As you all well
know, this is the ex-Matchbox kit re-issued by Revell, now without the colorful
sprues that are the delight of modelers of all ages. Some reviews are already
around, so I'll keep it brief. Grey sprues, light, almost faint raised panel
lines, chunky molding, some interior, very good decal sheet that caters for the
three versions offered, one being civilian, which I personally applaud. I
definitely would like more civilian options around. The decal sheet is somewhat
cluttered, the more than sixty subjects for the three version being scattered
around. So, get a good pair of scissors and some sight help.
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The instructions are matter of
interpretation. In my first try, what was on my workbench after following the
instructions was a tramway, in the second try I managed to build a bridge, but
finally I got it right. The landing gear, though, is still something that
puzzles me.
Some shuffling around with the versions is apparent in the instructions, so
check your references. If they are like mine, they will contradict each other,
leaving us again in the happy limbo of uncertainty, which is just the prelude of
creativity.
My only minor contributions were
to score the hinge line and deflect the elevators a little bit downwards and to
add leftover photoetched parts to the landing gear bays. I used with the canopy
framing my usual sprayed decal paper cut in tiny stripes, this time helped also
by the use of a "Pilot" silver metallic marker to deal with all the
external frame. It worked well, with no risk of spilling. I discarded all the
other transparencies in favor of the later use of Testor's window maker. After a
copious application of filler almost everywhere (the fuselage-wing joint being
wider than the Grand Canyon) y sanded the model and applied, directly, a
spray-can black paint formulated for plastic. After masking the nose y proceeded
to apply the metal tones, in three different hues. Handle the decals with care,
and you may consider to separate some of the larger subjects (fuselage sides,
wing letters) in more manageable pieces. You will have to cut out, once the
decals are dry, the window sections, which are part of the carrier film. Some
setting solution is needed also to help some of them to conform to the surface
(walk sections on the wing root and the nose area).
Pay attention to the instructions regarding the small area that should be
painted (a diagram for a mask are provided) to offer a backing color to the
front of the "arrow" decal -which is transparent- in the civil
version.
Again the magic of the 30's available for us thanks this time to Revell, at a
very convenient price.
Now I am waiting for somebody to produce an injected Bellanca Aircruiser or a
28-70 Flash in 1/72.
Gabriel
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