like it in the unusual colours, nice work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandboof Posted July 2, 2021 Share Posted July 2, 2021 Well done Looks great Martin H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now