SPA Modeler

Here's my latest completion. This has to be one of Trumpeter's best 1/48 kits. The fit is almost perfect and the detail is nicely done. No craters for rivets and the panel lines are fine and consistent. Lots of details on the small parts too, such as landing gear actuators and linkages. Wheel bays are nicely detailed albeit a bit shallow. I went with an Aires cockpit and wheels, as those items on the kit are widely inaccurate. I also added a resin exhaust for some wow factor. I wanted a Hun in SEA cammo and the kit decals are widely wayy off!! So I used the markings from an Xtradecal set that preformed perfectly. Only thing is they really neglect the stencils, so I added some from my spares bit, using most on the pylons. Speaking of ordinance, I used some Nape tanks and Mk 82s from Hasegawa, and I used some drop tanks from the Monogram kit. I added some length to them to represent the 335 gal tanks used in country. A master Models Pitot tube and some scratch building on the canopy to pose it open finished off the kit. Free hand camo using Gunze aqueous. Hope you enjoy, and feel free to comment:

fantabulous!

how did you do teh metal part on teh exhaust?

MANtastic!!!

If this build were music...it would be baby makin music!!!

One of the few aircraft I like that I don't have a build of...nice burnt metal effects...your photography doesn't do your build justice...

Thanks guys and gal. Jim, this kit is definately Trumpeter's shining star in 1/48. NO mad riveter here. The few inaccuracies are easy to live with, and the fit is miles above the old Monogram F-100. For the metal panels I used Alclad's Stainless Steel, which is a high shine color so I sprayed the area Gloss black after the model was primed. The after laying down the SS I used alclad's Hot metal violet in the panel centers, and next used some tamiya clear blue and clear smoke in various areas according to ref pics. I then free handed the camo work over it and then glossed the whole thing. I used a wash of burnt sienna over the metal areas and then gave the engine area a semi-gloss clear. I didn't want that area to look dead flat like the rest of the model.

That is a really beauty - and you've done the camo and the weathering perfectly.

Thanks Portman.

I can see that a lot of time and effort has been spent on this build and with wonderful results.

I do like the 'heat 'decolourization' on the externals of the 'can', just like the f-100. !!

Visually, it is really well presented and well thought out.

Congrats' :-)

Thanks a bunch Roo!