SPA Modeler

Thanks guys! The rivets look very obvious now but if you've seen my other builds, you know that the effect is quite reduced, especially if there is a camo pattern over it or against a darker color and both of those conditions apply to this aircraft.

Using the momentum from riveting the more difficult fuselage, the flat wings were also riveted. Much easier drawing the guide lines on the wings.


A close-up of the wings AFTER the rivets have been applied but BEFORE the wings are sanded.



And then a brown wash is applied to check our work.

How long does it take for you to do all that riveting?

The upper wings probably a good three hours. Most of time is spent drawing the lines. The actual riveting and the cleanup afterwards are relatively quick.

Looks like you're working your magic on one of my all time faves here John. I really like all the attention to detail that you're throwing into this one and it looks like you've got your system down for your assembly and painting techniques when it comes to these details. I get comments sometimes that all the detailing just slows a build down but once a person gets a method down pat it all seems to just flow pretty smooth.

jkim wrote:

Stikpusher wrote:How long does it take for you to do all that riveting?

The upper wings probably a good three hours. Most of time is spent drawing the lines. The actual riveting and the cleanup afterwards are relatively quick.

That makes perfect sense. More planning and preparation than actual execution.

Ahhh....measure once, cut three times.

Excellent riveting John.

Thanks guys! Because the cockpit assembly was modular, I had to deviate from my natural order of construction. The way the kit is designed will always be a factor when putting a model together and I like to find the best compromise between my ideal preferences and what the kit dictates. For whatever reason, my builds over at LSP seem to attract the detail-obsessed and I am constantly offered corrections at every stage. In one way it is nice to get such specific and applicable feedback but it can be a little draining too.

I need to jump back onto the wheel well walls. After I add some details there, I can glue the fuselage halves together and start dealing with the seam-filling and cleaning up of the nose section.

jkim wrote: In one way it is nice to get such specific and applicable feedback but it can be a little draining too.

Yep - sometimes it's just nice to get on and enjoy the build!

I think you find a superb balance between extraordinary level of detail and the overall appearance, John. AT&T notified me of a mass shutdown of power! Is it the end of the world??



Maybe it is Godzilla! Finally!

Once upon a time when I was studying Schwalbe builds - more so in 1:48 then 1:32 - I came across a builder who had duplicated everything possible within the wheel wells. I felt amazement, truly. I feel as long as the bones are in order, the “spine” is formed correctly, than the aircraft’s flesh will be fine. That was why I thought the bulkhead might be an issue.

I love the color modulations in the cockpit. The blue-gray, the light apple-green for the interior paneling and all the bright red, blue and yellow gauges are wonderful.