SPA Modeler

Yes it is Tamiya, and I like NATO Black for the black base. It seems to look better in the nooks and carnies after the color coat is finished than straight black, but it could just be my imagination. I add a few drops of Tamiya acrylic thinner and it sprays like a dream. I don't know if anyone saw my Storch (won second at Forth Worth) but I did the same for it. The NATO Black base, then a light base coat followed by a heaver coat on the ribs which made the color lighter I'll do the same here.



And to those who have a good eye, the left upper wing insignia and the lower right wing insignia are backwards, the ax blades are supposed to face away from the fuselage. Hobby Boss didn't catch that either and their decals all face the same direction. I didn't notice until someone pointed it out, but unless the reverse of the decals were also black, there's not much I could have done anyway.

Now

The Empire Strikes Back / 4th Draft

332. EXT SWAMP – BOG – DUSK
Luke lies motionless in the mud with Artoo leaning over him. Two glowing balls about the size of baseballs hover above them like mosquitoes and occasionally the angry Artoo swats at them; they move just out of the stubby droid’s reach. Artoo whistles to his master several times, but gets no response. Artoo turns toward Yoda, who is sitting quietly nearby chewing on his Gimer Stick, and begins to furiously beep and scold the little Jedi Master. Artoo turns back to Luke. A small metal electrode projects out of Artoo and rests on Luke’s chest. There is a concerned whistle from the droid, a short electronic yap, and Luke jumps awake with a start. The young Jedi shakes his head clear and rubs his shoulder. He is very angry; his glare moves between Yoda and the two glowing balls.

YODA (jovial) Concentration. Heh? Concentration.

LUKE (pissed) I thought those seekers were set for stun!

YODA That they are.

LUKE They’re a lot stronger than I’m used to.

YODA That would matter not were The Force flowing through you. Higher you’d jump! Faster you’d move! Open yourself to The Force you must.

Artoo scoots away as the fed-up Luke grabs his laser sword from the mud, ignites it and jumps up.

LUKE I’m open to it now! I feel it. Come on you little flying blasters!

As he moves toward the hovering balls with a poised saber and ferocious look, they draw away, retreating to the area around Yoda’s head.

YODA No, no. This will not do. Anger is what you feel.

LUKE But I feel The Force flowing!

YODA Anger, fear, aggression! The dark side of The Force are they. Easily they flow… quick to join you in a fight. Beware, beware, beware of them. A heavy price is paid for the power they bring.

Luke lowers his light saber, confused.

LUKE Price? What do you mean?

YODA The dark side beckons. But if once start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Consume you it will… as it did Obi-wan’s apprentice.

LUKE Lord Vader…

That is how the scene is written in the novel. The final film script altered it to the run thru the swamp that ends at the tree cave.

I didn't know there was an original novel. I always thought Lucas wrote the screenplay and novels came later

Not that actually have a clue what I'm doing, I'm just making it up as I go along.
I added the "Sky" to the underside and fuse sides and painted the torpedo. I also highlighted the ribs, sprayed the engine and the exhaust ring on the cowl.

Sorry for the poor color of the pics. Too much wash out I guess.

Looking good with the Sky paint on the undersides.

Yes, there is a novel for each of the original trilogy. The first was supposedly co written (uncredited) with (or mostly by) Alan Dean Foster and came out about the same time as the original film in 1977. That one has multiple small deviations from the film. Some were later added into the “special edition” revamps. The second and third were likely written as you said, based more closely off of the film scripts framework.

Swordfishes are really cool planes, amazing how big footprint they left from the 2nd WW! Wikipedia writes that they were still in active service 1945!

Interesting to see the build, looking forward to decaling process!

- Kari

Thank you Stick and Kari,
Kari, I know, it's amazing to me that such an old design was still viable during the beginning of jet aircraft.
I sprayed the camo on the upper surfaces and saw I made a boo boo. I painted the Sky on the wrong side on the upper wings. Not a big deal, the struts aren't glued in because I saw my mistake while dry fitting them. They looked nice though So far I don't see where others have had problems aligning the wings, everything fits great.

The left wing set is the upper wing on top, the left is the lower on top. While the AB is out I need to touch up the struts anyway.



The lower wings (correctly painted)



and the fuse.

Most impressive work MC. I have a Swordfish in 1/72 scale I should get to someday. This is real fantastic work.

Thank you Duke, I feel the highlighted areas kinda extenuate the ribs. I'll start repainting the upper wings tonight. At least is an easy fix.