Yes ,we have no Bananas, but we do have a Flying Banana (Italeri 1/48 Hup-21) Today! FINISHED!

[LorenSharp]

This will fit with many of the test aircraft on the shelves. So the first thing to paint will be the white. Once this dries good I start masking off for the Orange, black and blue parts.

With the high humidity I may have to let this cure for a few days After painting then I'll begin the process of adding the foil to the panels.

And as I was saying earlier, You don't get to see much of the interior once sealed.

So there you go, a lot done but not a lot if that makes sense. I think I've got a better rotational sequence  on the update of all these builds of late. So Stay safe and Stay healthy..

[heloman1]

Good work gong on hear, I have too many other builds on the go to start my kit! Re the interior, I have a surgeon friend up In Johannesburg, who took me into the operating theatre and used a scope to take photos of mine. I'll see if I can find then. They looked rather realistic.

 

Colin

[LorenSharp]

Once the upper white surface cured overnight, time to begin masking for the orange stripes. Nice thing about plastic shopping bags, they make great lightweight  coverings for large areas. Paint can't seep through conforms to compound curves better than news paper.

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Leaving the forward and aft spots where the stripes will go, plus the section for the USAF decal lettering.

A few light coats of international orange for the stripes and Insignia blue for the tail and stabilizers.

Almost "Coast Guardish"

[LorenSharp]

Now for the REAL fun!  Applying foil. Actually not that bad, just time consuming because I'm doing this panel by panel in separate pieces. The reasoning behind it is I can vary the panel by its grain. some up and down and some side to side. Using a cotton bud to smooth everything down then a few light swipes with fine steel wool. again sometimes with the grain others not. Or since I'm swiping in one direction, going in the opposite direction will also give a different light reflecting quality. Then with cotton bud again in hand I buffed narrow bands up and down to give the illusion of the internal ribbing. Once all of this is covered and before I start adding more bits ,I'll brushed thinned OIly black on the rivets to bring out more detail

Starting aft and worked my way forward panel by panel.

A little something to pass the hours away on a quiet, except for thunderstorms, Sunday. Get this all covered and before the weathering a coat of clear varnish to seal everything down. he back to adding teeny tiny P/E bits. Almost looks like a banana that flies.

[heloman1]

I'm liking the foil work Lauren, excellent result. Gonna' look great!

 

Colin

[LorenSharp]

On 5/24/2022 at 1:09 PM, heloman1 said:

I'm liking the foil work Lauren, excellent result. Gonna' look great!

 

Colin

Thanks Colin, Nothing does a metallic finish like foil. though it is a pain to apply and get to stick especially on the edges. That being said looks like I'm getting down to the final nitty gritty.

[LorenSharp]

Speaking of which, after getting the foil on and getting it to stick, more or less, I added to landing gear and assembled to rotors.

 

[LorenSharp]

The rotors are just stuck on for effect. I add them permanently last.

Then I used some thin automotive thin pin striping tape to make a black border separating the white upper from the metallic lower portion.

Now for the decals and  lot of stencils. Most of which I can barely see..

For the most part I used to kits decals with the exception of the tail numbers which I cobbled together  from my spares and the Edwards Test Center Flash I took from an extra set slated for a B-58 that's I'll get to one day... maybe.

Once these are dry I'll give everything a coat of clear lacquer to seal everything up and then the finals. adding the rest of the photo etch and last of the small bits I didn't want breaking off and losing. With luck this should be in the bag and the RFI by tomorrow.

So until tomorrow same Bat Time, Sane Bat Channel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[LorenSharp]

My final log entry on this little build. After giving everything a couple of light coats of clear varnish I set about adding the last of the P/E and other detail. The rear view mirrors,

Hatches and crane assembly,

Sliding windows, the Starboard side I managed to lose the side glass so I cut a piece out of some spare flat plastic I had and rolled the plastic around my finger until I had a proper curve then masked and painted the window frame on.

Then used some .45mm silver beading wire to make hoist cabling for the underneath.

And added the engine compartment hatches

[LorenSharp]

 And there you have it. one less unbuilt kit in the stash. Overall not a bad little kit. the worst parts were some of the bulkheads and the cockpit glass not fitting too well. But that was overcome with some choice words and some explosives( just a little bit)

Thanks for following along and especially for all the words of encouragement, suggestions, and general silliness. Don't know what I'll get into next, but whatever it will be will definitely be interesting. SO until then, Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, and Model On! 

The RFI images have been posted.

[heloman1]

Well done Lauren, looks great. Need to look at my kit sometime but too many other projects in the WIP pile!!!

 

Colin

[Terry1954]

Lovely work there Lauren. The subject offers so many colourful schemes and you have chosen such a striking one. Using foil that way must have been quite a challenge but the result was worth it!

 

Terry