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davecov

Progress of Peter's build will be reported here.

Dave
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Heinkel51 · Posted: Mon 21 Apr 2008 00:23 am Post subject:

My offering is the Douglas F4D-1 Skyray.

The Kit comprises 71 parts on four sprues of white plastic and one sprue for the canopy.
The moulding is crisp, no flash and no ejector pin marks.

The instructions are on one sheet with the paint guide and history on the reverse.

The kit offers two options, a Marine Corps F4D-1 of VMF 115 from the USS Independence, or a US Navy F4D-1 from VF-213.
The decals are a little yellowed but in register. The national insignia will need to be replaced from the decal bank with the white stars a little under sized.

The painting instructions are all in Airfix codes. I'll be using Hu27 for the interior of the cockpit, Hu130 for the wheel wells and undersides and Hu129 for the upper surfaces.

PaulDavies · Yellow Star Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 158 Location: UK

I remember this kit from my childhood, I think I must have built it 3 or 4 times, I always thought there was something futuristic about the shape, it was almost "spaceship" like if you know what I mean.

Good luck with the build, I'll be following this one with interest.

cheers

Paul

Heinkel51 · Posted: Tue 22 Apr 2008 01:25 am Post subject:

The kit has fond memories for me also, this is one of two I bought back in the late 70's the other has long since been 'reduced to produce'.
Back to this offering still early days, started with the cockpit area, some nice detail most of which will be not visible once it all comes together.

Also started of fitting the intakes and the wheel well bays which again has some nice detail for a kit issued in 1977.

Once all is dry I'll start wielding the hairy stick. I also glued the wings together and here picked up on an omission in the instructions. If you intend using under wing stores you need to open up the locating holes before gluing the wings.
.

Heinkel51 · Posted: Tue 22 Apr 2008 22:55 pm Post subject:

Some more progress. Joined the Wings to the fuselage halves. The fit was good on the top but a small gap existed on bottom on both wings requiring use of filler.
I have assembled and glued on the tailplane fillets. These required some cleaning up along the join.
The tail pipe has been assembled and given a coat of Hu171 Antique Bronze. Cockpit tub has been dry fitted.

Next step will be to paint the interior of the air intakes and the addition of ballast to the nose, this is not mentioned in the instructions but a trial run indicates that without some nose weight this model would be a tail sitter.

Brews · Posted: Wed 23 Apr 2008 00:28 am Post subject:

They were told that the skin was too thin, but they didn't listen. Reminds me of Monty Python & the Holy Grail. Something about castles and swamps.

Looking forward to seeing you weave your magic on this, Peter.
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Heinkel51 · Posted: Thu 24 Apr 2008 04:37 am Post subject:

The only magic I seem to be weaving is getting a nice thumb print on the underside from having glue on my fingers

.

I added some shot immersed in white wood working glue forward of the cockpit. A trial run indicated more ballast was needed. I took a piece of 3/32nd plastic tube cut to a taper at one end so as to fit neatly behind the cockpit bulkhead, blanked off one end with a scrap piece of 10 thou card, half filled with white glue and then fed in shot.

Finished off with another piece of card to seal the tube.

Next I trimmed off the blanks on the ends and glued in place.

Need to leave for a bit to dry so have moved on to painting the undercart. As usual, despite having been making kits for over 40 years I still cannot paint tyres unless there is a very deifned wheel hub, hence they undercart looks a little average.

Next will be to finish the interior namely painting the seat, it occupant and to make up an instrument panel.

Heinkel51 · Posted: Sun 27 Apr 2008 21:17 pm Post subject:

The fuselage has come together, some small gaps required filling and a slight mismatch left a minor ridge along the spine that needed scraping back. Painted underneath and the top of the control surfaces Hu130. Masked off the later and have now applied the first coat of Hu129, this colour is very pale and there will need to be a few coats to get good coverage.

Heinkel51 · Posted: Fri 02 May 2008 11:46 am Post subject:

Five coats of Hu129 later, or was it six, the upper surfaces are complete. Masked off the walk ways and the canopy. First coat of Hu27 on the walk ways (should only need two)

Brews · Posted: Fri 02 May 2008 14:23 pm Post subject:

If you have an airbrush, one way to paint wheels/tyres (I have done this on a few AFV models) is to paint the tyre colour, then use a circle template - centre it over the wheel and spray the hub.
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“The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” Winston Churchill

Heinkel51 · Posted: Sat 31 May 2008 14:04 pm Post subject:

Thanks Brews, I can see that I may finally be faced with hanging up the hairy stick and investing in an airbrush.

Well it has been a long time between drinks. Having masked off I finished the walkways and air intakes etc and added the occupant.

Then fitted the undercart and under wing stores.

Had some trouble getting a good fit for the canopy. Seemed that if it matched at one point it did not do so somewhere else.

The model ready for a coat of clear and then the decals

Brews · Posted: Sat 31 May 2008 15:10 pm Post subject:

Do you have Danish markings for this one? Looking good, btw. It's one of my favourite early jets, along with the Vought Gutless.
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“The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to see.” Winston Churchill

Heinkel51 · Posted: Sun 01 Jun 2008 11:01 am Post subject:

No Brews alas the RDAF (Royal Danish Air Force) never flew the Skyray. The kit was a left over from my US Marine Corp Aircraft Phase. Kit now decaled awaiting first application of Satincote.

Heinkel51 · Posted: Sat 14 Jun 2008 14:50 pm Post subject:

Finally obtained some Satin Coat a brush and the model is completed;

Slightly wonky front wheel strut there. Perhaps too much weight in the Nose

An enjoyable build also an interesting GB to follow. Some really nice work out htere.

Ratch · Posted: Sat 14 Jun 2008 15:05 pm Post subject:

Nicely finished Peter

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PaulDavies · Yellow Star Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 158 Location: UK

Looks good, a nice finish.

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Tue 17 Jun 2008 14:36 pm Post subject:

Very nice finish Peter, you blended those decals in very well!

All the best
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