Completing the 'Dinah'

The next stage in the completion of the 'Dinah':

With sun bleached panels added, I moved on to the exhaust stains and sooty deposits. I streaked these along the wings and engine nacelles. This instantly gives the plane a well-traveled look. So, going the whole hog, I lightened each area behind panel lines and wing leading edges.



The result of all this work makes the model look a bit too bold. As we'll see later, this will work out. An even coat of gloss varnish later and the decals can now be applied. Although Tamiya decals are of good quality, they are a bit on the thick side. This translates to either replacing them or getting out lots of decal setting solution and determination.


Several hours later, I realised that with only partial success with my Super Sol, determination had to take a different direction. A section coat of gloss allowed me to find the decal-hidden panel lines with my finger nails. No sniggering - they are perfectly valid tools, and they do the job.


The panel lines are now filled in and the model can all be matted down - a very important stage since all the various tones used are now drawn together. These shades are muted, toned down slightly, and the model looks properly in scale.


The model can now take its final additions - landing gear, engines, props and a host of minor parts. To finish, I dry brushed the ailerons, elevators and so on in a yellow-tan shade simulating the fabric covering and the stone chips, especially around the engine cowlings.

This is probably my fifth 'Dinah', and there's something iconic about it for me. It's an elegant aircraft, a beaut right out of the box. I hope you have enjoyed this build as much as I have.

Progress on the 'Dinah'

I thought it might be interesting to show a build in progress. I am building the Shitei III 'Dinah' from Tamiya in 1/48 scale. It's not just that the Tamiya kit is superb, but the aircraft lends itself so well to a good weathering job. Its twin-engined, twin-cockpit layout serves to make the most of a classic piece of aviation.


Views of the cockpit reveal how much nice detail there is to be realised; a light and dark overall paint job accentuating the ribs, and fine precise painting for the instruments and switchgear. Re-mixing certain colours such as black for consoles and instrument panels and greens for cockpit interiors can make for subtle but eye catching finishes.


Only fine gaps here and there remain after main assembly. Krystal Kleer is an excellent filler for this.
In my view a good quality masking tape and a fine, sharp blade are better than any pre-packaged masking set. With the glazing all masked up and the model rubbed down to a glass-like finish and the panel lines replaced from said rubbing down, the model is ready for its undercoat.


Some views from my rather chilly paint room.

Undercoat, pre-shading and a top coat of paint, all done. We are now ready for some very subtle panel fading. I add mid-stone to the standard colour to start, then a few drops of custard yellow - this makes for a very vibrant colour. So, with the airbrush turned right down, I proceed to add a very patchy look. You can see the difference in the fifty/fifty photo


It doesn't matter if the model at this stage looks a little larger than life. As the project progresses this will recede and add to the authenticity of the finished piece.

More on this very enjoyable project soon.

Resurrection Shuffle

I suppose it must get a little tedious when someone keeps getting out their old kits, referring to them as good friends and then putting them back on the shelf. Well, sometimes life is like that. We are lured to a project that promises wonderful things, but due to time constraints, missing parts and pressure of other work, we are limited to a few loving minutes in which we caress the parts, whisper sweet nothings into the box and reluctantly put it back.

On the other hand, there are times when a promise is totally fulfilled. A few months ago I posted about the Revell S-Boot in 1/72 scale, and I was particularly aggrieved about missing parts. Well, dear reader, the Boot is back. And construction is almost finished. How did I manage this, you ask? Quite simply; a recent trip to Model Zone in Manchester revealed a big pile of this very same kit at a vastly reduced price, check the photo.

Check out the replacement parts.

So, by making use of No. 2 Model Room (the lounge) I have been able to get most of it together. I must say, apart from a little flash and some ambiguous instructions, it's an excellent, well-detailed and accurate kit which builds into a lovely model more than 48cm in length. Check out THIS photo.


Also note, in the background is the conning tower for Mr Gato, the huge sub. Another resurrection only suffering from the constraint of time, or lack of it.

More on these projects later. For now it's back to the aeroplanes of which there are plenty in the pipeline.

The Shipping News

I felt it may be interesting to post something on the Gneisenau. It's a very welcome break from aeroplanes, of which I have several on the go. The Tamiya 1/700 scale kit is getting on a bit, but it goes together well.
The opening stages, the deck sections and the main and aft superstructure build up very quickly. The deck fittings, AA guns, searchlights and so on do need some cleaning up. A steady hand and a sharp blade are what's required here.
With most parts fitted, I applied the first undercoat. I left the forward superstructure and funnel assemblies loose. This has really helped while spraying and painting was going on.


The picture above shows the model mostly built, mostly painted and now waiting for the wash to dry. The main and secondary turrets are painted and are drying separately from the model. More on this interesting little build later.

With ony the sea planes to attach and a few last bits and pieces, the build is complete. This is the first capital ship I have built for years - very enjoyable it was too.

And finally, not only was the Gneisenau famous for the 'Channel Dash' but also for appearing on my blog that is supposed to be about aircraft. That's fame!

A Door Closes

One of the joys of working at home is that I get to spend more time with the pets. Of which we have five. Four cats and a dog. William is our oldest cat, at eleven. Suddenly, whilst undergoing routine surgery on Friday, he died. What we thought had been a minor illness turned out to have been much more sinister.
William had always been an indoor cat, shunning the outdoors and staying away from visitors to the house. He was a very affectionate cat with his family though, particularly towards my wife and me. He didn't bother much with his cat companions and became a bit of a black sheep in the house. The children often referred to him as 'The Devil Cat' or 'The Spawn of Satan' since William would not brook any nonsense from mere humans.
His passing has left a big hole in a small household, and all his comrades miss him. He has earned a place in this blog for his companionship and the sheer pleasure he brought to us all.
Goodnight William.

William Goodier
1997 - 2009

Well, they're not Tamiya....

One thing about this job is the wildly varying subject matter. I can't keep doing 1/48 scale wartime aircraft or I'll get jaded, so here are a few subjects in 1/72 scale. There's an He 100 from RS models, a Polikarpov I-180 from A-Model and a Polikarpov I-185 from Eastern Express.



Other than the scale, why do they appeal? They are all prototypes for later fighter planes. The quality of the kits was not great - the parts were crude, panel lines were raised, giving their age away. But I rise to a challenge and can feel proud on completion of a job well done. Always good to stretch your abilities. If I can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, I'm doing my job.

'Free Time' with the Big Sub

With the gorging season now behind us, I like to think of this time of year as 'free time'. With the shops open and the sales in full swing, the rest of the country seems to be on some kind of 'buyfest'.

Fortunately, I am not one who is mesmerised by the need to shop. Only the need to build. So I hope that I, and some people like me, will find some solace and even escape in these articles.

The photos here are proof of my absence from the sales. I've pulled the Revell 'Gato' Class sub out of the mothballs and had a very merry Christmas tinkering it all together. I had made a start a while ago, but abandoned it briefly due to pressure of work. I've made a lot of progress over the last few days. The parts are a bit rough around the edges but do go together quite well. The detail is lovely and will paint up impressively. The only thing to watch out for is prioritising parts to stick and parts not to stick, so that painting progresses in the right order.


The last photo also shows two aircraft models, in 1/72 scale; a Douglas DC-3 and a Russian I-185 fighter (thanks Graham). I think this shot brings home the sheer size and scale of this ocean-going wartime sub.

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy and prosperous new year. Hopefully a fresh start and the promise of good things to come.