1/48 i. A. R. 80
This is the Hobby Boss kit. The plane I chose to model was an early production aircraft that was utilized as a “school” plane that only carried the outboard wing guns. I blanked off the inner guns and shell ejection chutes. The kit aerial is inaccurate and was replaced by brass tubing squeezed to the appropriate oval shape and inserted into a hole drilled into the windscreen. Kit decals are of poor quality and were replaced by RB Productions decal sheet # 48021. These decals are excellent. Canopy slide rails were added to the cockpit side walls. Fly tying lead wire was used for brake lines and stretched sprue used as aerial wire. Baffles were added to the starboard wing oil cooler intake, and stripped pitot tube was hand painted.
10 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Bogdan Ionete said on May 9, 2019
Good job!
dale travis said on May 10, 2019
Thanks Bogdan!
Jeff Bailey said on May 9, 2019
Is it just me, or does this plane look like they more-or-less copied the Hughes “hotrod” and added guns?
Great looking build, Dale!
dale travis said on May 10, 2019
Your right, this thing does look like the long wing H-1.
Pedro L. Rocha said on May 9, 2019
Looks nice. Iām no expert, but it does look like HB did a good job with it
dale travis said on May 10, 2019
Appreciate the comment Pedro!
John Healy said on May 10, 2019
Nice work, Dale. Another interesting subject.
dale travis said on May 10, 2019
Thanks much John!
bob mack said on May 10, 2019
what a scheme…awesome
dale travis said on May 10, 2019
Glad you like it Bob!
Tom Cleaver said on May 10, 2019
As I recall, the “usual suspects” had a fairly involved indictment of this kit when it was released. However, looking at yours and being at least semi-knowledgeable now about this type, I don’t see what all the hoorah was (but then again, outside of a few really egregious defendants, I don’t always see what the usual suspects see – or find it worth worrying all that much about when I do see it. But then, OCDs gotta OCD or they’ll explode. I did used to worry about this more in my misbegotten youth, but nowadays I just don’t have the time and it’s not really fun.
This is a really nice, very well-done model, and you have a great result to your talented work.
dale travis said on May 10, 2019
Thanks Tom. I remember all the moaning and groaning too. The kit has some problems but for the most part they’re relatively easy to fix. One thing for sure the HB kit is light years better than the LTD kit.
Bogdan Ionete said on May 10, 2019
You did a good job.
Let them talk. I’m very glad that a big producer took the decision to make this kit and to put on the market one product of Romania.
PS. You missed two panel lines, one on the top of the cowling and one, just nearby, ahead of the fuel cap.
dale travis said on May 10, 2019
Thanks Bogdan, when I get the time I’ll scribe them in.
Greg Kittinger said on May 10, 2019
Looks excellent! Love the paint work and the details.
dale travis said on May 10, 2019
Thanks Greg!
Robert Royes said on May 10, 2019
Nicely done, looks great!
dale travis said on May 10, 2019
Happy you like it Robert!
Louis Gardner said on May 11, 2019
Another fabulous build Dale !!! I have one of these HB kits in the stash, and another one made by LTD. Your description of the differences between the two manufacturers is spot on………. I’d take the HB kit any day.
It’s really good to see another one of these built. Bogdan built three I believe ……………. and not too long ago too.
Thanks for sharing this one with us.
“liked”
dale travis said on May 11, 2019
Thanks so much Louis. How’s the Japanese aircraft camouflage research going?
DE4EVER said on May 11, 2019
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A very interesting build for sure and the markings make it mode interesting.
Nice job over all Dale.
dale travis said on May 11, 2019
Thanks for the positive comment!