Tuesday 30 December 2014

LSK MiG-15 Airfix 1/72 repaint & re-decaling

Ok, this isn't actually a new build but an old model restoration and re-decaling project. The original Soviet Air Force version had some damage with the landing gear and I decided to fix it into flying position. While I was at it, I re-painted the whole model again and applied the East German Air Force (Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee) markings from a Revell MiG-21 F-13 kit decal sheet leftovers. Have to say I prefer this configuration, it wasn't too bad to start with but now it's got more character, I think. The original plane may have been a 'bis'-version, but same can be said of this Airfix model, too.





Friday 14 November 2014

French Air Force M. Bloch 152 C1, No. 628 1/72 Smer/Heller

Bloch 152 C1, No. 628, of Groupe de Chasse II/9, 4th Escadrille,
based at Clermont-Ferrand on June 25th, 1940.

Smer re-issue of the old Heller 1/72 [Avions] M.[arcel] Bloch. Simple and vintage model kit but looks nice and right when built, as usual with Heller. Had to use a lot of putty, considering the small number of parts though. Scratch-built cockpit floor, unknown Revell pilot figure replacement and some cocades and blue dots from Airfix Devastator decals, otherwise straight out-of-the-box. Except the Hasegawa 1/200 civil airliner stand, of course!

Inspired by the Aircraft in Profile Vol. 201, paints used:
Gris Bleu Fonce: Humbrol matt 145
Brun Mat: Revell matt 84
Vert: Revell matt 39
Gris Bleu Clair: Humbrol 127
Humbrol Matt 49 clearcoat





Aircraft in Profile Vol. 201


Thursday 6 November 2014

US Navy Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless 1/72 Airfix



Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless,
VB-6, USS Enterprise (CV-6), Pacific Ocean, early 1942.
Old Airfix Dauntless re-issue, nice shapes and very nice decals but awfully distorted and warped canopy. This glazing is kind of a mock-up, I'll replace it right away when I find a better one.

Mostly out-of-the-box with minor modifications like scratch-build armament, exhaust pipes and some cockpit interior. Stock kit dive flaps drilled open with 1mm bit. Humbrol Matt 87 and Satin 196, acrylic furniture glosscoat before decals, semi-gloss floor varnish after decals, final dull clearcoat Humbrol Matt 49. All brushed with paintbrush.

Again a scale model which was inspired by Aircraft In Profile series, in this case the volume # 196.






















TBD-1 (Torpedo Bomber Douglas) Devastator (US Navy), SB2C (Scout Bomber Type 2 Curtiss) Helldiver (Aéronavale), SBD-3 (Scout Bomber Douglas) Dauntless (US Navy)

Saturday 1 November 2014

Japanese Army Ki-61 Hien "Tony" 1:72 Revell

Kawasaki Ki-61 Army type 3 Hien "Tony", cn. 3295,
Reg. Commander T.Kobayashi, 244th Sentai, Japan, 1945
Revell kit out-of-the-box except the Hasegawa stand for 1:200 civil airliners. Green camouflage freehand airbrushed, otherwise with a paintbrush. Final clearcoat Revell Matt.

I wish I had the Aircraft in Profile volume for reference, but this Revell oldie kit (with rivets and all) was nice to build anyway with less knowledge about the original plane. Found out after finished this model that it was kind of a copy of German He-100 and Bf-109 types, which is quite obvious now that I think of it. Could try some more Japanese fighters too, perhaps a 1/72 Hasegawa some day?