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#4291516 - 08/29/16 04:33 PM Aconcagua 1/48 IA-58 Pucara - WIP  
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goon Offline
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Hi gang,
I'm going to do a work in progress build of this, for reasons I shall explain. This is by far the most intimidating kit in my stash, and it cost me a considerable amount of cash too. I've had it down off the shelf several times to start, but couldn't do it. I'm desperate to build it before the inevitable injection kit comes along (pretty much a certainty now I've started this monster!) If I put it up on here a failure to complete will be public and shaming!

I intend to depict A511 as flown by Carlos Tomba, and shot down by Nigel 'Sharkey' Ward on 21st May 1982. As usual I have chosen one of the more challenging examples to reference - no photos of A511 during the conflict exist.

Box shot


An invaluable reference.


I should have taken a box contents shot, but have already started the kit, so here's a quick snap of what we're up against!


Last edited by goon; 11/20/16 11:03 PM.

cheers
Gareth

UNDERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the front wing.
OVERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the back wing.
HORSEPOWER - is how fast you hit the wall.
TORQUE - is how far you can take the wall with you.

Read my scale modelling blog at www.latibuliser.com or mfhmazda787.com
Inline advert (2nd and 3rd post)

#4291528 - 08/29/16 04:53 PM Re: Aconcagua 1/48 IA-58 Pucara - WIP [Re: goon]  
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- Ice Offline
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Good luck! Are you going to post WIP pics?


- Ice
#4292265 - 08/31/16 08:12 PM Re: Aconcagua 1/48 IA-58 Pucara - WIP [Re: goon]  
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goon Offline
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Yep, pics as I go, good motivation not to give up.

First up, get the photo-etched stuff off the weird black rubber backing. A good soak in nail polish remover did the trick.


Then remove the blank in the hatch for the gun bay. Also, the Pucara has a step that lowers automatically when the canopy is raised. This is missed on the kit, and it's a simple job to exacavate a recess for adding the detail later on.


cheers
Gareth

UNDERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the front wing.
OVERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the back wing.
HORSEPOWER - is how fast you hit the wall.
TORQUE - is how far you can take the wall with you.

Read my scale modelling blog at www.latibuliser.com or mfhmazda787.com
#4293072 - 09/02/16 07:05 PM Re: Aconcagua 1/48 IA-58 Pucara - WIP [Re: goon]  
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goon Offline
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This is an all resin kit, poured into silicone moulds rather than injected in to steel ones, producing the familiar 'tree' of parts. Nearly all of the parts have a pouring stub, which is the cast of the aperture in the top of the mould the liquid resin is poured in to. Therefore, you don't just snip the parts of the sprues, you have to razor saw then sand them off. This is the tail of the fuselage, with one block after sawing most off, and the other fully cleaned up. (Dubious substance is water and resin dust on the wet and dry paper!)



cheers
Gareth

UNDERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the front wing.
OVERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the back wing.
HORSEPOWER - is how fast you hit the wall.
TORQUE - is how far you can take the wall with you.

Read my scale modelling blog at www.latibuliser.com or mfhmazda787.com
#4293564 - 09/04/16 07:29 PM Re: Aconcagua 1/48 IA-58 Pucara - WIP [Re: goon]  
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goon Offline
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I've got the seats finished today. The castings are nicely details, but the detail is a bit 'soft' so it's hard to get a sharp look to them. I've added some Eduard ejection handles, and two bits of scratch made handles.

Some pictures of the painting process showing how the colours are blocked in, before washing and highlighting.









cheers
Gareth

UNDERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the front wing.
OVERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the back wing.
HORSEPOWER - is how fast you hit the wall.
TORQUE - is how far you can take the wall with you.

Read my scale modelling blog at www.latibuliser.com or mfhmazda787.com
#4293656 - 09/05/16 04:44 AM Re: Aconcagua 1/48 IA-58 Pucara - WIP [Re: goon]  
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Dart Offline
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Stunning detail!


The opinions of this poster are largely based on facts and portray a possible version of the actual events.

