This kit was
picked up at a Club Auction for about $5. Funny how there always seems to be
some of them at auctions, but very rarely are any seen made up. A club member
loaned me a book which was a great help, especially as the kit had very little
interior to speak of and one would have to be scratchbuilt.
On the plus side, there were some
colourful schemes available,
including the kit's US Navy version.
Fuselage
The typically
heavy panel lines were all filled and rescribed with corrections where
necessary to agree with photos &
plans. As mentioned, an interior was required, so in accordance with reference
information, instrument panels and side consoles were made
for both cockpits. The ejection seats were in need of improvement, so were
modified to be slightly more convincing, including seat belts. The air brakes
had a strake added as per photos. The jet pipes were replaced with short
lengths of drinking straws and the underside air scoops replaced with
scratchbuilt items. The arrester hook was replaced with one made from wire
with the end flattened and bent to form the hook itself. The pitot on the
nose was made from flattened wire filed to shape.
Some small
diameter lead sinkers were glued into the nose sections prior to joining the
halves. The trailing edges of rudder and tailplanes were thinned to a sharper
edge.
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Wings
The coarse
panel lines were filled and rescribed as per plan drawings. The landing light
housing was made from a clear piece of sprue.
Canopy
The kit canopy
was extremely lumpy with flow marks and was unuseable, so it was filled and wet
sanded to a smooth contour and used as a master to stretch mould a replacement.
The result was far better than could have been achieved using the kit part.
Landing Gear
The kit parts
were very basic, so the main legs were
refined with brake lines, torque links and disc brake cylinders at the base of
the wheel forks.
The nose strut
was moulded with the wheel, so the wheel was removed, the strut thinned down,
fitted with new torque links and a shimmy damper to better resemble photos.
After the wheel was cleaned up, it was re fitted and the whole nose gear looks
a bit better. All of the doors were remade from thin card, the inner wheel doors
were fitted with fine wire braces which are evident in most photos.
Finish
The colourful
kit scheme was used and additionally thin Black leading edges were added in
accordance with a photo from the Internet, so a lot of masking was involved. The kit decals were used
and numerous small stencilled markings added. The US Navy training scheme
always enhances models and this was no exception and I was pleased with the
result. Matchbox kits can be a chore, but generally make up
reasonably well with a bit of extra effort.
Allan
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