PART SIX
So far, I've got most of the smaller decals in place, although some can't be placed until the 'Yellow 13' numbers are in place, which will be done when the Eagle Cals decal sheet arrives. The kit decal sheet really is excellent, with every small stencil included, even down the the tiny 'ZU' markings for the cowling latches, and the drop-tank decals, which include the notice to German civilians to alert the Police or local airfield, if the tank should be found after disposal.
PICTURE 1 shows a general top view, with the wing-walk lines and warning stencils clearly visible.
Whilst waiting for the decal sheet to arrive, I got on with those small jobs that could be completed, including fitting the windscreen, after adding the grab-handles in the top of the frame, and the cockpit lamps and wiring, beneath the sidescreens, both from stretched sprue. The kit's Revi gunsight has been fitted, with the moulded-on reflector screen removed, and replaced by a piece of clear sheet.
PICTURE 2 shows the windscreen in place, and the details mentioned above can just be discerned.
PICTURE 3 shows the prop and spinner test fitted, along with the wheels, to check the 'sit' of the model. The white spinner is awaiting retouching, before adding the narrow black 'Burbleschnauz' spiral, a job I will approach with some trepidation!
The detail on the undercarriage doors and wheels is exceptional, with the main gear doors being to scale thickness, as shown in:-
PICTURE 4.
The ejector pin marks are on the inside of the doors, thankfully, and I made no attempt to remove these, as they will be hidden by the wheels. The latter have been painted, although the tyres are yet to have 'flats' added, and will need the treads treated to a dry-brush in the colours to match the 'dust' of the 'b-paving' dispersal the model will be displayed upon.
Some of the scratch-building of detail parts has commenced, with the beginings of the aileron mass balances, and the pitot tube (kit part lost!) being shown in :-
PICTURE 5. The 'horns' of the mass balances have been roughly moulded from 'Milliput', and mounted onto short lengths of stretched sprue. When totally hardened, they will be contoured and tidied up, ready for a coat of varnish and talcum powder, to seal the shape before painting and fitting. Lacking suitable tube, I made the pitot head from stretched sprue, with masking tape wrapped around the 'wing end'. This will be varnished, to blend-in the shapes, then painted in the appropriate colours.
PICTURE 6 shows the 'Gustav' to date, waiting for the Eagle Cals numbers, and some of the type-specific stencils to be added. Once that's done, the model will be sprayed in a semi-matt clear coat, and all the smaller items, such as antennas, canopy etc, will be added, before being placed on a 1/32nd scale version of the 9/JG300 wooded dispersal at Juterbog Waldlager, south west of Berlin, as it would have appeared in June, 1944.
As soon as the decals arrive, I will proceed with the build, and post some more pics.
Thanks for your encouraging and complimentary comments to date, they are very much appreciated, and I hope you have enjoyed watching the build as much as I have enjoyed doing it!
Terry.