Finished: AJMM's Grumman Duck

[ajmm]

Looking at the model and the finesse of both rigging and tail struts...you just know what I'm going to say next, don't you?

Merlin, you loathsome creature!

[Jonathan]

You are doing fine work there, Angus

[ajmm]

Thanks Jonathan!

[MerlinJones]

Mwa-hahaha-haaaaaaaaaaaaa!

[smeg1959]

Angus, it'll teach him a lesson if he misplaces those "bloody tweezers" come rigging time on his Fokkers!

[ajmm]

Thanks Smeg - that would be ideal!

Well I replaced the front struts on the wing floats. It's a happy compromise between scale aesthetics and structural integrity. After all, there's at least one very good reason why they didn't build the pyramids out of stretched sprue...



I'm happier with that so thank you for the goading Merlin. My conscience is massaged.

I also got the stars and bars on. I did the surround using some white backing film available from Fantasy Primtshop alongside a stars and bars sheet they also do - helpful because I knew that the sizes matched up...



I applied a white backing to the left wing and let it snuggle in with Humbrol decalset.



Then I carefully painted it the same aluminium shade as the upper wing, which was actually remarkably easy with Vallejo acrylics. Then I put the insignia over this (although I was too excitable and should have let it set longer first - near disaster averted). I had to trim it a little as the ends were too long, but given it was a decal underneath, all it took was a stroke with a v sharp knife and some toothpick persuasion.



Looks pretty convincing I think. Happy with that.



All told, we're progressing nicely, duck and I. Just the rest of the serial, the prop (painted and built), an ADF ball, some wires and a satin coat on the wings to go. That's all until after the weekend but I hope to get this done early next week.

[smeg1959]

That's one stylish quacker. The red makes the whole aircraft stand out like a beacon. Absolutely adore it!

[ajmm]

A whisker from completion now. Prop on last night and I dulled down the red with a satin varnish. Also did a small panel wash in the ailerons and elevators to add some depth - otherwise I left the surface alone weatheringwise. I nicked an ADF football from an old B-29.



All that's left to add are the antenna posts on the wings and the antenna itself. Just when I thought I'd finished sticking Uschi thread to my fingers...

[MerlinJones]

...Just when I thought I'd finished sticking Uschi thread to my fingers...

Looking good and who would've thought that static cling would become a modelling issue?

[ajmm]

Finished! Photobucket be damned, completed photos posted the old fashioned way.

I finished this on Tuesday actually but not able to photograph until tonight.

Fun little build.

I'm glad I took the time to think through the painting sequence and decalling in depth as I think that saved me some anguish in the long run.

Given half a shot I'd build another tomorrow - probably in some handsome tri-colour scheme.

Thanks as ever for looking and for all the encouragement and useful suggestions and heckles along the way!