Barracuda Roy’s Lockdown 2020 | Heller | No. 80229

[speedgraflex]

Thanks so much for your information, Mustang! Carlos found this sheet detailing the aircraft when captured by the Allies, the same three photos (1 I found at Asizbiz and 2 John found) and depicts the fighter without any drop tank or bomb load. Although Heller provided this, there are two additional aircraft profiles for the kit so I guess one or both of the other profiles are fighter bombers or perhaps this was stripped down to be a fighter... any thoughts.

From Carlos; source: “109 In Action,” Squadron Books

[KSaarni]

Gunze Off-White



Tamiya AS-12

- Kari

[speedgraflex]

Thanks so much, Kari. I finished masking the other side and the lower wing last night. I read on the profile interpretation that the lower wing crosses were black without outlines, so I think I will tackle those as masks as well, which means switching to Gunze RLM Blue. I don’t want the paint to peel off after masking and Tamiya’s aircraft acrylic range can be delicate, my paint stock is at least four years old and I have to minimize mistakes. Cheers, and stay safe and well.

[LyleW]

I can't wait to see this puppy done!

Have you considered printing "L-shaped" decal pieces and using those for the crosses? World of Paper decal film is very good at settling in with Microsol.

[speedgraflex]

That is a great idea! I will try tests out. My plan is to Casey Jones the crosses with Tamiya tape. I build paper templates first. The templates for the fuselage crosses were 13mm x 13mm. For the subsequent color work, which includes filling in the central section with the RLM Green (Apologies about not keeping the numbering straight in my head!) I will probably cut squares to protect the white paint, one for each quadrant.

[LyleW]

I did that on the 109 I did late last year. It turned out okay, but my graphics skills are not up to yours.

[speedgraflex]

Your 109 is one of my inspirations. If the kits were less expensive on eBay I would love to build the kit to work with the plastic! A great vintage project, and “Decompression Build.” I am saving up for the old quarter scale Warhawk by Monogram. That one I want to brush paint everything as a total vintage build.

[jkim]

I'm still trying to get my head around your build order. It's not registering why you are applying paint and markings at this stage. Typically, you would start painting only when the major components have been glued together and all of the joints have been treated with the appropriate filler and any rescribing and restoring of detail has been accomplished. Does this mean that you will NOT be repairing your glue seams? The AS-12 on the wings has been sprayed on while still on the sprue. Will the sprue connections not be repaired?

You may want to check your fuselage crosses. Typically the center of the cross (regardless of the style) is wider than its borders.

[speedgraflex]

John, Thanks so much for calling out that the crosses are too small. Here’s how I’ll make the adjustment:



I know the construction order is unorthodox but I assure you there will be no seams.

[Stikpusher]

it’s quite unconventional for order of finish, but intriguing at the same time.