an update guys, but no pics. . ive slightly darkened the colour and resprayed, for a more even all over finish. Much closer to the photo wayne supplied/ i think its better but the rectification was not without some drama. Whilst spraying I accidentally dropped a blob of paint on the starboard wing. I quickly removed it,, but i didnt reallise that wet pain can cause the plastic to soften as its beginning it drying process. I reduced the panel lines where I made the blot. im not going to risk re=doing the panel lines where ive buggered it up. its not very visible, and risks are just too great .
Ive also completed the masking of the main canopy. That part went well. Ive touched up around the cockpit area. all good. The canopy comes in two parts, i might fit one piece and spary the clear glass framing on the model , and then do the smaller front screen. Should have a better chance of covering any glue overruns.
I was finally putting together the prop assembly when i had a minor disaster. The prop has a backing disk, onto which the propo is glued, and then there is a sheath that is glued in front of that, and then finally the spinner. pretty easy except all the shaft holes have to line up perfectly for the prop to spin true. Okay. but whilt i was putting this all together, i managed to lose the backing plate. Dumbass i am. ive manged to fabricate a replacement but its not as good as the original. Wont be visible, but necessarily its not quirte as snug a fit as the kit piece. i absolutly hate it when i lose bits of the kit like that....it just fell off the bench to be devoured by the carpet monster.
According to the Kit instructions, im supposed to finish the whole prop assembly in XF 9, which is a reddish brown colour. Everything is supposed to be painted in that colour. but the photo shows the spinner to be finished in IJN green whilst the prop loos almost grey. I might have a look at the colour images of the restored example at the Smithsonian and see what they come up with.
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