April Group Build-SAAB and Swedish-Operated

[Second Air Force]

The April GB will have a Swedish theme. I will kick this Build off with an apology on my part--I know the SAAB B17 I'm working on will not be done in time. So, to kick off the month, I'll show just how far the SAAB has gotten thus far:

April Group Build-SAAB and Swedish-Operated

My actual entry into the April build will be a J26. I have a couple of previously built Monogram P-51s languishing in storage and one of these will be restored for this project. Here's the soon-to-be-former Australian Mustang at the beginning of the rebuild:

April Group Build-SAAB and Swedish-Operated

April Group Build-SAAB and Swedish-Operated

[No.1]

I have SAAB Lansen in 1/72 for this build and will dig it out and start soon

[Second Air Force]

 

I've looked around here at my local hobby shop but there isn't any SAAB machinery to be had. We've got lots of Mustangs and P-47s, though!

I'd really like to find a Kora resin kit of the FFVS J 22 at a cheap price......

[No.1]

J 22 would be perfect! I like this airplane. I also have one Gladiator but need to see decals for this machine.

[Second Air Force]

I am quite frugal when it comes to this stuff, so the prices I see for the J 22 are out of my league. Perhaps I'll just scratchbuild one sometime......

Your Gladiator sounds excellent!

[Sall]

Go ahead guys!!

[Second Air Force]

Some progress on my J 26. First the dorsal fin fillet had to come off. The airplane I'm modeling was an early P-51D-5 that had no fin fillet. Simple to cut this off with the saw and then file/sand/fill to proper shape.

April Group Build-SAAB and Swedish-Operated

This model was originally one of my better efforts when it comes to filling seams. Monogram Mustangs aren't the greatest with regard to fit, especially on the optional access panels on the left wing and under the engine. Notice the large gaps on the ammunition and gun bays on that left wing. I basically just removed the decals from this and scuffed the silver paint for a little priming and touching up.

April Group Build-SAAB and Swedish-Operated

[No.1]

[Sall]

Nice.

[Second Air Force]

Painting of the J 26 commenced with the camouflage. Again, this is a quick restoration project. These old Monogram kits don't really lend themselves to NMF finish so I'm going with the camouflaged bird. I am using roundels from a Sky Models CR.42 decal sheet. Notice how wrinkled that insignia is? DON'T USE MICROSOL on Sky decals! Not all of those wrinkles flattened completely when dry. Microset works great, however. Live and learn!

April Group Build-SAAB and Swedish-Operated

April Group Build-SAAB and Swedish-Operated

This build is giving me more experience with the "un-sticky" masking tape. It works alright but leaves a little residue when removed. This rubs off easily after letting the paint cure, though.

[No.1]

Did you have problem with cracking decal at bottom or this is just light effect on wet decal?

[Second Air Force]

It didn't crack, but it wrinkled a LOT. Usually the wrinkles smooth out later, but this one left some lines after drying. I suspect it isn't that the Sky decal film is incompatible with MicroSol but is because it is such a large decal and it stretched too much. At least it is on the bottom of the model, and it was a good learning experience for me. That's why these restoration projects are useful to me--if I make a mistake or find out something doesn't work it is on a shelf model.

[Sall]

Look nice..
Will you solve this problem with decal or leave it like this?

[No.1]

This is not problem at all, it normally happen. I guess you also have Superset for this

[Second Air Force]

Look nice..
Will you solve this problem with decal or leave it like this?

I thought to remove the decal a couple of times, Sall. It wasn't dry yet and I went to bed hoping to find it had laid down properly by morning. I brewed a pot of coffee and then looked at it and the small wrinkles had remained. On this model it was best not to waste another decal so I left it as it was. I again tried a lesser amount of the MicroSol on the other underwing roundel and it worked somewhat better. I certainly don't wish to blame either the decal or solvent as being faulty, just that they aren't fully compatible.