1:72 DAP Bunyip Mk. IIB, BF-K of RAAF 5 Sq., New Guinea, late '44

[Dizzyfugu]

Well, it's early, but I had to search for a suitable project since I had recently "built away" some of the most suitable candidates for this GB. 
However, I found a recent inspiration and a suitable kit as a basis - it's actually (once more) a PantherG drawing that triggered something here:



It looks so natural... My build will differ in many ways, though: I found an Eduard La-7 in the stash that will become the basis, and I will give it a different engine and propeller (maybe spinner-less), as well as a different armament (all in the wings).

We'll see... 

[Doug K]

It looks really good in that scheme

[zenrat]

Cool.  One of the possibles on my mental list is a white-tailed RAAF Wildcat.

[Dizzyfugu]

Preparations go on. Found a suitable Bristol Hercules cowling (from a Matchbox Beaufighter) in the spares box, as well as an engine dummy that should fit into it. Both spend the next week in oven cleaner foam. The propeller is a bit diffifult, but IIRC I have some resin B-24 props that should fit well into the combo.
Really looking forward to this one, esp. because of the colors - AFAIK, RAAF WWII colors are under heavy debate, tone suggestions are controversial, to say the least. 

[NARSES2]

Really looking forward to this one, esp. because of the colors - AFAIK, RAAF WWII colors are under heavy debate, tone suggestions are controversial, to say the least. 

I've got a nice Lifecolor set which look right to me, but I think there would have been huge variation at the time if only because of the immediate War situation in 1942/1943 in particular.

[zenrat]

Also, I have a feeling our sun would fade it pretty badly.

[Dizzyfugu]

Parts safari in the resin sets revealed a quartet of Hispano 20mm cannon for a Hurricane. Might become useful, too... 

[Dizzyfugu]

Also settled for a suitable unit: RAAF's No. 5 squadron, operating in New Guinea in late 1944.

[Dizzyfugu]

"Lift off, we have lift off...". Not finished yet ( ), but first things are on the way - e. g. the donor propeller (resin piece for a B-24, pimped with a metal axis), and engine and cowling have been secured from last week's oven cleaner bath:


1:72 Australian Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) "Bunyip" Mk. IIb - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Australian Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) "Bunyip" Mk. IIb - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Furthermore, here's a look at the kit - pretty lost in the big box, half of it would have been enough:


1:72 Australian Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) "Bunyip" Mk. IIb - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[Old Wombat]

Looking forward to this one coming together!

[Dizzyfugu]

Well, construction phase has been finished. The integration of the new engine was more complicated than expected, and I might replace the propeller with a slightly smaller one (or I will build another one from the B-24 set and clip the lower end of the blades). Additionally, I decided to open/lower the flaps, since this is easy to realize on this kit. Otherwise, the building experience is so-so. The plastic is a little weird and soft, and it takes unusually long to cure with my standard glue.

The dry-fitted engine sans old paint. A section, where the original exhaust was attached, had to be filled, too.


Untitled by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The flaps, WiP:


Untitled by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Cockpit preparations. According to several sources, Australian-built aircraft were painted with the British Interior Green, so I stuck with that:


Untitled by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Painting the engine, with acrylics and a fat coat of black ink:


Untitled by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Strangely, the instructions tell you to glue the fuselage halves together first and then insert the dashboard and the bulkhead with the seat:


Untitled by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The engine "interior" with the adapter tube for the propeller:


Untitled by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Engine parts before assembly:


Untitled by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Lots of PSR around the engine attachment area. The La-7's exhausts had to go, as well as the machine gun bulges on top of the cowling:


Untitled by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Assembly of the major components - with the B-24 prop in place, it looks a little oversized?


Untitled by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


A look underneath:


Untitled by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


And finally with the clear parts in place:


Untitled by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Still some cleaning to do (e. g. the new exhaust port, the cannon magaine bulges on the wings), but progress was better than expected. Work will rest tomorrow , though.

[PR19_Kit]

Typical, less than a whole day into the GB and Dizzy's already finished his main construction! 

[Dizzyfugu]

 

[Tophe]

And not only "done" but "good!"

[Dizzyfugu]

Besides, here's a look at the two propellers - for the new one, I used the central hub from the B-24 set, but simply added the single blades from the La-7 kit. Works very well, and looks much better now.


1:72 Australian Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) "Bunyip" Mk. IIb - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Australian Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) "Bunyip" Mk. IIb - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Today's work: basic painting with individual mixes for the Foliage Green and Earth Brown tones - inspired by real life pictures. No guarantee concerning any authenticity, but both tones appear pretty dark, the green very bluish and the the brown almost like a rich chocolate tone:


1:72 Australian Department of Aircraft Production (DAP) "Bunyip" Mk. IIb - WiP by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Should look great with massive white ID markings!