More dumb stuff at http://www.darts-page.com

From Laser:
"The forum is the place where combat (real time) flight simulator fans come to play turn based strategy combat."
#4294052 - 09/06/16 09:23 PM Re: Aconcagua 1/48 IA-58 Pucara - WIP [Re: goon]  
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trindade Offline
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Beautiful work! thumbsup

#4294098 - 09/07/16 02:23 AM Re: Aconcagua 1/48 IA-58 Pucara - WIP [Re: goon]  
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Maico Offline
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NICE! jawdrop


Maico
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#4294122 - 09/07/16 06:23 AM Re: Aconcagua 1/48 IA-58 Pucara - WIP [Re: goon]  
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wheelsup_cavu Offline
Lifer
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Looking forward to watching your build progress. smile


Wheels


Cheers wave
Wheelsup_cavu

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#4295128 - 09/10/16 09:12 PM Re: Aconcagua 1/48 IA-58 Pucara - WIP [Re: goon]  
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goon Offline
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Here's a test fit of the seats and half done IPs, plus close up of the IPs with more work done. Some detail to add there still.



I spent a whole evening trying to cut decals to make the white stripe round the 'Basic T' and ended up with an over scale mess. After painting over it a quick dry brush proved way more effective.


Down to the nitty gritty now - test fitting is all very well, but when you start trying to make parts actually fit you run in to some trouble. The nose gear bay insert must be 2 - 3mm too wide, and there is not much material you can remove to make it fit. The outrageously expensive micro-chisel I bought on a whim, and used once, seems like a total bargain now! (You'll note I've broken through the trough for the starboard gun, which will need fixing.) An hour to get this part to fit so far. Still, I've got beer, salty snacks, and I have escaped 'reality' TV!


Even the very basic construction of this kit is challenging.


cheers
Gareth

UNDERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the front wing.
OVERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the back wing.
HORSEPOWER - is how fast you hit the wall.
TORQUE - is how far you can take the wall with you.

Read my scale modelling blog at www.latibuliser.com or mfhmazda787.com
#4295175 - 09/11/16 01:41 AM Re: Aconcagua 1/48 IA-58 Pucara - WIP [Re: goon]  
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Dart Offline
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Lifer

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Incredible detail work.


The opinions of this poster are largely based on facts and portray a possible version of the actual events.

More dumb stuff at http://www.darts-page.com

From Laser:
"The forum is the place where combat (real time) flight simulator fans come to play turn based strategy combat."
#4295237 - 09/11/16 01:46 PM Re: Aconcagua 1/48 IA-58 Pucara - WIP [Re: Dart]  
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Nixer Offline
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Really a unique subject a/c this time around. Great looking work as always.


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#4297967 - 09/21/16 07:26 PM Re: Aconcagua 1/48 IA-58 Pucara - WIP [Re: goon]  
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goon Offline
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This is about as near as I can get the fuselage sides. Probably a bit closer now, but the second picture shows that the port sidewalls are paper thin. I think I'm just going to have to get it as near as I can and deal with the gaps.





A quick test fit of the windshield shows this should be the best way anyway, as it will be too wide if I get a better fit.

It's a tricky kit, but I'm really enjoying it. It's totally absorbing, which is welcome during a very difficult time at work.


cheers
Gareth

UNDERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the front wing.
OVERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the back wing.
HORSEPOWER - is how fast you hit the wall.
TORQUE - is how far you can take the wall with you.

Read my scale modelling blog at www.latibuliser.com or mfhmazda787.com
#4298684 - 09/24/16 06:27 PM Re: Aconcagua 1/48 IA-58 Pucara - WIP [Re: goon]  
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goon Offline
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I've started bringing the inboard part of the wings together. Basically three parts, the wing, the lower part of the gear bay, and the front of the engine nacelle. There's going to lots of waiting for filler to dry!



The fuselage is also joined. Because it only fits where it touches I need to make sure it touches as much as possible. Clamps everywhere while generous amounts of two-part epoxy and superglue dry.



I'm possibly doing this kit a dis-service. Whilst there are gaps, the profiles are, for the most part, spot on. Gaps are easily dealt with, steps where the profiles don't match are much more work. I've had mainstream injection moulded kits that with profiles that don't match this well.


cheers
Gareth

UNDERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the front wing.
OVERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the back wing.
HORSEPOWER - is how fast you hit the wall.
TORQUE - is how far you can take the wall with you.

Read my scale modelling blog at www.latibuliser.com or mfhmazda787.com
#4301908 - 10/09/16 05:23 PM Re: Aconcagua 1/48 IA-58 Pucara - WIP [Re: goon]  
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goon Offline
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It's Pucara shaped at last. Here's the underside with the wing roots and the part that fairs them in to the fuselage. Liberal amounts of Mr. Surfacer needed!



