Model Airplane International - June 2018

24 MODEL AIRPLANE INTERNATIONAL - June 2018

SKILL LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE

KIT BUILD

Rather than use the photo-etch I tried using the kit decals in one of the cockpits. Actually they

worked really well, not much being seen anyway, as they are rather buried at the front.

And the other panel with decals although note the ammo counter at the top was from an

Airscale set as Eduard don’t include it. Not as sharp as the photo-etch but I’d be happy to use it

nonetheless.

highlights and fading to be recreated. I

thought I’d try out the wash developed by Roy

Sutherland, proprietor of Barracuda Studios

namely a 50/50 mix of water and Future fl oor

polish and enough Tamiya (or GSI Creos)

black to make a thin, transparent wash. The

effect is lovely and I am a convert! When

the decals were dry Vallejo Satin Varnish

(which dries pretty much matt) was applied

to seal everything in and some light paint

chipping applied.

Fuselage

Before the fuselage halves could be added

the engine needed to be painted up. Unlike

the older later variants just the front face is

moulded. This is basic but there’s enough

there so if someone with a torch shines it in the

front enough will be seen past the cooling fan.

The only other job that needed doing was to

paint and then glue the Barracuda exhausts in

place. The kit exhausts are open but shallow

whereas the Barracuda resin has very deep

and exquisitely thin exhaust pipes and are a

drop-in fi t. Given the amazing quality and very

cheap price of the set, it makes it pretty much

there so if someone with a torch shines it in the a perfect improvement.a perfect improvement.

Primed and ready for action. The front has been masked with

sponge and the unused canopies tacked into place to protect

the cockpits.

Fitting both cockpits was easy - this being the kit

example.

Rather than all the cowlings being made up of separate

parts, the side panels are integral with the fuselage. This

simplifi es construction a lot and if you want the open

engine set it’s a simple matter to remove them.

The female part

of the markings’

masks were

applied and a very

light mist coat of

the white applied.

This provides a

guide, minimising

paint wastage and

overspray.

ROTTE LOVELY COLLECTION.indd 24 04/05/2018 15:00