1/72 Academy P-39N

by Alexandre Jay

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As a new modeler starting where I left off twenty odd years ago, this was my second proper attempt as an adult modeler.  I'm also an aviation artist so used to buy kits purely as reference materials, hastily building and priming them to use for lighting plans. 

However, upon viewing modeling sites, and due to my increasing stash, I decided to take up an old hobby and see what I could do.  I'm very much a beginner, but have already learned a lot from my two builds and also by 'speaking' with other modelers.

My Academy P-39 was built straight out of the box and went together with no real problems, although I did find the undercarriage very fiddly and the fit of the rear canopy was not at all good.  I pre-shaded the panel lines and then hand-painted the completed model using Humbrol enamels.  By this stage the pre-shading had sadly all been lost, so I used my artists’ acrylics to detail the panel lines once more and aged the aircraft as per my reference photos.  Finally a coat of Klear and the application of decals, that went on without a problem I hasten to add, completed my Airacobra. 

Alexandre

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Photos and text © by Alexandre Jay