After an extended break to finish the Fokker D.VIII, a trip east to meet up with four friends and attend the IPMS Ottawa CapCon Show, and a two week struggle with a totally failed computer I'm back on line and working on this project again. Since last posting I've closed up the fuselage, finished a number of components, and started the painting.
The fuselage went together reasonably well, no seam to fill on top and only minor filling required on the underside. As you can see in the photo I've managed to knock off two of the cabanes in the process; I'll leave them to repair once the fuselage is completely finished.
The Kit LeRhone has been completed using Alclad metal colours. I added the ignition wires on the back side and stayed with the Kit push rods as they are more or less invisible behind the engine once in the cowling. The dog hair at the 10 oclock position has since been returned to it's owner!
I read somewhere here that the LeRhone had steel exhaust pipes, the Oberursel version copper thus the all silver assembly.
Some of the other components completed and awaiting installation. As you can see on the cowling "Wonder Dog" is insisting on adding bits of his DNA to this project!
Following the Kit Instructions I elected to finish the bottom wing and empanage next for assembly to the fuselage before tackling the upper wing. The under surfaces were done with a 50/50 mix of Humbrol Linen #74 and Model Master #2709 Light Ivory. After poring over the References I concluded that the only rule concerning "wrap over" of the PC.10 upper colour was there is no rule! Photos show none, a very narrow wrap over on all edges and some with only the leading edge of the wing with the feature. The profiles in the instruction booklet are hard to interpret but seem to show only the leading edge option. I finally elected to follow the Windsock Data File statement of "a 1-2 inch wrap over on all edge surfaces on flying and control surfaces". I masked them using Tamiya's newer Masking Tape for Curves and I am very impressed with the product. It bends amazingly, goes down well, and did not lift any paint when removed; I highly recommend this stuff!
Here's a couple of photos that illustrate the flexibility of the tape and the results once completed.
Last item on this update is weathering; this particular aircraft was subject to an inordinate amount of weathering and paint peeling as is shown in the Kit's Profile D. The photo below from the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum shows MacLaren in the aircraft in an even more weathered state.
I am using the "Hairspray" method to replicate this appearance. This requires careful masking and painting of the three different material base coats first; front to back natural aluminum, what I see as PC10 over wood, and CDL from the cockpit aft. The decals will present yet another challenge as the aircraft's marking appear damaged as well in the Reference photos.
Here's my progress thus far, the PC.10 below the cockpit has been given a coat of hairspray and will be sprayed Battleship Grey next before "chipping".
That's progress until today, I hope to get the fuselage completed to the stage where I can apply the markings in the next several sessions.
Cheers,
Lance
