Hello again my modeller friends:
I'm presenting you an update of the work done so far to the Henschel 129 alias the
Dosenöffner (can opener).
Based in the next image, I tried to follow the suggested squiggle patterns applied to the new model.... Guess that in the final African period of the DAK, they tried to hide or camouflage their assets as well as they could against overwhelming odds.....
And then after several attempts, this is how the paint works looks until this day after applying the old decals....
And yes, as commented by my friend Crimea River, I was expecting the worse by using this old decals. Just in case, I had at hand another set of Luftwaffe markings shelved around somewhere.... (along with a good quantity of prayers!!).
After setting in place the original decals, then it was applied Humbrol Decal Cote 2, in order to avoid any future mishaps. And the kite looked like this after the first attempt:
And then, the paint works based of your kind recommendations. The installation of the soft pastels proceed as planned, always watching to avoid touching the already painted surfaces. If you touch the pastels without protection Oh boy, you can get yourself into a lot of trouble due that your fingerprints will be found exactly in the places where the paint doesn't belong!
The only mishap occur when both swastikas suddenly appeared between my fingers during the paint works.
I found another set of swastikas and to make a long story short, as they were soaked in warm water, after 5 minutes they completely disintegrated!....
So due that I couldn't found any other 1/48 Hakenkreuz around my decals, then it was decided to paint over the contours of the original Hakenkreuzes that were already in place and apply pastels over them in order to minimize the obvious imperfections performed along this works (imitating to my best abilities the original
Dosenöffner presented in the first image above).
Guess that in the next kite I´ll have to produce my own Hakenkreuzes with more time.
After each session of paint works, some matt varnish was applied in order to protect the pastels in place.
Then it was decided to apply some brown (dark tones) with pastels in the undersufaces as well in order to improve the weathering effects. This were later removed with a humid clean cloth.
This is how the undersurfaces presents after the pastel paint works ended as well as with some color pencils to emphasize certain areas.
I really like how the stains of oil, petrol and rust sports in some war planes. And as commented earlier, the main idea is to present this kite weathered enough to make the idea that the operating conditions in north africa were harsh to everyone/everything involved.
And this is how the uppersurfaces presents with the engine cowlings in place. Guess that this cowlings had to look without the amount of the applied weathering in the other surfaces due that the
The engines also received some work applying some copper wiring in the Gnome-Rhone 14M/5 engines. To be honest, I did not wanted to apply a lot of work in there due to the fact that the propellers are going to be presented in motion and will very likely each detail end behind these still to be produced props....
Also the Revi gunsight was located without the translucent parts or any other details. They will likely end on the floor if installed at this moment.
Thank you for watching my fellow modellers and still some details have to be applied around the plane yet.
Now the propeller works will begin in parallel with the cabin and the pilot.... and yes I know, I have to improve my photographic skills. Guess that the blurred images did not came along with the price of the camera..
Best regards from Monterrey
mis amigos.
Kalakan