Portuguese
Air Force in
Guinea
1966
This
is my model for a Portuguese Gina when they were pressed into just after being
received from the West Germany's Luftwaffe between 1965 and 1966. The "5417" belonged to the
"Tigres"
Squadron based in Bissablanca Guinea, during the African colonial war.
THE
KIT
This
kit is very basic. All panel lines are raised and very simple; wheel bays were
simple holes and landing gear was barely usable. Only one type of underwing fuel
tanks were included, for the Italian A.F. Acrobatic version, and it lacked of
the additional weapon pylons.
For
all this, I decided to close wheel bays and represent the plane in flight. I
made the cockpit tube, bulkhead and control panels with plasticard and took a
seat from a Heller Mirage (which tried to resemble a Martin Baker Mk4). For the
very first time, I rescribed some of the most visible panel lines in upper
fuselage and wings, to learn how to do this in future. The nose air intake and
jet exhaust interior were blocked with platicard pieces placed deep inside and
painted in flat black. After painting remaining interior details and adding a
jet pilot from the spares box, I joined fuselage halves and put wings in place.
Extensive application of putty and sanding was required to fill gaps and delete
seam lines.
Bomb
pylons were also scratchbuilt and attached. M114 General Purpose bombs were
taken an old Monogram F-4E kit and more accurate fuel tanks from the spare box.
Click on
images below to see larger images
PAINTING
With
the basic assembly completed, I placed the masked cockpit glass before a coat of
Tamiya primer. Using my references and many pictures, I tried to match the
original Luftwaffe camouflage colors starting with Light Ghost Gray (Silvergrau)
in underwings and belly, then the upper camouflage with Dark Grey (Basalt Grau)
+ Olive Green. Bombs were painted Olive Drab.
WEATHERING
I
only darkened all panel lines spraying very diluted flat black.
DECALS
A
mix of old ESCI and the original decal sheet from the kit were used. I only
printed myself the ID numbers using clear decal paper. All of them performed
very well during and after placement. Surface was prepared with Future and later
sealed in the same way. To seal the whole work, I sprayed a coat of Semi-gloss
clear.
CONCLUSION
Not
a great kit, but it was the only 1/72 option for a long time before the arrival
of the Italeri and Revell offerings.
Thank
you all and regards from Monterrey, México.
Fernando I. Moreno Villa
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