I've been pluggin' but not posting. Slacker! Where was I? I got the fuselage together without issue. I added the weld seam to the supercharger intake with styrene rod.
I attached the belts to the rear deck. I added the luggage door hinge with styrene rod. A canopy prop rod will be attached there as well later.
Wings were assembled then added to the fuselage. It comes with a wing spar piece so you can't screw up the dihedral...Nice!
For some reason I had it issues with the port wing fit. No idea why. I ended up needing some filler at the root. Nothing to serious. I added the radiator doors and flaps as well. I like the plastic to plastic bond
Also, at this point I added the windscreen. It fit ok. I used Eduard masks.
Time for paint and then Montex mask usage. First, I preshaded panel lines and painted all areas to remain black, such as the fuselage band, the "black 2" which will get a "yellow 1" over the top of it, and the underside wing crosses.
White got sprayed and then the Montex masks for the crosses were added.
Landt's "Yellow 1" calls for late war RLM 75/83 over 76. I started with the 76 using AK real colors 76 "Version 1". I found their "Version 2", presumably a late war shade, to be too blue to my eyes, it looked more like RLM 65.
Time for the upper camo. I wanted to simulate the late war "scalloping" on the wing leading edges. Here was my solution, a hole punch in Tamiya tape. Not perfect but it worked.
I then added the AK RLM 75.
I tried the reverse basing effect I have been expermenting with lately. I started with straight RLM 76. Next I added some XF-2 white to it and marbled it. Then I went back with straight 76 and marbled more. I also traced the panel lines back in with it. I'll dub it the "back and forth technique".....lol. It's time consuming but I like the results.
I did not have AK RLM 83 so I used Gunze for this. I used the same technique but this time I added XF-57 Buff. I'm very happy with it. and will use this technique from now on. I can't wait to try it on Olive Drab.
Masks removed. We still don't need no stinkin' decals (yet)....
I have not a clue what the black squares are for. Montex called for them. Perhaps it's a K-4 thing.
I did some exhaust shading. I started with XF-1 diluted then simulated heat with diluted XF-19 Sky Grey. The key is to build it up gradually.
For some reason I'm always happier with the starboard side. No clue why.
Some more post shading with diluted XF-69 NATO Black and XF-64 Red Crown mix. Here's the final effect.
Some minor shading. I'll probably do some more on the bottom.
Time for clear coat and some decaling.