Mitsuoka H-1 / D338

[kerick]

That bottom pic has a certain Star Trek vibe.

[Andrew Gorman]

It's just clear plastic.  parts.  They will be painted over. No chance of this ship going to a warp Factor 6!

[Andrew Gorman]

Conforming engines to the wing surface- sandpaper, tape, and elbow grease!

[kerick]

Conforming engines to the wing surface- sandpaper, tape, and elbow grease!

That's how ya do it!

[Andrew Gorman]

The finished builds are looking great!  For some reason I was trying to avoid retractable wing floats.  The SR/A.1 mechanism is just  too slick and crafty to be copied, and the Japanese had lots of trouble with retractable floats on the Kawanishi E15K Shiun , so that was my out.  But the other options were not looking right, so I chopped off the ends of the wings  for tip floats.  It should work, but as usual I agonized over this too long.  I am also not happy with a square edge at the wing/boom joint so ordered up some off brand Apoxie Sculpt to add a fillet.  I'm making slow but steady progress. 

[PR19_Kit]

For sure SARO went WELL over the top with the SR/A.1 float system!   

It must have been fun watching it happen, but you'd have had to be flying chase to do so.

Tip floats sound a good choice for your D338 though.

[Andrew Gorman]

An entirely too busy and hectic holiday weekend in the US, but the first primer coat didn't reveal too many areas needing more putty and sanding.  They are there, but in the realm of small seams and spots I can fill with putty on a toothpick.  Inside right angle joints are always a challenge. I'm just going to add a small intake scoop to the blocky areas rather than sculpt a fillet.  Should add enough visual noise to distract the eye.  And the BV-138 kit comes with six of them! Engines now fit pretty well, but will be mounted after the next couple of PSR rounds, then it's their turn. And then, canopy masking! Haven't done that in a long time.

[RAFF-35]

Conforming engines to the wing surface- sandpaper, tape, and elbow grease!

Silly question,  what is the red area of the model and what is it for?

[Andrew Gorman]

That is my high tech conformal sander!  A piece of sandpaper taped to the wing center section to rub the engines against so they match the wing curvature, more or less. I've since shot on the first coat of primer and have been adding and sanding down filler.  Approaching, but near to completion.

[Andrew Gorman]

It's in the paint shop!  And a few areas needing some putty work were revealed by the final colors I didn't see under the primer. 

[Old Wombat]

 

[Rick Lowe]

It's in the paint shop!  And a few areas needing some putty work were revealed by the final colors I didn't see under the primer. 

Often the way, especially with my builds... 

[Andrew Gorman]

Started on the decals, a hodgepodge of old kit sheets.  Combined with a lack of knowledge of late WWII markings they should work but won't fool any experts.  I'm going to take advantage of the extension to take my time on this, and do some weathering.  The ship looks good but too new....

[RAFF-35]

Started on the decals, a hodgepodge of old kit sheets.  Combined with a lack of knowledge of late WWII markings they should work but won't fool any experts.  I'm going to take advantage of the extension to take my time on this, and do some weathering.  The ship looks good but too new....

Well you've got to post some progress photos!!

[Andrew Gorman]

True dat...here is how it sits now.  Decals in progress, still need to add the cockpit, install the wing floats and numerous other tasks. But it's a holiday long weekend here...