Thanks for all compliments. Main compliments should go to WNW for producing an excellent kit. I am just assembling it and making small improvements.
But there has been some more field expedient work going on. The radiator still wasn't connected securely and is in flight pushing on the engine. I discovered that WNW forgot another two tubes in the frame which shows in almost all photographs. So I took another piece of 0,8mm brass tube, cut it at the correct length and clamped the end in pliers:
The new part of the forward frame runs from the strut connecting the forward engine mount to the upper frame to the sides of the radiator.
Of course this is done on both sides and they have now got a coat of grey green (after the picture had been taken)
Then indeed Dave it becomes time to finish the aircraft. But first I want to apply some weathering especially to the upper wings. Now this is new to me and Bud sent me some excellent instructions. So after buying some dark pastels and plundering my wife's make up gear I started with the bottom wing:
1mm Jammydog paper tape over the ribs. Here I found them too wide, but this proved ok afterwards.
Then I made a mix of black and brown pastel dust. The brown was too light to apply only brown. I wanted a little bit of shading from the greenish Khaki color I sprayed on into a more brownish shade of khaki. Well at first my impression was that it didn't make much difference, but after removing the tape I was satisfied at first, but perhaps it is a little bit too much. I know that after spraying another clear cote the effect will become less, so perhaps it is ok.
An impression:
Right bottom wing done, left still to go. The picture gives a darker impression than the real thing
Attached to the fuselage it doesn't look too bad. But now I must probably do something to the fuselage as well. The fuselage however is almost straight, so there isn't much to use as guidance.
I did the upper wing too:
I used a middle grey pastel for the orange. First I was a little bit disappointed in the orange as I found the effect too strong, but I am getting used to it. This photo is mild on my attempts.
If I am satisfied and those wings have their final clear cote then I can assemble the entire aircraft pretty fast. There will then only be two last hurdles. The first is the rigging between the landing gear and the tailplanes and the painting of the laminated propellor.
Please feel free to be hard on me on the weathering if you like. It is now still possible to correct I guess, as nothing is painted.
regards,
Ivo
