Ok,
here's my first contribution to ARC; an Argentinean SUE, that fought on Falkland
(Malvinas) on 1982 conflict.
History:
The model represented here it's the 3-A-204 from "2do
Escuadron. Aeronaval Caza" that
sink the British Cargo Ship MV Atlantic Conveyor on 25th May, 1982 by
"Capitan de Corbeta Oberto Curilovic", callsign "Tito",
his wingman "Teniente de Navio Julio Barraza"
call sign "Leo" flying SUE 3-A-203 , mission
callsign "MINA",
Both
planes depart from "Rio Grande" air base at 14:34 hrs, heading
NE, they refuel at 15:45 hrs a KC-130H call
sign "Berlin", then heading East flying at
8 or 10 meters over the sea ,
were they found the target exactly where the radars had predicted (58º 38'
South, 56º 8' West ) and fire
at 16: 31 hrs.
"According
to British sources, the Exocets hit the cargo ship MV Atlantic Conveyor at 16:36
hrs and the ship caught fire and sank in a couple of hours. It was the greatest
logistic loss suffered by the British Task Force 317, because the Atlantic
Conveyor was carrying tents for 5,000 men, at least ten helicopters (three
Chinooks HC.1 of the 18th Sqdn. RAF, six Wessexs HU.5 of the 848th Sqdn. RN, and
one Lynx HAS.2 of the 815th Squadron RN), spare engines and pieces for the
Harriers, a plant to make sea water drinkable, and the materials to build a
mobile runway for the Sea Harriers" taken from
http://britains-smallwars.com/Falklands/Exocet.html
The
Kit: Academy
kit it's detailed, with engraved panel lines, but Heller has better
detail between the front landing gear and air brakes. I had some
fit problems on the rear fuselage, both side fit very bad, so I
had to use a lot of putty, when sanding some details where erased, so
I rescribe this detail..
Decals:
Condor Decals from Argentina and Academy. It's
important to mention that the decals from Condor Decals are impressive for the
detail, but they are to thick, so I
use "3-A-204" and "ARMADA" decal from Academy and the rest
from Condor Decals.
http://www.condordecals.com.ar
Photos
by Guillermo Alfaro, unless it's specified
The
Academy kit includes 2 pylons for the fuel tank and Exocet, but doesn't
include the correct pylon to launch the Exocet so I made it with
Styrene, I use the photos 13,14, 15, 16 below, that kindly Fabian
Vera sent for reference. Also I perforated the rear of
the missile and insert 2 tiny copper tubes to better simulate the
exhaust.
Photo
by Sergio Contreras.
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Detailing
the landing gear with photo etch.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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Note
that I detailed the refueling probe using an optional part from an
Academy sprue and refueling cap from
photo etched.
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Painting:
The paint job was finished using Aztek
airbrush, and Humbrol and ModelMaster enamel paints. I've used the
following colors:
- Humbrol
125 Satin US Dark Grey
- Humbrol
47 Sea Blue
- Model
Master FS:37875 Matt White
- Model
Master FS:37038 Black
- Model
Master FS:33531 Yellow
- Model
Master FS:36440 Lt Gull Grey
Click on
images below to see larger images
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Follow photos taken on the quarterly
contest at "ESCALA", Guatemalan Plastic Models Association,
on September 25, 2004 .
Photos by Fernando
Azurdia .
Click on
images below to see larger images
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Reference
photos by Fabian Vera, from Condor Decals fabianvera@condordecals.com.ar and
http://www.modelersite.com
See
you again, (I'll
be back with P-3C Orion in 1/144)
Guillermo
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