shortCummins Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 I’m having an issue with motivation to continue my kit-bash build of a twin boomed, bi-plane Stuka, its been sitting on my desk for a couple of weeks and for some reason I can’t get “in gear” enough to move on with the build. It’s not as as I don’t know what or how I need to do “next” I’m not in the kit-bashing zone and with Christmas and New Year on the horizon I'm not going to be able to dedicate enough time to that build so I think I need another “straight forward” build to get the modelling juices flowing again. Last year my youngest gave me a birthday present of the Revell 1:48 Stearman PT-17 Kaydet and I thought this would be just the thing to get my mojo back? The kit gives you a couple of different schemes… US Navy US Army …however I want to do a slightly different scheme as I’m not too keen on either the all yellow or blue bodied versions. Trawling the old inter-webs I came across this scheme: I really like the light grey, I can use the kit decals for the fuselage band and ID numbers. Whilst searching for schemes I also found a Navy aircraft with the red, white and blue tail fin… …so I’ll probably opt for a tail like that, I think l may paint it rather than use the decals. As with most aircraft kits I’ll start with the cockpit. until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted November 23, 2021 Author Share Posted November 23, 2021 Revell give you moulded in/on seat harness’ that aren’t very good so I'll have to file them off and then I’ll replace them with some HGW paper/PE ones once the cockpit has been assembled. At the same time I bought some Yahu IPs I’ve got to say that I’m not a fan of the yellow plastic, another thing I’m not a fan of is that Revell have added their name and date to the rear wing, why not add it to the inside of the fuselage if they have to do that sort of thing? They have added their name to the inside of one of the wings… …and I assume that the factory? have added their mark to the other wing. For the first time, for me, I’ve decided to add some liquid mask to protect the join parts to save me the (little) effort of cleaning off paint later in the build to help with glue up. Next I’ll be preparing various parts for primer. until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted November 23, 2021 Author Share Posted November 23, 2021 My first task was to remove both the Revell text from the rear wing and also the moulded seat harness’. The yellow plastic makes it very difficult to see how “cleanly” the removals have been made so the seat were given a coat of black primer (the rear wing will be given a coat of white primer later in the build) Then I sprayed Stynylrez black primer on these and other parts. Next I’ll be adding some colour to these primed parts… until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k5054nz Posted November 23, 2021 Share Posted November 23, 2021 8 hours ago, shortCummins said: For the first time, for me, I’ve decided to add some liquid mask to protect the join parts to save me the (little) effort of cleaning off paint later in the build to help with glue up. I'd never heard of this before, what a clever idea! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted November 24, 2021 Author Share Posted November 24, 2021 14 hours ago, k5054nz said: I'd never heard of this before, what a clever idea! we'll see if it works or not, I've never tried it before Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted November 24, 2021 Author Share Posted November 24, 2021 Revell would have you use olive green and aluminium for the main cockpit colours so I started with Xtreme metal 481 polished aluminium for the aluminium. Once the aluminium had dried the internal ribs were masked and XF-62 olive drab was applied. I’ve yet to decide if I should paint the horizontal ribs, I know I should however I’m not going to mask and spray them, if I decide that they need painting then I’ll break-out a hairy stick and lay off the coffee for a couple of hours! Other parts were also sprayed with XF-62 Next I’ll be adding detail colours… until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted November 25, 2021 Author Share Posted November 25, 2021 Rather than mask and spray the horizontal ribs I decided to try my hand at hand painting them with vallejo 71.010 interior green. I didn’t bother with the ribs toward the rear of the fuselage as these won’t be seen, also I’m hoping that a pin wash will tidy up the edges of those that will be seen. The interior green was also used to highlight some of the frame. Also I used aluminium to dry brush the edges of the seats… …cockpit floor… …a rudder pedels. White was use as a base for the red fire extinguisher and control knobs. vallejo 70.957 red was applied once the white base had dried. The map case was brush painted with vallejo 70.983 flat earth. Next I’ll be giving everything a gloss coat and then applying a pin-wash… until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81-er Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 