And the massive step at the upper part of the root. Lovely! Turned out really easy to sand down and reprofile.


Resin sands and shapes so much easier then styrene, so it wasn't quite the awful job I expected. The port wing was the same.



This afternoon I've fitted the tailplanes and outer sections of the wings. I've just gone for simple super glue butt joints, no reinforcing brass rod or anything like. I hope it holds up to handlling. Seems solid enough so far.


The next hurdle is the fitting of the vac-form windshield. Should be fun!

Last edited by goon; 10/09/16 05:24 PM.

cheers
Gareth

UNDERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the front wing.
OVERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the back wing.
HORSEPOWER - is how fast you hit the wall.
TORQUE - is how far you can take the wall with you.

Read my scale modelling blog at www.latibuliser.com or mfhmazda787.com
#4301957 - 10/09/16 09:26 PM Re: Aconcagua 1/48 IA-58 Pucara - WIP [Re: goon]  
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Lifer
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Vienna, 2nd rock left.
Sheez, that kit is far out of spec... isn't resin supposed to be more accurate? Or is it more detailed but less easy to get snug from the mold?

#4302377 - 10/11/16 12:24 PM Re: Aconcagua 1/48 IA-58 Pucara - WIP [Re: RSColonel_131st]  
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Great work as usual Goon.

Just chuckled to myself as I imagined me trying to superglue all that together. I figure I would have most of my fingers glued together as well. hahaha


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I am not there, never have been or ever will be, but the fruitless search may be more gratifying then the "content" you might otherwise be exposed to.

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#4302520 - 10/11/16 09:00 PM Re: Aconcagua 1/48 IA-58 Pucara - WIP [Re: goon]  
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It's not too bad Colonel. Resin allows much finer details, and allows 'undercuts' in detail. But it's the outlay for making moulds that makes it attractive for 'garage' companies like Aconcagua. They can make their own moulds to cast from, bypassing the huge outlay for injection moulding but large resin parts can be slightly unpredictable, and they pass on the cost of hand finishing the parts to the customer. There are much worse resin kits than this. I've seen mainstream injection moulded kits worse than this!

The wing joins are quite cleverly done. There's a PE representation of a stiffener that fits over the upper joint. It's not perfect but I'm not going to get too hung up on the fit of this kit. A decent 1/48 Pucara at the end will be a win!



The bottom part of the joints are covered by the pylons. Each one has a landing light in, which the kit represents with a poorly fitting vac form part. I've carved out the bulb and replaced the whole thing with a wedge of solid clear plastic. This will be sanded to shape, and with a bit of luck it will polish nicely to make a neat looking light cover.


Off on holiday tomorrow, so no progress for a couple of weeks.

(There were some super glue mishaps Nixer, but none as bad as the time I superglued my elbow to the cutting mat. There was a proper mess when I stood up from the desk!)


cheers
Gareth

UNDERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the front wing.
OVERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the back wing.
HORSEPOWER - is how fast you hit the wall.
TORQUE - is how far you can take the wall with you.

Read my scale modelling blog at www.latibuliser.com or mfhmazda787.com
#4307844 - 10/31/16 09:07 PM Re: Aconcagua 1/48 IA-58 Pucara - WIP [Re: goon]  
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Right, that's the holiday out of the way, back to the shed!

Here's a poor photo of a finished pylon, and one in progress. The lenses polish up quite well.



I've also got the bulk of the airframe together. Only the flaps are not fitted, and as they will be in the lowered position I'll be waiting a while before I fit them to avoid damage. The windshield is pretty poor fit. I could have carried on trimming but it didn't seem to be getting any better, and because there's a hefty fairing / frame at the base, with a handy change of contour it should sand in to shape.









The primer has shown up myriad flaws in the surface, which is part of it's job I suppose. I foresee a few evenings chasing imperfections around the model!


cheers
Gareth

UNDERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the front wing.
OVERSTEER - is when you hit the wall with the back wing.
HORSEPOWER - is how fast you hit the wall.
TORQUE - is how far you can take the wall with you.

Read my scale modelling blog at www.latibuliser.com or mfhmazda787.com
#4308207 - 11/01/16 11:21 PM Re: Aconcagua 1/48 IA-58 Pucara - WIP [Re: goon]  
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I don't remember the last time seeing a windshield of that quality. I would have had a "Fit" over it. biggrin

I know it's in great hands.

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