SPA Modeler

Build tread here:

http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/viewtop ... =20&t=1508

This is a Hobbyboss kit with the cockpit of an academy kit grafted in. That was an surprisingly easy thing to do. I used Rocketeer decals (highly recommended!) for a post war civil French aircraft. This aircraft was used by Avions Lestrade for research. The French fitted a new canopy with a different "slope" and a frame. Here is a side by side comparison with a normal Komet.



As you can see the profile is very different. I made this canopy by vacforming over a male mold.




The home made canopy is quite clear.

And some more pics.

very sharp!

Well done!

Thanks!

Writing it all down it sounds like a difficult build but it was basically easy. The cockpit graft was a simple affair, just Dremel away. And altough this was my first home vacform canopy I have heat smashed canopies before so this was also not that diffcult.
The only problems where with painting due to my own mistakes.

That looks very sharp! New colors, new canopy, and a different approach to a fairly well known subject. Very well done sir!

Congratulations! You detailed a lot of great techniques during construction as well as made a beautiful and unique version of the me-163B, Avion Lestrade. The Rocketeer decals work superbly at scale, and you blended all of the finishes with great care; I have to recall the weathering techniques for the future, because it is nice to see what a well-maintained aircraft actually looks like at 1/72 scale.

Cheers,

Bruce / speedgraflex

Tiny and really good Borg