Nice progress so far John, I'll pull up a pew to follow the build. James 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted November 25, 2021 Share Posted November 25, 2021 Hi John Good to see you back with a build. This is a lovely kit and goes together very well. I did the Stearman display aircraft cession with cowling and wheel Spats, there is no issue with wing assembly either,, you can mount on the centre struts rig if using elastic thread and pop the interplane struts in at the end. Great start Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark.au Posted November 26, 2021 Share Posted November 26, 2021 That’s a fun kit. You’ve made a good start and I’m looking forward to how it turns out. I also went with a different scheme and found a couple pics which I tried to replicate. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did (I also hope you don’t mind me posting my pic, happy to remove if so). 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted November 26, 2021 Author Share Posted November 26, 2021 18 hours ago, 81-er said: Nice progress so far John, I'll pull up a pew to follow the build. James 16 hours ago, bigbadbadge said: Hi John Good to see you back with a build. This is a lovely kit and goes together very well. I did the Stearman display aircraft cession with cowling and wheel Spats, there is no issue with wing assembly either,, you can mount on the centre struts rig if using elastic thread and pop the interplane struts in at the end. Great start Chris thanks chaps nice tip on the struts Chris I hadn't thought that far ahead which is a bit silly when building a bi-plane. rgds John(shortCummins) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted November 26, 2021 Author Share Posted November 26, 2021 9 minutes ago, mark.au said: That’s a fun kit. You’ve made a good start and I’m looking forward to how it turns out. I also went with a different scheme and found a couple pics which I tried to replicate. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did (I also hope you don’t mind me posting my pic, happy to remove if so). thanks Mark I really like that scheme, I'm also going with a wooden prop, yours has come out really nice (the whole model not just the prop!) no problem with you posting a photo, more would be nice 😋 rgds John(shortCummins) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted November 26, 2021 Author Share Posted November 26, 2021 The interior was given a coat of gloss and then Tamiya panel line dark brown was applied. After 20 minutes or so the excess was cleaned… I dry-brushed the map case… …and switch box and controls. Foot pedals and tubular frame were dry-brushed to add some wear and tear. After adding a dull coat next I’ll be assembling the cockpit… until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark.au Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 Coming along nicely, you do fine detail work, I especially like the satchel on the seat back.. 12 hours ago, shortCummins said: I really like that scheme, I'm also going with a wooden prop, yours has come out really nice (the whole model not just the prop!) no problem with you posting a photo, more would be nice 😋 Thank you John. One more then; The prop was actually the kit decal, it worked out really nicely and much better than I could have achieved with a paint brush. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunny Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 Looks like a strong start John - good to see you back! Cheers, Roger 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted November 27, 2021 Author Share Posted November 27, 2021 10 hours ago, mark.au said: Coming along nicely, you do fine detail work, I especially like the satchel on the seat back.. Thank you John. One more then; The prop was actually the kit decal, it worked out really nicely and much better than I could have achieved with a paint brush. if I'd have seen your scheme I'd have been very tempted, you've done a cracking job. my kit doesn't have the propeller decals so I'll have to paint it. 10 hours ago, Dunny said: Looks like a strong start John - good to see you back! Cheers, Roger thanks Roger so far this has been a very enjoyable build rgds John(shortCummins) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted November 27, 2021 Author Share Posted November 27, 2021 Time to see if making the connectors worked. So-far so good, peddles and controls fitted… Revell would have you paint the firewall iron however when I opened my bottle of Mr Color iron I found that the little that was left had solidified so I substituted vallejo 77.723 exhaust manifold. I can’t do much more to the cockpit until I receive the harness’ and Yahoo IP’s, Hannants posted them last Tuesday so hopefully they’ll arrive early next week, so while I’m waiting next I’ll be doing bits’n’pieces on the engine… until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted November 28, 2021 Author Share Posted November 28, 2021 