Tyabb Airshow

Airfix 1/72 North American F-86F/E(M) Sabre

 

I've always loved the Sabre and had the opportunity to work on them during my Air Force training days as a technician, as well as see an airworthy example fly at various air shows for several years. 

Having picked up this kit secondhand at a club Swap & Sell, I initially intended to build it out of the box. However, as anyone who knows me, I couldn't resist seeing if there were any after market bits available and ended up purchasing an Eduard etch set (ED SS397), Eduard canopy masks (ED CX295), Reskit wheels (RS72-0078), Pavla ejection seat and a Flightdecs decal sheet (FLD72-04), just to improve things a little.

Overall, the kit was an absolute joy to build, only requiring some gaps to be filled on the lower wing to fuselage join and around the speed brake housing, as it seemed that the latter were designed to be displayed in the open position, rather than closed. With everything cleaned up and in place, the model was then masked and primed with SMS Camo Black (AUSCAM-FS37038), followed by an application of AK Extreme Metal Aluminium (AK479) on the underside and drop tanks. With the underside masked, the upper surface colours were then applied using SMS PL72 Insignia White (FS17875), SMS PL174 Blue Angels Blue (FS15050), SMS PL77 Forest Green (FS34079) and SMS PL56 Dark Sea Grey (RAL7031).

Painting completed, the model was then given an overall coat of Mr Hobby Mr. Super Clear UV Cut Gloss and once dry the decals were applied, followed by a dark grey panel line wash. The model was then given a final coat of Mr. Super Clear UV Cut Semi-Gloss to seal everything in. It was then just a matter of fitting the undercarriage and doors, the drop tanks and the intake and exhaust covers and with that the model was done. This really was an enjoyable project and a kit that I would highly recommend.    

 

Tamiya 1/48 Dornier Do335A Pfeil

 

Although I've built quite a few Tamiya kits, this was definitely one of the easiest and most satisfying builds I have done to date. However, like any kit that I build I did add a number of after market additions to it, consisting of an Aires cockpit set (AIRE4101), Master Models pitot tube and gun barrels (MR48-146), Quickboost exhausts (QB49020), Reskit wheels (RS48-0331), Eduard canopy masks (EDEX101) and a set of Montex masks (MM48082), with the latter only used for the painting of the main markings.

The build of the kit was very straight forward, presented no major challenges, and everything cleaned up without the need for any filler. Amazing! As a consequence, I soon had the model masked up, primed and ready for a coat of colour. For this I used SMS paints throughout, consisting of RLM02 Grau (PL179), RLM65 Hellblua (PL184), RLM70 Schwartgrun (PL185), RLM81 Braunviolett (PL192) and RLM82 Lichtgrun (Pl193). However, after spraying the underside with the Hellblua, the colour looked too dark with a greenish tinge to it, which I wasn't happy with. As a solution, I decided to overspray each individual panel with a very dilute mix of Gunze RLM65 Hellblua (H67), leaving the edges slightly darker, which ended up looking a lot better, and I was much happier with.

When it came to spraying the topside colours, I wasn't happy with the RLM81 Braunviolett colour, as it looked much too dark compared to my references. As a consequence, I ended up mixing it with some other colours until I was happy with the final shade, which does look a lot better. With the painting completed, I then applied the main markings using the Montex masks, which was then followed with an overall coat of Gunze, Mr Super Clear UV Cut Gloss. The few kit decals that I used were then applied, followed by a panel line wash and lastly an overall coat of Gunze, Mr Super Clear UV Cut Flat. It was then just a matter of removing the canopy masks, applying a coat of Future to them and then carrying out the final assembly of parts, and it was job done.

I decided not to do any weathering to this model, as the real aircraft never saw any active service during World War 2 and only conducted less than a dozen evaluation flights before it was captured by the American's.   

 

Antique Aeroplane Association of Australia Fly-in (Corowa)