Heller 1/48 Etendard IV M

[Stikpusher]

So I spent last week taking care of the last few details prior to starting painting… during that process, I accidentally broke the pitot tube off of the tail, so I made a new one from brass



Clear parts dipped in Future, masked off, and installed… the fit was bad…



And yesterday, I got on a base coat of primer… that took for longer than I had thought that it would…



In a few hours here I’ll start applying the underside colors…

[Stuart]

Very nice Carlos - that's really starting to come together. Am I right in thinking this is going to have folded wingtips?

[Brandons_Iron]

Looks great. And with regards to the pitot tube, there are NO accidents. That is part of the kit design and required during the building process. If one fails to break that off and either reattach it or make a new, then your hair will catch fire for the sin. I attach all the small fiddly bits with full knowledge that each and every one will be snapped off as per the building requirements.

[Stikpusher]

Thanks guys!
Stuart, yes I’m gonna fold the wings on this one. It helps save on shelf display space leaving them off for now helps with painting and masking.

Brandon, I like the leave off the little stuff until after decals and washes. But in this case it was not possible, as the pitot was molded as part of the tail, not something to be installed later.

[cbaltrin]

Looks great. And with regards to the pitot tube, there are NO accidents. That is part of the kit design and required during the building process. If one fails to break that off and either reattach it or make a new, then your hair will catch fire for the sin. I attach all the small fiddly bits with full knowledge that each and every one will be snapped off as per the building requirements.

It's pretty prominent on this a/c for sure, but on say a 1/72 F-4 Phantom, for most kits, they are overscale and don't look good OOB.
I might accidentally break them off. Sometimes no details are better than bad details...

[cbaltrin]

Looking good Stik!

[BlackSheep214]

Nice save on the pitot tube. I'm always mindful of them but accidents do happen. I've had my fair share of fiddly bits snapping off.

[Stikpusher]

Another airbrushing session today. A base coat of Flat White on the undersides, and some aluminum in the speed brake and wheel wells, as well as on the inner faces of those doors and the landing gear struts & pistons.



Tomorrow I’ll get on a coat of Gloss White over the Flat White. It should be nice and vivid over the base coat….

[Medicman71]

It's looking great Stik!

[Stikpusher]

Thanks Mike.

Today I airbrushed on the Gloss White. Not an even coat, but a blotchy coat to simulate wear.



Next up will be masking and the topside gray…