1/72 Academy/Italeri F-86E PAN

Gallery Article by Fabio Bongiorno on Mar 28 2012

  Italian Air Force Anniversary 

 

 

Hi to all modellers. Today I would like to present you my first model dedicated to the Italian National Aerobatic Team "FRECCE TRICOLLORI" on the 89th anniversary of the Italian Air Force.

The kit is one out of three models in a limited edition box made by Italeri collecting all the planes of the Aerobatic team: F-86E (an Academy rebox); G-91 (Revell rebox) and MB 339 (ESCI rebox).

Building was out of the box with no addition except for custom made seatbelts and homemade acrylic paint bought from an Italian manufacturer "Misterkit" via the web.

I started with the cockpit looking for a good painting result; gluing the two fuselage halves and wings.  Don't forget a nose weight cause the model is a bit of a tail sitter.

 

Click on images below to see larger images

Painting started from the bottom part.  From the beginning I didn't want to use the big "underwing" piece of decals so I painted all 3 Italian flag colours.  I started with white (XF-2); Green (X-5) then Red (X-7). 

After that I masked the wings and painted the aluminium using Tamiya XF-16.  For the upper fuselage I used Misterkit acrylic paint.  The colour is very good very thin, it dries quickly and it appears matching perfectly the real one comparing some pics of the real plane.

I completed the job using clear varnish X-22, posing decals, cover them with another gloss coat.  Decals are thin and to permit a good shape I added a bit of Microscale liquid.  

The model is sitting on a piece of taxiway made by plasticard painted with medium and dark grey glued on a little picture frame.  Just a little portion of it has received some fake grass.

Dedicated to the best aerobatic team in the world
.

Fabio Bongiorno

Click on images below to see larger images

      

Photos and text © by Fabio Bongiorno