Time for some more updates:
Adding Decals to Eileen
The most obvious thing done is that decals have been finally put on to the Razorback (excluding that checkerboard nose which was obviously done earlier), the decals are from Montex which includes the nose art, the names of the pilot and crew chief, and the serial.
These went on easy enough, no real issues. The Eileen decal is a little out of register and comes across a bit fuzzy in areas particularly on the name, but the well armed wasp itself is fine. It seems this build there hasn't been the perfect decals we like to hope for as the Montex sit well but could be a little crisper, whereas the Xtradecals look great but broke up over the panel lines.
Stencils were added, mostly on the underside and the wing. I avoided the area shown in photos as it doesn't have any stencils visible. In reality, all the stencils in the green were probably overpainted but I did want something on the plain right wing.
Accessories and Extras
With the decals on and undergoing the various coats of decal fluid, I started on some of the extra bits that I often forget until the end. Most notably the ordinance which is shaping up to be a 108gal drop tank on the centre, 2 x 500lb bombs and a pair of M8 Rocket launchers on 'Eileen', with another 2 500lb bombs on 'Jungle Queen'. I also began adding the little parts required to hold the bombs or drop tanks on the aircraft.
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Finally I painted up the landing gear and doors for 'Eileen', the doors were placed on the model and tape lined up with the existing wing stripes to try and line them up but accuracy isn't the biggest concern on undercarriage doors as a fair amount of photos show them not lining up amazingly anyways. The main gear and the wheels were painted, and the wheels themselves were sanded down slightly to make a very slight weighted look. The tailwheel also got work. So far the main gear isn't glued on though I added the tailwheel as it's small and sturdy, unlikely to break off anytime soon.
The machine-gun barrels have also been painted up, nothing worth showing as there is really only so many ways you can paint a small plastic rod gunmetal. These, along with the antenna and pitot tubes, will be added after the weathering is done.
With both models they've now received 2 gloss coats to make sure the decals are fully sealed in, and will be ready for weathering tomorrow once the second coat is set. In the meantime I'll work a little bit more on the ordinance and also finish off those propellers that are absent.
Definitely Not A Thunderbolt
On an unrelated note I also got some work on that Corsair whose engine was compared to the P-47s at the beginning, a very simple paint scheme but mixing up something to mimic Aluminium Dope paint was a bit of a paint, simply put any paints I had were either a good colour but to gritty (XF-16), a good colour but clearly trying to mimic actual metal (MRP Metallics), or a perfect colour and shine but would not play nice out of an airbrush (Vallejo Model Air), eitherway here a very plain and simple Corsair.
1 additional image. Click to enlarge.
