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Post by Ianshaw on Mar 25, 2009 8:35:17 GMT
Part 7 The Navy version has progressed well this week, Andrew has now painted the engine and ignition leads.  Work has been completed on the Crewman's escape hatch, on the AD-5W the belly airbrake was removed and a hatch cut into the underside just aft of the wing trailing edge, the longtitudinal slot was where the airbrake actuator had been, this was not faired over.  The radome has now been attached using Araldite, partly as a gap filler and partly to ensure a strong bond. The radome was drilled and two brass rods used as plugs to locate it into two holes in the belly so the radome did not slip whilst the glue was drying.  All the white "bits" were sprayed white with Revell Gloss White 22 as Andrew considers this the brightest white available.  The final rub down has now been completed, cockpit masked ready for priming and the top coats.  The Marines version is also progressing well production is not far behind Andrew's, standby for some photos. Ian S |
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Post by Ianshaw on Apr 8, 2009 21:06:40 GMT
Part 8 The Navy version has progressed well this week, Andrew has now painted the engine and ignition leads. Work has been completed on the Crewman's escape hatch, on the AD-5W the belly airbrake was removed and a hatch cut into the underside just aft of the wing trailing edge, the longtitudinal slot was where the airbrake actuator had been, this was not faired over. The radome has now been attached using Araldite, partly as a gap filler and partly to ensure a strong bond. The radome was drilled and two brass rods used as plugs to locate it into two holes in the belly so the radome did not slip whilst the glue was drying. All the white "bits" were sprayed white with Revell Gloss White 22 as Andrew considers this the brightest white available. The final rub down has now been completed, cockpit masked ready for priming and the top coats. The Marines version is also progressing well production is not far behind Andrew's, standby for some photos. Ian S To continue, an update on the Marines version only this time. As you can see quite a lot of progress has been made. The wings are on and the panel lines have been scribed. The MB kit is apalling in this area, even the wing fold joint is in the wrong place. So quite alot of filler had to be used before the scribing can take place. The air intake for the Radar Operators compartment can be seen in the leading edge of the fin. The spare Tamiya horizontal stabilisers have been attached as has the Tamiya engine baffles inside the cowling.  Next I did a pre coat of the LifeLike Sea Blues FS15042, to see how it took, this was agin finally rubbed down as it showed up some of the post filling blemishes.  Next the radome was test fitted, drilled with 2 plastic dowels. Corresponding holes were then drilled in the belly and the radome glued on using 5 minute epoxy. This was for two reasons, firstly it gives time to locate it properly and secondly it dries with a very smooth finish that requires very little sanding if done right it gives a seamless joint. Now all the final detail was added. The trickiest was two small rails on the pilot's sliding canopy. I sawed off the MB pilot's hood as it is far too thick to slide over the middle hood. Luckily I had a Squadron acetate cockpit glasing available and with very careful cutting and application of thin plastic card framing was slotted very carefully into the aforemetioned rails. This part of the build went far beter than I expected and enables the cockpit detail to be seen clearly. Next the foot holds were added to the belly using thin brass rod, the fairing on the escape hatch, pitot tubes on the tail and under the wing , engine flap indicator rod on the upper cowl and the anti stall strips on the leading edge of the outboard wings. Then the canopies were attached with Gator glue and left to set. A couple of days later the leading edges and cowl top were sprayed with Tamiya Matt Sea Blue and masked along with the Matt Black wing walkways. The wing tips and tail top were now sparyed with Tamiya bright yellow and masked. Then the canopies were very carefully masked with Tamiya masking tape. I'd already decided that the white canopy stripes would be represented by white decal strips after painting. Then the panel lines were pre shaded with Matt Black.  Here is a shot of the belly after preshading . The wheel wells had been previously sprayed with Tamiya Zinc Chromate and masked with tissue.  The pre shading turned out to be a complete waste of time as the Blue was so dense it was totally obscured, I found that after spraying a coat thick enough to become semi gloss, the black had completely disappeared. Below is the beast after most of the masking had been taken off and after a coat of 50/50 Tamya Thinner and Gloss Varnish had been applied, I wish I could get this right as it always seems to be slightly tacky. The single drop tank has been added at this stage.  Now we are getting somewhere, this is the model after abot 4 hours of decalling. The white strips were tricky but worth it.  Another view showing the scratch built wind screen wiper, this took ages but the effect was worth it. I'm 95% there now, it still remains to attach the hook, insert the exhausts, and apply the serial number decals and prop decals (if I can find some ). I'm really pleased with the "Blue Room" as detail inside can still be made out, I glued a rail along the inside top of the rear hood with wiring and escape handle that can just be seen if you look closely at the model. She' starting to look good and looks very cool alongside the Royal Navy AD-4W. Well thats it from me for now, my next posting should be of the completed model. Ian |
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Post by Ianshaw on Apr 8, 2009 21:09:05 GMT
Whoops sorry here is the missing photo from the final paragraph.  Ian S. |
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Post by popeye on Apr 10, 2009 8:35:25 GMT
-- looks most impressive so far,
looking forward with anticipation to the final pics !
