SPA Modeler

For all members of The Unofficial Scale Plastic Aircraft Modeler 1/72 Spitfire Group Build or to quote Charles Bukowski: “To All My Friends!”

Fantastic shot bruce! Very atmospheric

Thank you so much, Stuart. Sincerely appreciated! I’m soaking the lower wings in hot water.

Interesting Bruce!

How was the result?

- Kari

Method used by Mr. Kobayashi of Zoukei Mura as this was detailed in the Superwing Series. After ordering the kit arrived in a plastic bag sandwiched between two sheets of cardboard. Since the plastic was very tough it survived the mail service. Since the plastic was very old and covered in a fine engraving, I elected to rinse only with vinegar water solution before painting began. The first coat was Mr. Color Silver lacquer shot with low psi from the airbrush. Following forty minutes of dry time, a light hand polish using a soft eyeglass cloth was performed. One of Dad’s methods for a smoother finish. After that, the finish was allowed to de-gas for twelve hours.

Assembly or How To Train Your Plastic

Dry fitting leads to steaming generally for me. I use a travel steamer to apply heat to specific areas of the plastic. My method is to use the form taped together as a way to train the plastic to fit as well as possible or specifically in this case “better than possible.” Two things—a slight compression of the fuse at the wing root (where we usually add a spacer) and a lack of proper dihedral are being addressed. Since the plastic is hard, I am partly soaking sections in addition.

To be continued

Travel steamer, eh.... I think we have one of those somewhere...

Try it the next time. I have used steam to clean and shape everything from garage kit resin to Special Hobby plastic and now this fine engraved Hasegawa styrene. Always helps shape and clean at the same time. I was going to check out your restoration thread next!

Stikpusher wrote:
Travel steamer, eh.... I think we have one of those somewhere...

Interesting using a travel steamer.

Give it a try sometime, Tom. Test first, though. That was always my Dad’s safety advisory to me, and I follow his lead in these matters. All the best.

Amazon suddenly sees a rise in travel steamer sales!

Bruce it is looking good!