H ello to all fellow
scale modelers. I have built this model for a group-build about the Vietnam War
in the Greek forum Modelclub.gr.
I like this plane a lot and in the past I have
built the G Wild Weasel version from Trumpeter too in SEA camo. This time I
wanted to do the full metal version of it. The kit is very good and the only disadvantage is that there are only decals for the cockpit. So I decided to use
the photoetched set from Eduard for the cockpit and the resin seat from Pavla. I
prefer the resin seat instead of the kit's seat dressed up with the Eduard's
parafenalia. The photoetched cockpit is colored and self-adhesive. I also wanted
to do the cover they used on the instrument panel as I have seen it in other
models on the web. I used Tamiya's epoxy putty for this.
Click on
images below to see larger images
After the
assembly, time for painting! I wanted to use the Alclad metallic shades for
this. I sprayed first Tamiya's gloss black as a base. Then I first sprayed
the model white aluminium and then masking and masking and remasking
various panels and spraying, aluminium, dark aluminium, mix of aluminium
and dark aluminium, and polished aluminium. I wanted to put bombs in the
"belly" of the plane and the fuel tanks under the wings along
with two bullpups. Trumpeter doesn't give this inside the box, although
its on the artwork of the box. It gives a central tank for the "belly".
So I used the MER from a Hasegawa kit along with the M117 bombs, instead
the MK82 that are in the Trumpeter kit. The "carrier" of the MER
is from a Fujimi kit.
I used Tamiya's
olive drab for the green color. After the painting, I put the decals, which are
forming very well on the surface. I didn't want to use any gloss or flat clear
because I didn't want to affect the finish of the Alclad shades. This put me in
a bit of trouble when I applied the dark wash from Mig Products for that
"used" look. It needed a lot of time to dry properly and allow me to
work on it without taking all off. After, I assembled all the small parts that
were left aside and put that beautiful photoetched ladder from Eduard again.
I
like this plane a lot as I mentioned before, and I really enjoyed the
construction. I hope you will enjoy it too.
Sakis
Georgiadis
Click on
images below to see larger images
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