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1/48 Special Hobby Fokker D.XXI

Started by George R Blair Jr · 92 ≡ · ↻ 2 years ago · 1/48, Fokker D.XXI, Republican, SBS Resin, Spanish Civil War, Special Hobby

Viewing 46 - 60 of 92 posts

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Sebastijan Videc said 2 years, 1 month ago:

Nice to follow some "proper" modelling being done George!
Rory Wilson said 2 years, 1 month ago:

Hi George, great work on a great looking bird! I haven't been an I-modeler member for long and I am consistently amazed at the quality of research and work done by many builders. You are no exception. I shall follow with interest.
George R Blair Jr said 2 years, 1 month ago:

Thanks, Spiros (@fiveten), John (@johnb), and Erik (@airbum). I have thought that sometimes I miss a post and then it suddenly appears. It really messes with your mind. The SBS set with resin and photoetch adds some nice details to the kit, many of which are country specific. It has 3 different control sticks, each for a different country. Since the plane was being license-built in Spain, I figured it was probably following the Dutch plan.

Thanks, Sebastijan (@inflames): I don't know how "proper" my modeling is, but this kit is fun, despite its challenges. I really think your IL-2 is the guidebook for "proper" modeling.

Thanks, Rory (@rory). Welcome to iModeler and thanks for stopping by my build. Research wasn't an aspect of modeling that I enjoyed very much, but I have started to like it much more. I am always looking for something a little different to build, and that search often leads me to airplanes that don't have much information on them. You are right that a lot of the modelers on iModeler really go the extra mile on research and building. I think you will find iModeler a great place to pick up some great ideas and techniques, along with some positive support for your builds. Cheers.
George R Blair Jr said 2 years, 1 month ago:
Stumbled a little closer to completion today. I keep finding small details that I would like to add. Complicating this process is my inability to pin down the exact version of D.XXI used in the Spanish Civil War. I am guessing what equipment to include and what not to include in the plane, so I don't know how accurate it will be, especially considering that no photograph of this plane in the Civil War apparently exists. The rudder is separate, so I began painting the Republican markings by painting the rudder with white primer, followed by yellow. Red and purple still needs to be added to the rudder. Red is no problem, but purple paint may be interesting to create. I hope to get everything ready for paint tomorrow, with painting to follow on Friday.
5 attached images. Click to enlarge.
1. This is the bottom of the radio antenna, with a black wire tracking down into the fuselage. I want to add this equipment to the model.
1. First color on the rudder.
1. Nice resin details from the SMS set.
1. Test fit of the canopy. Unlike the rest of the kit, it fit almost perfectly.
1. This is what the plane is supposed to have looked like.

2. All of the depictions of this plane show a long tube sight that does not penetrate the front windscreen. This is how I plan to depict the model, mainly because I don't want to drill a hole in the windscreen
Spiros Pendedekas said 2 years, 1 month ago:

Indeed, having no pic for the specific markings can complicate things when trying them, my friend @gblair. Great progress!
George R Blair Jr said 2 years, 1 month ago:

Thanks, Spiros (@fiveten). I suppose if there are no photos, then I have some flexibility about things. I am trying to use some logic about the version of this plane, and its equipment, but who knows? Every artist's depiction of this plane is slightly different.
John vd Biggelaar said 2 years, 1 month ago:

Nice progress, George @gblair
Looking forward to this antenna connection, good to see that at least the canopy fits nicely.
George R Blair Jr said 2 years, 1 month ago:

Thanks, John (@johnb). I plan to replace the round piece of plastic that forms the antenna with some round brass so that it will have the extra length needed to go down into the rear of the cockpit. It should also make a much more secure attachment. Hopefully some photos today.
John Healy said 2 years, 1 month ago:

You’re making quick progress on this one, George. It’s an interesting plane and I’m looking forward to seeing it done.
George R Blair Jr said 2 years, 1 month ago:

Thanks, John (@j-healy). I was hoping it would go together like my last kit from Dora Wings. This kit had a lot more challenges than the Dora Wings kit, but I think it will be OK. It is starting to look kind of cool.
George R Blair Jr said 2 years, 1 month ago:
I got everything ready to start painting. I decided to wait to add the canopy masks until just before I started painting. The Montex masks that I have are made of fairly stiff masking material, so I don't want to give them a lot of time to pull up from the curved canopy sections. I will need to keep my eye on the masks during painting to be sure they stay stuck.

I sometimes have a problem with the putty when I fill the edges of the canopy next to the fuselage. I have used white putty to fill these seams that is sometimes visible when you look into the cockpit. I have found that I can mix acrylic paint that matches the interior color with the white acrylic putty and end up with filler that matches the cockpit. It really is an easy process.

I haven't found any decals that I can use for the markings for this kit, so I may need to make them. The search for a font begins...

I figure I will paint the blue bottom of the aircraft tomorrow, and then the green upper fuselage on Saturday. Cheers everyone.
5 attached images. Click to enlarge.
1. Ready for paint.
1. I added a base for the antenna, as well as a black wire simulating the internal antenna wire.

2. Also added a handle that was painted red.
1. Putty and acrylic paint mixed to match interior color. Using a Salmon-colored notecard doesn't help the matching process.
1. No need to be neat with acrylic putty. It wipes right off with a little water. You can also let it dry and use 70% alcohol to remove and smooth it.
1. Putty done.
Spiros Pendedekas said 2 years, 1 month ago:

Great preparations, my friend @gblair! Cool trick coloring the putty!
Looking forward to your painting!
John vd Biggelaar said 2 years, 1 month ago:

Amazing work done, George @gblair
A good decision regarding the mask, Montex masks do indeed tend to straighten, they are not ideal for curved surfaces.
Great idea on the putty as well, never thought of that. Thanks for the tip.
Handle and antenna base look superb.
George R Blair Jr said 2 years, 1 month ago:

Thanks, Spiros (@fiveten) and John (@johnb). It only takes one instance of having a bright white line of putty visible inside your canopy before you start figuring way not to do it again. Started painting the rudder, which is yellow, red and purple. Yellow and purple done, red still to go.
Tom Cleaver said 2 years, 1 month ago:

This is looking very nice @gblair. A world away from te ancient Classic Airframes kit (one of their first) with all that cockpit interior being photoetch.

Viewing 46 - 60 of 92 posts

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1/48 Special Hobby Fokker D.XXI