SPA Modeler

Started more than three years ago, I resumed work on this old Hobbycraft kit a month or so ago. I finished her Saturday, and made my way out to the airport today for a photo session. I messed up the stretched sprue radio aerial loading the model up for the ride out there and just managed to get it back in some sort of shape, never as good as previously though. Go figure…:)

It’s painted with Testors 1/4oz. square bottle flat black, and faded with Humbrol dark gray 32 mostly, as well as a few other grays. I tried out a bit of oil-paint dot filtering on the lower engine cowls but the 45 year-old oil-paint and my lack of experience didn’t help. The exhaust staining is Model Master intermediate blue, dirtied with pastel chalks. As always, I used my Paasche Model H for the airbrushing. I drybrushed the paint damage with Humbrol MetalCote unpolished aluminum and used a silver pencil here and there. The cockpit barely shows so I made seatbelts/harnesses from tape with home-made lead-wire buckles. The exhaust flame shields were made from Evergreen sheet.

Let’s see, gun barrels and exhausts were drilled, and tires sanded for a change, . Lead wire brake lines were added with furnace tape clamps. I sanded down the wing light “lenses” and carved out a concave lens with my motor tool, filling that with silver. Overall, she turned out a pretty fair “four-footer” and looks good with her RAF mates and sister Hawker planes in the display. But please, no more Hobbycraft kits for a while…:)

Thanks for taking a look and thanks for any comments or replies!























Inside photos:

Gary. Great build. You did good.

Looks just fine to me. Especially all the weathering. I built that kit as a 48 hour weekend madness build a few years back. I thought it was a fun quick easy project.

Thanks Johnny and Carlos! I appreciate the support, believe me!

Hey my first grandchild was named John Carlos. He is named for my late father and his late grandfather Carlos Huerta. He goes by Johnny mostly! Great names in my opinion.

Thanks again dudes!

Well wasn't a Juan Carlos the King of Spain? Lol!

As far as Hobbycraft kits go, I have enjoyed the ones that I have built. Some are better than others. But usually you can get them for a low price and with a little effort like yours, can really look quite good.

That's true (on both counts Your Highness!) I remembered just a while back that my Sea Fury was a Hobbycraft kit too. And I have a few in the stash still like a Me-109E-7 and P-26. They provide a nice "canvas" upon which much can be done. But they do try one's patience at times...

Lol! Not me, mate! No royalty in my head or veins... Your grandson has a good name though. When I was a kid, one of my best friends was named John... but adult life sent us in different directions.

I don't recall your Sea Fury. Which is a shame because that is one of my favorite piston engined aircraft. A big beautiful brute of a bird- especially in person. I have built a couple of their 109s and have a few more in my stash. I have their P-35 sidelined right now. That is a real gem, but needs a new replacement canopy to replace the kit part. What should be a razorback a la P-43 and early P-47, is too rounded on the spine of the kit part. Maybe that will be one of my GAABSA project completions here later this year.

Very impressive Tex! Way to go!

Carlos, I came from some sharecroppers whose only brush with royalty might've been Royal Crown Cola (in a good cotton year), so I can relate!

Thanks Duke! Much appreciated I assure ya!!

Hey Stik, here's the Sea Fury:
http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/viewtop ... t=Sea+Fury

Looks really nice. The weathering is spot on IMO.