Build BEAUFIGHTER they said, it's FUN they said :)

[Martinnfb]

I picked up this kit that I share birthday with last week. I could not wait for a new release forever. Old age is creeping on me, eyesight gone, shaky hands, fat gut etc.

I sneakily scribed the outer wings, just to see if I can do it , and it was ok.

[Martinnfb]

The upper fuselage is relatively ok ,I just needed to shorten the tail by 3mm and scribe new panel lines. I have to reasonable and not to fall for obsessive compulsions

 

[Martinnfb]

I decided to glue the fuselage together in order to recreate some internal details,,,,schematically . Did some adjustments on the tail leading edge so as the opening for observer was altered to better represent the real thingie.

[Martinnfb]

Nose will be addressed further down the road, for now I am just building up some meat to work with.

 

Have you guys being off-roading, ever? Yes , then you know the advantages of under-pressurized tires

real deal

[Martinnfb]

Inner walls are on the way, in order to make this work easier I cut out lower section of the rear fuselage. The plan is to build in visible detail from every direction. Once again VISIBLE he said

 

 

[Martinnfb]

The lower centre section is kinda messed up. The guns have a wrong placement that I will not correct. The cross sectional profile is also less curved than it should be, but hay, If I didn't tell you, I wouldn't know. Let us keep it our dirty secret

First I had to change the shape of the gun ports to oval and to hollow out the inner walls behind them for future barrels.

Have only a blurry idea about the wheel wells, so I will get to it when the time comes, I already know that is going to be something scary, like British style scary...

 

Then I had to figure out how to scribe curved lines along the perimeter of it. Shaky hands remember? Evergreen stripes glued on the sides was the cure

 

[Martinnfb]

Then I decided to glue together upper wings in order to achieve the promise land of the correct dihedral .

That looked like a big success so I glued it all... and scribed it too

[Martinnfb]

She's a big girl.

[Martinnfb]

This all has been happening in past four days. Today I had a chance to reshape the observer's cupola ..... not sure how to call it, an observation dome ?

Original part is too pointy

Therefore I had to play a dangerous game with my dremell tool and 200 grit sand paper.

Not too shabby 

real deal

[Martinnfb]

Let's talk about camouflage . Revell offers tho schemes.

First  BP-N

There are at least 3 contradicting interpretations of this camo, raging from desert to greys etc. Despite the fact that this machine is well documented via Imperial War Museum Archive I have no nerve and time to dig in files, so she's out.

[Martinnfb]

Second is Nighfighter version.  All in black Harvey!

Black is almost a no-brainer, except....Martin never build black aeroplane and he doesn't now how to avoid the famous rubber ducky effect. 

[TJTX]

Wow, some great work so far.

[Martinnfb]

You get it right? It's a challenge. 

NG-F  serial T4638 it is.  I might get a plotter to cut the code letters, Revell's decals are , well weird looking. More pictures for your convenience. Check out the variety of discolouration and distortion of sheen of the surface of this plane caused by covering placement, bone fragments of the bitter enemy etc.

Is anybody even reading this? Jeeez

and his buddy NG-R

 

[Bill_S]

Watching with interest, Martin. It brings back fond memories!

[Martinnfb]

1 hour ago, TJTX said:

Wow, some great work so far.

Thank you Tony, I am glad you're in for an occasional ride

here is the sheet of decals provided by Revell. I really like the colour of the insignia , but the code letters look little toxic.

[TJTX]

I appreciate the effort it takes to get it to a solid level.  Your doing great work and inspiring us.  Your resin build has prompted me to keep mine and tru to build it. 

[Martinnfb]

43 minutes ago, Bill_S said:

Watching with interest, Martin. It brings back fond memories!

Oh nice Bill, did you finish that bad boy, looks like you were adding floors etc. Very cool !

42 minutes ago, TJTX said:

I appreciate the effort it takes to get it to a solid level.  Your doing great work and inspiring us.  Your resin build has prompted me to keep mine and tru to build it. 

I am humbled by your statement Tony and Thank You again of course.

Rubber ducky is holding the cowling ring, that had to be slightly reworked. Inner diameter was small, by 3mm small ! Doesn't sound like much, but it does make quite a bit of a difference. There will be more work related to inner engine compartment,   later

[Martinnfb]

And do not freak out about the preliminary scribing, it will look killer once sanded and riveted

[harv]

Wow Martin, love this little hotrod. Always liked them. And black, be still my heart. My advice is a lot of mixing. The P38 wad a mix of black and red like russet. I'll follow along buddy......harv 

[Martinnfb]

Thanks Harvey, I knew you will like the black bird option :). I am powering through as much as I can while being home-alone with Sofia in school. P-38 is different story, since it was operational in the Pacific theatre . British islands are green and moist and muddy and people are still mixing cream into their tea over there, for real  LOL

As such

[Bill_S]

16 minutes ago, Martinnfb said:

Oh nice Bill, did you finish that bad boy, looks like you were adding floors etc. Very cool !

 

 

Yes, I did, Martin! I would post a pic here, but I don't want to be accused of stealing a thread!

[Martinnfb]

The front canopy fits fairly well after some sanding. Only concern would be those pesky locator pins in the corners.

 

[Martinnfb]

Just now, Bill_S said:

Yes, I did, Martin! I would post a pic here, but I don't want to be accused of stealing a thread!

Please do, I would be very pleased to get some motivational boost

Also I need some advice here guys. Was there a canvas in the tail wheel well?

[Bill_S]

Some wheel well motivation?

[Martinnfb]

DAMN ! BILL this should go into to the gallery.  I love it, different approach ,but super cool. Tons of work went to the wells , , your wing transitions are flawless. Way too cool, thanks for sharing sir.

Cheers

M.