This is the 1:144
scale Welsh Models full resin Canadair CP-107 Argus, Mk I. (kit No MT23R)
The kit includes white metal props, gear and wheels and a clear resin nose.
It comes with RCAF decal markings but, because of the printing method, the
roundels, lightning stripes, etc are not usable if one wishes to use a
"bare metal" finish as they have a silvery grey backing instead of
being printed on clear decal paper. Luckily, the window decals are usable
and fit perfectly. For all of the other markings I used the excellent
CanMilAir decals and they, too, worked perfectly, including the prop tip
red-whit-red stripes.
The white and red
parts of the model are Testors enamels (small bottles) and the bare metal paint
scheme is mostly Tamiya Gloss Aluminum polished with SNJ polishing powder after
lots of sanding and applications of Future to get a glossy smooth surface on the
rather grainy resin. Selected parts, such as the engine nacelles, were
airbrushed with Model Master Titanium, Burnt Metal and Burnt Iron. Light
touches of Tamiya Clear Blue were used to try to replicate the scorched
metal around the exhausts.
Click on
images below to see larger images
All of the parts except the
vertical fin and the engines fit well. The engines need some sanding
and scraping to get a smooth fit to the nacelle. The mating of the
vertical tail with the fuselage requires a fair bit of scraping and
filling for a seamless match. The height of the main gear and nose
gear do not match. It seems to me that the stance of the main gear
is correct and the nose gear must be shortened. You also have to
carve your own wheel well opening through the nose radome to affix the
nose wheel assembly. Remember to put a big hunk of weight in
the fuselage to keep it from tail sitting. (I used wheel weights
suitably mushed to fit). It's a good thing it has metal gear as it
is one heavy model when finished.
It takes some work
and a few tense moments but the end result is a rather pleasing model of a
subject which, until now, was not at all easily attainable.
Mike Scullion
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