1/48 Aconcagua Embraer Tucano

by Jeremias Nicolas Luchina

--------------------

 

This time I´m writing about a model I built some time ago, an injury at my work last week is keeping me away from the bench.

The model is a Tucano in the colours of the Fuerza Aerea Argentina, this kit is made by the Argentinian company 'Aconcagua'.

The box contains resin, white metal, P.E., and vacuformed clear parts.

Once you open the little box, you will realize the kind of research involved in this kit and the manufacturer's excellent attention to detail, which match (and in some areas is better than) a similar Tamiya or Hasegawa model, but you must keep in mind this is a limited run kit, and you must have several models under your belt before you try this one.

Click on images below to see larger images

  

Construction was more or less straightforward, and the fit is better than other resin kits, but still you will have to fill some gaps, and be careful sanding because the resin is a little brittle, I broke one of the fuselage halves during construction and that caused me some troubles later.
The biggest problem with this kit is that it's a BIG tail sitter, there is very little room to add weight and I had to glue some metal scrap in the front bay and clone the spinner in white metal to get my Tucano on three legs. If you have a motor tool you can carve some resin and avoid all this.  I will have to glue my model in a diorama in the future.
Once the model was completed, it was time to paint, I applied the camo using my old Aztek airbrush and mixing paints to match the photos I saw of the real thing.
Decals are one of the down sides of this kit, they are good in colour and register but they refuse to stick and some silvering even over a gloss coat.
Final steps involved gluing antennas and some tiny tiny P.E parts, of course.. I lost half of them to the ugly carpet monster.
I want to thank Juan Carlos Heredia (the kit´s manufacturer) because he helped a lot during this project and was kind enough to send me some of the parts I lost during construction, Gracias pibe!!
The completed model is a great piece for my collection of Argentinian aircraft and I'm very happy with it.
Happy modeling to all.

Jeremias

Photos and text © by Jeremias Nicolas Luchina