Family build - 2 x SAAB 29 Tunnan (Heller 1:72)

[Pellson]

As mentioned elsewhere, I have sourced two 1/72 Heller SAAB J/S29 Tunnan. While having a plan to build one myself as a recon bird, the original idea was to present the other one to young mr P at his forthcoming birthday, However, it came to me that a better idea might be to do a joint venture with him,  so said and done - for the weekend excursion to our archipelago cottage, I brought some modelling gear, the two Tunnan kits (and a few other ones) and off we went!

Having however encountered some unforeseen challenges, less time yesterday was spent modelling than first thought, but despite that, we managed to get the internal details painted, the cockpits built and - at last, actually after midnight - the fuselages closed up. As it happened, the lad rather wants a fighter than a snooper, so we are building one each of the two options in the kit, which I actually think is adding to the experience.

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Having slept in a bit (after all, it's Sunday) we still managed to get a little bit further before having to pack up and return home. The rather ill fitting alternative noses got puttied in properly and then sanded back and we are now ready for wings.

But that's for another day!

[PR19_Kit]

And what about the Mustang in the middle of the table?

[Pellson]

And what about the Mustang in the middle of the table?

That, Sir, is young mr P's already ongoing project, and as we all know, the key to an effective modelling session is to have at least two projects in process simultaneously so when one build is hardening, drying or just under consideration, you have a second build to carry on with.

The Mustang, by the way, is now all but ready for painting. That's nice as the original plan was to be at this stage before school started after Christmas. But now we're there, and maybe that's partially due to the visit at the air force museum as they have a Mustang in the exhibition, and we did make a few rounds while there 

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[NARSES2]

And what about the Mustang in the middle of the table?

That, Sir, is young mr P's already ongoing project, and as we all know, the key to an effective modelling session is to have at least two projects in process simultaneously so when one build is hardening, drying or just under consideration, you have a second build to carry on with.

A minimum of two 

[Pellson]

Having sorted the most of the PSR during a few odd meetings, we gathered to get some wings on. And here we are, everything glued on except the canopies.
It's been good fun, both building a 29 again after so many years, but even more doing it together with the laddie. Also, there's a certain pleasure in building both versions side by side.

Annoyingly, he's significantly better than I was at his age, putting things very straight at the first go, and not covering everything in gluey fingerprints, but then again, one can't be but proud! 😊

I've promised to mount the canopies on both aircraft, and then to find some rocket pylons for his A29E fighterbomber. I have a set of rockets in the spares that will do fine, but I'll need to do something about the rails on my own.

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[Pellson]

And another one..

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[Pellson]

Interestingly, sifting through my references, I found this photo

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Not only does it show the camouflage I'll be going for (approximately), but the pilot is an old acquaintance from my days as a glider pilot. This pic is, however, some thirty years before I met him.

[Captain Canada]

Thart's cool. The builds are looking great ! And indeed, minimum of 2 lol

[Rick Lowe]

And another one..

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So, that's what one looks like when I haven't hacked it about... who knew.

I like the idea of building both options, it gives you a chance to see how both look.

And yes, I concur at a minimum of two on the go at once...

(now how in the world did a quote increase the size of the photos?)

[NARSES2]

Annoyingly, he's significantly better than I was at his age, putting things very straight at the first go, and not covering everything in gluey fingerprints, but then again, one can't be but proud! 😊

Pesky kids 

And another one..

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Got a "sea-plane" fighter vibe about it. A mini SR A/1 ?

[Scotaidh]

Isn't the whole point to teach our kids so they get a boost starting out?  When I started out, I didn't understand that model glue melts the plastic, welding the bits together.  My only glue referent at that age was the brown mucilage glue from grade school. 

My Airfix Mayflower was OK, but my Cutty Sark came to grief because of a warped fore deck that repeated generous glue applications didn't cure ... poor thing! 

My point is that the horrified realization from that incident made sure that younger modelers always got from me the caution about 'glue-melted' styrene - giving them at least a bit of a head start.  I also cautioned about fingerprints, glue and/or paint, as well as leaving the canopy until last despite what the directions say.  (Why do they do that - put the canopy on at step 2?)

So be proud of your son - he listened to you and also learned from watching you do your thing.  That's awesome!

[Rick Lowe]

Isn't the whole point to teach our kids so they get a boost starting out?  When I started out, I didn't understand that model glue melts the plastic, welding the bits together.  My only glue referent at that age was the brown mucilage glue from grade school. 

My Airfix Mayflower was OK, but my Cutty Sark came to grief because of a warped fore deck that repeated generous glue applications didn't cure ... poor thing! 

My point is that the horrified realization from that incident made sure that younger modelers always got from me the caution about 'glue-melted' styrene - giving them at least a bit of a head start.  I also cautioned about fingerprints, glue and/or paint, as well as leaving the canopy until last despite what the directions say.  (Why do they do that - put the canopy on at step 2?)

So be proud of your son - he listened to you and also learned from watching you do your thing.  That's awesome!

Couldn't agree more!

[Pellson]

Thanks, Scotty. That's a very valid comment, all of it.

I am ridiculously proud of all my three kids, the two lassies and the little lad. They've all of them come out very well, surprisingly well behaved and above all very kind. The rest is bonus, you know..

When I started off modelling, the only styrene glue we could get was those old Britfix tubes. Remember? They were pretty awful, seen in retrospect, dripping and drooling all over the place, but at the time, one made do. These days, the thin-piped Revell Contacta is much better in all imaginable aspects, welding much better and at the same time being infinitely more easy to apply exact. Everything wasn't better back then..

Despite a multitude of other chores on my list for today, I managed to produce two more rocket pylons for the attack Tunnan, and also dig out and attach the rockets to the pylons. Now I have eight sets waiting for some paint and then to go on the plane.
My own recce bird had her canopy on today, and also an under-nose antenna that's left out from the kit. I think it has something to do with the for it's time rather substantial nav set, and regardless, it looks cool, so on it went. And with that, my S29H is ready for painting. We'll see when we get that far.

I'll see if I can reach to interview the lad about his preferences for camouflage on his A29 tomorrow morning before school. If so, then I can paint the pylons and ready that bird too for painting - which would be cool. If not, then that's for tomorrow afternoon. No stress.

[Pellson]

Added an antenna reflector to the S29 intake today, and while at it, took a shot of the A29 rocket installation.

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Looking at the camo up close, you can really see there's another paint coating needed.

[Rick Lowe]

Now that *is* a large amount of ordnance for something that small. An almost Skyraider-esque amount of Bang; quite enough to ruin anyone's day. 

Yeah, close up photos can be disconcerting, revealing stuff we can't see by eye.