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+Mission Accomplished+ Airfix Aichi D3A1 'Val'


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As some of you may already have noticed, I am not a fast builder 🐌

So, what better to do than attempt to build a kit in a weekend :nuts:

 

I will try to complete a 'simple' kit in the allotted time therefore without further ado, I give you the Airfix Aichi D3A1 "Val"

 

 

 

Blitz 1

 

In the first session today, The interior was slathered in paint and some of the other parts given a blast of car primer.

The wings were also assembled

 

Blitz 1

 

Just under 4 hours although there were several breaks to do real-life stuff, and eat.

 

Afternoon session to follow shortly.

 

/P

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Round 2

 

Blitz 2

 

Pilots and seats painted, along with the wheels

some cleanup work to get rid of seam lines and flash

 

The crew are now in their office, and the fuselage is joined up

Wings attached, probably needs some filler

Landing gear assembled.

 

Blitz 2

 

2 hours & 10 minutes, meaning around 6 hours in total so far.

I doubt I'll get any more time today

 

More soon(ish)

/P

 

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23 hours ago, Enzo Matrix said:

I always wanted to build one, back in the day

I have to admit it was never one of the kits on my radar back in my yoof

Don't know why, it's not too bad (although see my updates below :cry:

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Day 2, Sunday

Part 1 - Morning

 

I saw a supporting cast in @Hockeyboy76 Little H's build and @Enzo Matrix menrioned Kiss, so I thought I'd see if I could get them to tag along

 

Blitz 3

 

I spent a little over an hour sticking most of the plane together. 

There are some gaps at the wings and tail which need a smidgin of filler, but it fitted reasonably well for a kit of it's era.

 

When I stopped for lunch, it was mostly complete.

 

 

Blitz 3

 

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Day 2, Sunday

Part 2 - Afternoon

 

I settled down after lunch to try to get ready for primer later in the day.

Mr. Dissoved putty was dribbled into the gaps then somoothed over with a cotton bud moistened with MLT (no pictures of this step)

 

Then I spent an hour or so cutting little squares and triangles of masking tape.

These were duly placed on the cockpit.

 

All went well until I started to burnish them down.

That's when disaster struck

 

Blitz 3

 

This is not good, but I think I can salvage it

 

The greenhouse has been attached to the plane with Kristal Klear and the broken part attached in the same way. I'll let that cure until tomorrow.

Hopefully that will allow me to prime in the morning, paint i the afternoon and get the stickers on.

It's not going to be a masterpiece

 

/P

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Day 3: Monday

Part 1: Morning

 

Blitz 4

 

The repair to the canopy went better than expected, although it's not the greatest fix-up ever

 

Blitz 4

 

The reast of the greenhouse was stuck in place and some gaps filled with Kristal Kleer

That was allowed to cure then primer was blasted 

 

Blitz 4

Another 2 hours or therabouts

Break for lunch while the primer dries, then on to paint.......

 

/P

 

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Day 3: Monday

Part 2: Afternoon

 

Blitz 4

 

Ready for paint

It was sprayed with VMA IJN Medium Grey for the main colour and hairy-sticked with Model Colour for the other bits.

 

This is the only intermediate pic I took

 

Blitz 4

 

 

 

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1 hour ago, Jinxman said:

Seeing these old Airfix Classics getting built up makes it difficult not to add them the stash - it looks great.

They are very tempting. This one was "just to make up the numbers" on an order.

With a bit of effort (more than I gave it this time) it would probably build up into a decent model

Scalemates shows inital release as 1965, so it's the same age as me. I'm fraying a bit at the edges as well :)

 

/P

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Day 3: Monday

Part 3: afternoon

 

Paint has dried enough to start stickering

Blitz 4

 

A quick coat of Gauzy Agent (I don't have Klear) on the places where decals will go

There's not too many and thankfully no stencils

They went on fine with the aid of Micro Set/Sol

 

Blitz 4

 

Then the grand unmasking and the last few parts were added

 

Blitz 4

 

I gave it a quick slather with Dull Cote to even it up. 

I'm calling this finished

 

Mission Accomplished :happy:

 

Total time: a smidgin under 14 hours

Pics in the gallery soon

 

/P

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  • psdavidson changed the title to +Mission Accomplished+ Airfix Aichi D3A1 'Val'
  • 3 weeks later...

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