Rolf
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Post by COLIN SHIPTON-KNIGHT on Apr 10, 2009 19:37:12 GMT
Ian,
What can I say... They are starting to very good, most eye catching....
Look forward to seeing these.............
How are you doing for Decals? Need any thing else....
Colin
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Post by Ianshaw on Apr 12, 2009 17:43:41 GMT
Colin, Rolf
Thanks for the comments. Colin I could do with some 1/48 scale white stencils, such as "No Step" "No Hold" type ones and fuel filler type stencils if there are any in the library please. My next 1/48 build will be a Eduard Hellcat from USS Bunker Hill April 1945, a photo Recce bird with a camera aperture just behind the port wing root trailing edge. My plan is to do a Helldiver and Avenger from the same Air Group at the same time. I wish we could find some gen on the US Navy Photo Avengers but there's nothing in any of the books about them.
Ian S.
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Post by Ianshaw on Apr 22, 2009 9:15:34 GMT
Part 9 The Marines version is now complete, a few final details added. The small serial number decalling has been a nightmare trying to locate the right numerals. A final touch to the cockpit canopy was the upper rail guides on top of the mid section so the sliding hood fits properly, then the lightning conductor fibres on the trailing edges of the control surfaces. A final coat of Klear and then the aerial wires from fishing line. I'm hoping that Andrew will have the Navy version finished in the next few weeks so I can complete the final instalment. The wheel well detail, with a bit of staining.  The cockpit with the sliding hood open, it would be such a shame to obscure all that hard work.  The starboard side with the asymmetric drop tank, I wonder if this was to counteract some of the engine torque?  The port side, I'm really pleased with that windscreen wiper  A ground up shot.  The white strips around the cockpits were plain white decals strips cut to length, I bottled outon the painting. There are some white small stencilling items missing I admit but they were just not available to me so until I can find the right ones they will have to stay missing. I've decided to go for a factory fresh finish on this one and not go for massive exhaust staining, on checking photos it looks as if some crew chiefs regularly cleaned the staining off just leaving a little residue around the stubs. Overall I've enjoyed the build, it seems ages since I was moulding resin radomes from the Esci kit at Christmas. It's been a major challenge in a lot of respects, my first super detailed resin cockpit, and my first use of part of the acetate replacement canopy. The detailing of the wheel wells, most of which is hidden and the finish obtainable with my new Iwatha Eclipse Airbrush. I'm going to take a break from Skyraiders for a bit (there are still 4 more 1/72 versions to do). I think Andrew has the Skyraider bug though as he has relieved me of a Monogram 1/48th Sandy that he fancied building. My next project is going to be examples from the Air Group on the USS Bunker Hill when she was attacked by 2 Kamikaze's in 1945, starting with the Tamiya Corair which will be straight out of the box including decals. Then a photo recce Eduard Hellcat, an AM/Italeri Avenger and finally a Revell Helldiver, all in 1/48th again. I'll have to put a special order for Sea Blue Gloss paint in (again)! Ian S. |
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Post by Fatty on Apr 22, 2009 10:09:21 GMT
Wow looks great, have you a shot looking forward at the engine showing that detail?
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Post by popeye on Apr 22, 2009 14:04:49 GMT
Ian,
most impressive - looks superb !
Rolf
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Post by johnsheehan on Apr 22, 2009 18:17:43 GMT
Excellent model, well done!! It's been a very interesting build.
John
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Post by brianthemodeller on Apr 22, 2009 18:44:49 GMT
Thank you - thoroughly enjoyed watching this progress
Brian
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Post by Ianshaw on Apr 22, 2009 20:01:29 GMT
Fatty,
In answer to your question no I'm afraid, as this one was built with the cowling baffles closed so you cannot see the cylinders, however Andrew's Navy AD-5W will have a full view of the cylinders and engine you can see it complete with ignition wires before he installed it at the top of the page.
Cheers
Ian
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Post by Ianshaw on May 1, 2009 7:24:02 GMT
Part 10 Some updates from Andrew, he'd masked off the airframe fully ready for major colour application. Sprayed the major colours and removed the making.  This was along tedious stage as several areas had to be done speratley, the white , the grey then the silver leading edges and then the black wing tips and fin tips. He used Revell Gloss White and Gunge Sanyo for the rest. Next the basic decalling.   Follwed by an overall wash of the Pro Modeller black wash. After a polish up.  Next he is going to go for it with the staining and the weathering, I must admit though I really like the clean glossy finish and the hand painted squadron badges and stencils are superb, nice one Andrew. Ian S. |
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