Steampunk : The Aviator (Dieselkits 1/35)

[draken35]

OK, let's go with that new one! So, it's a kit printed in 3D; first time I'm working with such a kit...
Parts are really nice. The attachment plots used for printing are removed by the manufacturer but you have to finish the work, sanding the residues. That took me two afternoons because there were lot of sanding to do...

I noticed that sanding was not complete on the propeller... Trying to ameliorate the result, I broke a propeller blade! Trying to fix the broken blade, I broke another blade!!!
...OK, cool, be quiet, keep calm... I remembered that I have on my stash an overtree of Eduard Spitfire XVI. The propeller has the same size than the Dieselkit one; so I replaced the 3-blades propeller of the kit by a 4-blade one...

Then it was time to wash the parts; there were lot of sanding dust on them. I put the parts in a water basin with dish soap; rinced them and then put them on a towel and throwed the water away in the lavabo of the kitchen.
...But back to the workbench I realized I've forgot to remove the windshield out of the basin! Of course, the windshield was definitively gone...
I take a Q-tip plastic coverbox and made a new windshiel with that plastic...

After that, my first work was to dig the exhausts with a drill (1,2mm).

The instrument panel doesn't really exist in the kit; just a part without instruments engraved and no decals. So, back to the spare box; I had a Yahu Spitfire IX instrument panel at 1/72 scale; that fits quite perfectly on the kit part!

I will also use 1/48 WWII Luftwaffe seatbelts 

Then I've glued some parts together.

The figurine is named "Lucy the Cowgirl" but having a cousin that is photomodel, I will better name her "Linda" because she posed for a photograph with a cowboy hat 

Hope to continue very soon...

[No.1]

Just wonder who imagine kits like this one hope that broken propellers are last problems and you will enjoy entire build

[draken35]

I also hope that the broken propeller and lost windshield will be the only problems... 
And yes indeed, imagination is needed for those creations.

Next step for me: a little bit of miliput

[No.1]

So precise work with Miliput!!

[draken35]

Easy: first you delimit the area with Tamiya masking tape. Then you put the miliput; not too much, just what is needed. Then with a toothpick and moisted q-tips, you finish the work and finally you remove the tape 

[No.1]

Master

[modellius]

Looks great ! Thank you for the tip with miliput !

[draken35]

Thank you!
Sanding excess of miliput ask for more time than usual putty; that tip was given to me by my friend Dominique Jadoul : he uses lot of miliput when creating masters for RetrokiT...

[draken35]

Linda had her fingers (right hand) broken. Little surgery done with stretched sprue. Red choosen to have good vision of the position of the fingers during the process...

[No.1]

  

[draken35]

Thank you my friend 

Today, back on the "Aviator" : correction of the putty on the right side (there were not enough); this time I used miliput.
I've also corrected some defaults on the left wing (gaps due to the 3D printing)

[No.1]

I guess it is perfect now

[draken35]

Perfect? No, not yet...

First, I have fixed the cockpit into the Aviator. Miliput was needed again; but with the technique I'm using, that was easy and even fun! I've also corrected the joint of the turbines.
...And what is not yet perfect? Well, in the process of sanding the cyano on the wings, some rivets disappeared. I've begun their replacement but I think I will do that for the external hal of both wing; to have similar rivets that are a bit thicker then the original ones.

[No.1]

Huge tiny job

[draken35]

Yes my friend; in the meantime I've replaced (6+5+4+3)x2 rivets!