Various engine parts were given a coat of Xtreme metal 481 polished aluminium. The gearbox cover was painted with Alkan FS:35237 medium grey/blue, and the rocker covers and cylinder bases black. This part of the engine was painted vallejo 77.723 exhaust manifold These should be anthracite, according to Revell, however I painted it 77.711 magnesium as I don't have anthracite and magnesium is dark metallic. The pushrods where painted vallejo 77.707 chrome Various exhaust parts were painted wit a mixture of vallejo 70.814 burnt red and 77.711 magnesium Once the paint had dried some vallejo pigments were applied, 73.206 burnt Sienna, 73.207 dark red ocher and 73.220 burnt umber which were all “fixed” with VMS weathering carrier. Next I’ll be making a start on the propellor… until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted November 28, 2021 Share Posted November 28, 2021 Excellent progress John the cockpit internals look great fella as does the engine, I found mixing Gun metal, copper and humbrol 98(dark brown) makes a pleasing exhaust colour with a hint of metallic. I have used that on the Anson collectors and pipes and the effect is good . Great work as usual Chris 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted November 28, 2021 Author Share Posted November 28, 2021 4 hours ago, bigbadbadge said: Excellent progress John the cockpit internals look great fella as does the engine, I found mixing Gun metal, copper and humbrol 98(dark brown) makes a pleasing exhaust colour with a hint of metallic. I have used that on the Anson collectors and pipes and the effect is good . Great work as usual Chris thanks Chris I've stored that for future use rgds John(shortCummins) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted November 28, 2021 Share Posted November 28, 2021 No worries John Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted December 2, 2021 Author Share Posted December 2, 2021 To start the “wood effect” paintwork on the propellor I first applied a coat of Stynylrez white primer Followed by a base coat of MRP-015 AMT-1 light brown “Normally” I would mask and spray the laminations for the propellor however as you can see from this reference photo… …the laminations appear not to be different woods and only have a dark line to show them, so I decided to try and “hand paint” these lines with some vallejo 70.828 woodgrain. I’m not too happy with the result but once the rest of the “colour” is added to the prop’ I’m guessing these won’t be too noticeable? Revell supply decals for the coloured tips however I decided to paint these with Tamiya XF-81 dark RAF green The fixing plate and metal leading edges where painted vallejo 77.717 dull aluminium So after the green and metal colours have been added I decided the I didn’t like the laminations so I masked them off and gave the “wood” a light coat of MRP-015 to “dull down” the woodgrain. I’m sure if I like the “woodgrain” even now its been somewhat muted, I’m going to leave it for now and possibly re-visit (start again) in a day or so? Next I’ll be assembling the engine… until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted December 4, 2021 Author Share Posted December 4, 2021 Tamiya panel liner black was used on the engine blocks. Exhaust attached to the engine mount JHC_0695a by John Cummins, on Flickr Ignition/plug wiring made from lead wire attached and painted with a mix of vallejo yellow, grey and red The propellor was then attached by gluing this washer/stop to the rear of the shaft, I used contacta glue rather than extra thin as I wanted to allow the propellor to spin. I’ll add the propellor logo decals later on the build. Next the push rods were a fixed in place… This is a little strange as Revell have placed these at the rear of the engine, the reference photos I’ve seen have them at the front. Front and back engine sub-assemblies were the joined. I’m not sure if any of this will be seen once the engine is bolted onto the front of the airframe? Next I’ll be attempting to put together the HGW fabric harness’, they look very, very fiddly… until next time as always, any suggestions, criticisms or comments will be gratefully received. rgds John(shortCummins) 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted December 4, 2021 Share Posted December 4, 2021 Looks good John great work, that's a bit of a wierd error for Revell to make on the engine with the pushrods etc. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shortCummins Posted December 4, 2021 Author Share Posted December 4, 2021 2 hours ago, bigbadbadge said: Looks good John great work, that's a bit of a wierd error for Revell to make on the engine with the pushrods etc. Chris there must be different engines with the pushrods at the rear, I've seen examples where the exhaust pipes appear to be "in front" of the engine... ...perhaps the whole block could be fitted either way, so who knows? rgds John(shortCummins) 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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