Started 1 Apr 2006
This build started with me buying a set of Superscale decals at Scale Model World 2005. The kit was kindly donated by Creighton Henthorn. This will be my entry into the 2006 ARC Heavies Group Build.
9 Apr 2006
Parts cleanup completed, and assembly in progress. Cockpit and cargo hold built up and I will start joining the fuselage halves today. I didn't do much to the interior except paint the basic colours, as the cargo doors will be closed up and the clear parts don't allow you to see much when in place.
16 Apr 2006
Fuselage assembled, wings and horizontal stabilizers now fitted. Whilst attaching the wings the top fuselage seam opened up so I had to go back and redo the seam cleanup. Prior to the fuselage seam cleanup I had fitted the cockpit windshield and masked all the clear parts. During this process I managed to push in two of the right hand side windows. I will use either Clearfix or PVA glue to create new windows when nearly complete. I just need to add the upper vents on the engine nacelles and she will be ready for her primer coat.
Attached the vents on the engine nacelles and then into the paint shop. For this build I tried out the often mentioned method of using Mr Surfacer 1200, thinned with Cellulose thinners, as a primer base. After an hour of drying, I wipe the surface down with Micromesh - can you say "smooth as a baby's bum".
I had finally finished masking the props, so whilst in the paint shop I sprayed the tips with Humbrol #154 (Chrome Yellow) and the cuffs and deicer boots with Humbrol #33 (Matt Black). Unfortunately with the arrangement of the props in the styrofoam being top heavy, they dropped to the floor, and one prop blade was nearly broken off. A quick trip back to the bench, a touch of CA, and back to the paint shop to finish off the repair. I can't tell which one was damaged now.
17 Apr 2006
Masking removed from the prop blades...
and the main paint process has begun. Results of 3 light coats of Tamiya TS-26 [Pure White]. Unforunately the spray can was nearly empty when I started, and the only local hobby shop that stocks the Tamiya spray cans isn't open until tomorrow.
25 Apr 2006
I went to my local hobby shop and bought some more white and also bought the Tamiya Chrome Yellow [TS-47] and what I thought was Blue [TS-15].
I finished off the white and after leaving to cure for a day I commenced with the masking. I tried my usual method of decanting the Tamiya Yellow into my airbrush, but I couldn't get a decent finish So I sanded it back and applied straight from the can. I then left this to cure for a day, and started to mask again.
Next day I start to spray the Blue which I thought was TS-15 - turns out it was Dark Blue TS-55. I didn't notice until I had brought the kit back to the photo area. So off I went again to the Hobby shops - no one had any TS-15.
So Sunday night I went to the Models in Motion web and ordered from there. They turned up this morning, so back to the paint shop, and a quick couple of coats, and set down in the photo area to cure.
After a couple of hours I then removed the masking. There are a few areas that need touching up, but it seems OK to me.
30 Apr 2006
Remaining masking removed and all decals applied. The Superscale decals went on nice enough, however there doesn't seem to be enough backing on the yellows and the white on the US Insignia is slightly translucent. I have only used Micro set on the decals.
Tomorrow after I have cleaned up the setting solution/watermarks, I will try and repair the nose landing gear.
I have just pushed on the props for the photo.
I managed to replace the broken section of the nose landing gear using metal and plastic tubing, unfortunately on fixing the wheels and placing it on the bench, it immeadiately sat on its tail. I had to remove the nose wheels and pour in some more weight into the front of the nose wheel bay to get it sit straight.
Once that problem was sorted, I attached the nose wheels back on and glued the landing gear doors. The exhausts where sprayed with Alclad Jet exhuast and attached. The last step was to spray the antenna and nose probes with Alclad Steel, attach some 0.2mm wire between the fuselage antennas and tail, and shes done.
