(DONE, pics pg 16/17) NATO Reporting name "Bull." Cuban Tu-4 Heavy Bomber

[TheChronicOne]

I hope the altimeters are calibrated in metres, and not feet, this being a Soviet aircraft. 

These lil guys would be lucky to have matching instrument panels!!  Doesn't look like they have been afforded that luxury, from what I can see,  so perhaps one panel for each   Castro rides along and dictates which to use. 

[TheChronicOne]

You'll find gaps in the engine nacelles best dry brush the cylinder heads before gluing them in place.
You may find that it's easier to add the main landing gear to the lower wings before you glue the two halves together as it can be a bit fiddly adding them afterwards.
Tip tanks can be added or auxiliary jet engines if you prefer.

Good looking out!  Great tip on the gear...    I'm closing in that part of the build. I may do the bombs or paint the glazing or other piddly stuff first but main construction is drawing nearer.

[zenrat]

The bomb aimer is going to need a visit to the chiropractor if he sits like that for too long.

Coming together well.

[TheChronicOne]

The bomb aimer is going to need a visit to the chiropractor if he sits like that for too long.

Coming together well.

Thanks, Fred!   I suspect ol' boy there will take advantage of the glorious social medicine in Cuba!      Castro makes him look for FOD through the bomb sight as the plane taxis.

Work planned for today... uhhh....  Hell I don't know. I need my coffee. I'll get back on that.

[DogfighterZen]

Cockpit and crew are looking good and i think the detailing is paying off.

[TheChronicOne]

Thanks, biggin!  CastroForce-1 is CastroForce-FUN!   


Nyuk nyuk nyuk nyuk!   



:::pulled off stage by big hook::::

[Captain Canada]

Looks great too bad you have to close it up !

[scooter]

Thanks, biggin!  CastroForce-1 is CastroForce-FUN!   


Nyuk nyuk nyuk nyuk!   



:::pulled off stage by big hook::::

[TheChronicOne]

Looks great too bad you have to close it up !

My thoughts as well! I hope I can keep the glass nice and clear and clean so if someone decides to look inside they might see a tiny shred of it.  lol.   Also, I'm kind of wondering why I bother painting the lil dudes that go in the back. I think theres a couple small windows back there but.......  ?!   Oh well.. I have pictures of it so that's good, at least! It's not completely for naught. I can't help but think that a lot of this type work is never seen by anyone aside from the guy that eventually runs it over in the landfill when it cracks open under the weight of them big trash movers. 

Thanks, biggin!  CastroForce-1 is CastroForce-FUN!   


Nyuk nyuk nyuk nyuk!   



:::pulled off stage by big hook::::

[TheChronicOne]

OK, got the transfers in today in the mail. Just opened them up. Under light I can see all kinds of veins and spider webbing across the surface. Doesn't look the same as old dried transfers that explode in water, but still troubling. I'll cut one from an area with a lot of the veining and try it on my test plane. I hope these are viable.

I don't have much experience with "made" or "printed" transfers. Another thing of note is the roundels themselves (the white stars in the middle of.. ) have a pixelated look.. because they are. I'm not too bothered by it personally, but the quality could be better. That said, the other sheet with the fin flash and stuff looks much more crisp with the stars. If they stay on the model and don't fall apart I'm happy!   

(other stuff is $1 a piece items from Dollar Tree that I picked up today... them "chip clips" are larger than standard, how neat!)

[McColm]

You could leave some areas exposed if you wanted to, by painting a thick red line around them or/and use a thinner piece of clear plastic instead if you don't want any dust to get in.

[TheChronicOne]

Damn now that's a cool idea! I won't be doing it on this but I love the idea ... the cut out with the red outline. I would really like to get the new airfix B-17 at some point and I'd like to get one to do this on.  Hmmmmm.....    

[ericr]

oh yes, that one is good, and would fit all the best a very large aircraft

i've always been partial to this scheme.

[Librarian]

If you test a decal and it breaks up then try giving each one a coat of gloss varnish, let it dry and try again. Helps hold weak decals together.

[TheChronicOne]

If you test a decal and it breaks up then try giving each one a coat of gloss varnish, let it dry and try again. Helps hold weak decals together.

Roger that. I tried one, the worst on the whole page, and it had chipping problems. Still, being the WORST one it worked I'd say 85% of the way. I suspect a lot of the others will work better. Still, I agree. I will hit these sheets with some clear gloss to seal everything up and I think I'll be good to go. If need be, I can break out my tiny sized paint brush and do touch ups.