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Thor vs. The Trojan...tackling the Kitty Hawk T-28


bdthoresen

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It has been some time since I have posted anything of any substance as of late. My family, career, and 1/1 aircraft restoration take up the majority of my time these days. I have been building some, although not as frequently as I would sometimes like. I had been tinkering away with an Academy 1/48th CH-53E, and desperately needed a break from the filling and sanding of the hundred or so ejector pin marks on the model. I chose the Kitty Hawk Trojan as a welcome distraction after following some of the builds here from "Herr Clunk" and Brian Leitch, among others. Being that I have both flying and "wrenching" experience around Trojans, I decided that I was going to build this model primarily straight from the box, with a notable few exceptions....(which I will explain as I go)...

Here is a shot of the cockpit so far. I used Model Master enamels throughout. The base color is Dark Gull Gray with details picked out in their respective colors. I had originally applied the decals like others had, but found the pit decals would not settle over all of the raised detail in my example. JohnB came to the rescue, and sent me a spare sheet he had not used (Thanks John) I modified the kit's side console decals by cutting out each individual placard and panel an applied them in their respective locations. The reasoning here is that Kitty Hawk printed the decals with a strange blue background that does not near match the actual color of the aircraft. Brian used them successfully, but I decided in the end I could not live with the discrepancy. So it made the job much more difficult, but I am happy so far with the results....

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And another shot of the cockpit in-progress....

 

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I managed to do the same procedure with the instrument panel decals, cutting them out one at a time to eliminate as much of the printed cockpit color as I could....the placards were quite tiny, and tough to maneuver. I find Kitty Hawk's decals like to stick where they land, so I had to float them into place. A bit more work than usual, but worth it in the end. Next time I will use some Airscale instruments....

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Here is the left sidewall, with the same treatment of the decals. I am going to add the throttle, propeller, and mixture control levers that are so prominent in the real aircraft. This will also add a bit more color and definition to this side of the cockpit as well.

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Last shot of the cockpit parts, including the back deck, sticks, and control gust lock. The kit provides two of these, but I am only using one in the front pit, as there usually was not in the rear cockpit.

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I still have to gloss-coat everything, do some pin washes, weathering and highlighting. I am leaning toward one of the Vietnamese attack birds on the AOA decal sheet. But I still have not decided completely.

I will also be making my own harnesses for the seats, as the kit ones are, well, different (not that the kit seats are totally correct, either!).....I also do not like layering photoetch straps to build them. I will use some wine bottle foil and Tamiya tape to fabricate these. I also will not be replicating them exactly, as I will be installing a standard four point harness.

Last pic of the night is the engine assembly. I have shoe-horned more nose weight into every hollow part I can to help keep the model from sitting on it's tail. I did not bother detail painting anything aft of the exhausts, as I plan to display the cowling closed.....I also applied a spare data plate decal to the crankcase, and still have a bit of weathering to do.


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More this weekend....(unless the girls have anything to say about it!! ;) )

As always...Thanks for stopping in-

THOR    :ph34r:

 

Edited by bdthoresen
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Indeed very nice start! I think you'll fully enjoy the kit, as the kit is really remarkable. Just watch the prop shaft length, and remember to fill those pylon holes if your doing a trainer!

 

Really handy to fill them before assembly to me as well.    Model on! 

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Terrific start, Thor! Everything's looking great so far.

 

Kev

Good Day, Kev! Thanks for the compliments! How's the Birdcage project coming?

 

Engine looks exquisite  :m0152:

 

Thanks very much, Martin!

 

Indeed very nice start! I think you'll fully enjoy the kit, as the kit is really remarkable. Just watch the prop shaft length, and remember to fill those pylon holes if your doing a trainer!

 

Really handy to fill them before assembly to me as well.    Model on!

Thanks, Bri. I am enjoying the kit thus far. I did notice in your build the crankshaft/propeller hub length was off. I will address that along the way. I might also correct the blade shape some. I guess it will be a matter of how badly it annoys me when I get there. I will be adding external weaponry, but will hold out on the loadout until I decide which bird I am going to model. Thanks for stopping in!

 

Good on you buddy!! Great start. I think I'll follow along....Harv

Thanks much, Harv. Your Corsair build is looking good!

 

Awesome start Thor!

 

Hows the Luscombe coming along?

Hey Anthony, thanks for stopping by. The Luscombe is progressing extremely slowly, as the entire aircraft has to be disassembled one section at a time. EVERY single rivet has to come out. I have been searching for some small, elusive parts that I require before I can properly close out the nose section. But, we shall get there in time......How's the Auster coming along?

 

Thanks to all who popped in!

 

THOR    :ninja:

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Guest Peterpools

Thor

Fantastic to see you back at the bench and enjoying sharing a build with us. Terrific start on the front office and I'll be with you all the way.

Now if only someone would bring out a Luscombe in 24th scale !

Keep 'em coming

Peter

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Nice start Thor  :popcorn:

 

Torben

 

Thanks Torben. I appreciate it. Please keep the updates coming on the Airacobra!

 

That looks stunning. Loving the engine work you have done. 

Thanks Gerhard. Still a bit to do on the exhausts, but I am close to completing it.

 

Thor,

 

Very crisp, clean work. My mom flew these in the Navy, so I have a soft spot for this aircraft.

 

Cheers, Tom

Awesome Tom! I love hearing about those kinds of connections. Thanks for stopping in.

 

Thor

Fantastic to see you back at the bench and enjoying sharing a build with us. Terrific start on the front office and I'll be with you all the way.

Now if only someone would bring out a Luscombe in 24th scale !

Keep 'em coming

Peter

Thanks Peter. Loving your work on the Uhu at the moment. please keep the updates coming. I have been working on drawings for a 24th scale Luscombe. I thought about working it into a castable kit, butI am not sure there would be a market for it. However, I do have one excellent piece of reference material! Thanks for stopping in!

 

THOR   

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Looking really good! I'm glad I was able to help out. :)

John, thanks again so much for your help on the spare decals. You, sir, are a life saver!

 

Thor, I'm in for the Luscombe, as long as reference photos are included.

Peter

Well, that is the problem Peter....the Luscombe went through over 600 known production changes during the years of 1939 to 1950. Couple that with an airframe that has an extremely complex set of shapes, and it is not an easy kit to pattern. But I will visit it a little closer to time, when i can pick up the pattern making again.

 

More to follow this weekend- Thanks All!

 

THOR    :ninja:

Edited by bdthoresen
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Guest Peterpools

Thor

Got ya but just use your Luscombe for the pattern.

I would absolutely love to build a 1/24th scale Luscombe.

Peter

Edited by Peterpools
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