1/72 Koolhoven FK-58c by Azur

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I fitted tail brace wires from 0.45mm brass wire which is too thick but I have run out of 0.3mm wire and don't know when I can get any. The kit had etched bracing wires but they were so flimsy they bent when cutting them from the fret. I drilled 0.55mm holes in horizontal and vertical, oversized so the wire could take the correct angle. You can just see the right hand hole in the first photo. Fixed in place with superglue gel so they shouldn't disappear the first knock they get.
 
Starting to look good now the U/C is on and the prop is loosely fitted. Just painted in grey primer.

I haven't got the right Armee d'Air colours and I am not going to order four pots of paint that might take weeks to arrive so I am going to use my available paints. Think I have near matches.



 
It's going to be brush painted, I have an airbrush but I just can't get on with it. I can happily sit for hours painting with a hairy stick but 5 minutes with the airbrush and I want to launch it out of the window.
 
Starting on the camo the French three colours scheme seems to have been done freehand as far as my brief googling goes. Unlike RAF colour schemes which had Air Ministry approved camo applied using templates. This is good for me because trying to mask up the tiny curves and shapes would have driven me to drink the paint. I can just follow the lines roughly freehand.
 
Moose88 said:
Excellent build for a rare plane. I believe most were flown by Polish pilots!
Click to expand...

Correct they were flown from Salon and Clermont-Aulnat air bases by a free Polish unit known as Ekadra Koolhoven. They were a Patrouille (Patrol) unit and as far as I can find out never made contact with the LW.
 
Generally 14 of FK 58 were used by so called 'klucze kominowe" - flights for protection of factories and other strategic objects.
The mentioned by you units were

VII KK/Zespół Nr 8 - 1 Eskadra (Koolhoven/Clermont)

VIII KK/Zespół Nr 9 - 2 Eskadra (Koolhoven/Salon)

Also the fighters were used by the
I KK "Kr" - Etampes (ECD I/55)
 
One finished propeller. Sweated blood over this I couldn't get parallel white lines no matter how carefully I masked and painted. About four attempts were sanded down and repainted black. I had a think about it on a walk along the beach and a light bulb moment if I could find some O's on a spare decal sheet I could chop the ends off and I would have two parallel white lines. Found some and had a bit of a mare applying them luckily I had four decals and three blades.
 
Finished the build today. I have to say apart from a few parts that gave me heartache this was an enjoyable build. I learnt quite a lot and I realise I need to up my canopy painting game. I am most proud of how the engine and prop came out a lot of work went into them and I honestly think it shows.

P1000902 by Stuart, on Flickr
P1000903 by Stuart, on Flickr
P1000921 by Stuart, on Flickr
P1000905 by Stuart, on Flickr
P1000908 by Stuart, on Flickr
P1000910 by Stuart, on Flickr
P1000916 by Stuart, on Flickr
P1000913 by Stuart, on Flickr
 
fubar57 said:
Very nicely done Stuart. I struggle with 1:48 canopy masking and am leaning more and more to precut masks
Click to expand...

Unfortunately there wasnt a canopy mask available for this kit not being a very well known design. I have tried making my own masks using a brand new No10 scalpel blade and Tamiya masking tape but one attempt went well one went okayish about what I could have done with a brush and the third very nearly ended with the canopy suffering an accidental frenzied attack with a hammer.

Unfortunately I can start painting quite decent straight lines but suddenly and with no warning my hand will start shaking and its tools down go away and come back another day when the shaking has stopped. I might be able to do a whole canopy in one sitting I might get a single brush stroke before it hits. Sometimes the shaky hand can go on for hours. The doctors say its either Median Nerve damage or Carpal Tunnel syndrome, possibly caused by too much mastu......cycling.
 
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