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Egyptian Desert Kittyhawk


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I started this in 2012 for the 'What Got You Started Simple Times' GB, but lost my Mojo - http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=256207

While it is an old simple kit, what I was doing wasn't really in the spirit of the GB (i.e. cutting the thing to bits rather than just building it).

I've got back into it over this weekend, and here are some progress pics.

The real thing:

Kittyhawk_zps093573ed.jpg

The old kit

Box_zpscddfb372.jpg

It's actually a Warhawk, so I did some quick and dirty conversions mainly to the rear cockpit to make it a Kittyhawk.....sort of ;)

ScratchCockpit2_zps379e951d.jpg

Have got most of the painting done now & sticking on the fiddly bits scratched which I keep knocking off & having to re-glue :doh:

Painted3_zps061aaae9.jpg

Painted7_zpscafaad89.jpg

Painted5_zpsa22cc574.jpg

Painted1_zps7ec7869f.jpg

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So to the base. A mate with a router made me a rough little base out of a pine offcut. I fear it is a bit small (well, I know it is, the port wing will hang well over the edge). Having just moved house, I ditched all my clear varnish (stoopid) but found some dark merbau stain under the new house, so whacked a bit of that on the edges of the base. I then hammered some nails in (which stuck out the bottom, so had to be attacked with the angle grinder :wacko: ) so secure my terrain

Nails_zpsf1d0d201.jpg

So what to make the terrain with. I was considering cutting white polystyrene together, but then wondered if I could find something which could be molded more finely. Being a Sunday, and being impatient to do something, it was off to Bunnings where I found this for $8.30.

Clay_zps62008ff2.jpg

And did this, which was great fun. I just hope it binds to those nails :unsure: :

ClayBase_zpsacc0f88c.jpg

It did strike me that I should have got the rocks I need near the nose of the plane first and buried them in the clay, but I'll have to work out another way to do the rocks.

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Fixed it

FixedBase_zps8783e5f6.jpg

Using

Polyfilla_zps9b2179f1.jpg

I hadn't opened this stuff for probably 10+ yrs, but it still worked OK. Tried to apply it neatly in the cracks using the end of a spare torpedo half, but in the end used the best applicator of all - my finger.

Edited by Thommo
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Went for a walk, found some bits of bitumen, smashed a few up with a hammer, stuck them on with PVA. Bit too dark, so will dry-brush them lighter one I get the sand on.

Rocks3_zps24c96ead.jpg

Rocks1_zpsc2476334.jpg

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I started gluing sand onto the base, but even sand run through a sieve is still 1/1 scale sand, not 1/72 scale. So I'm going to airbrush the sand colour on. Consequently, I undercoated the base with Tamiya spraycan primer - looks like a decent snow scene now.

BaseUndercoat_zps6d997bdb.jpg

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Excellent work there,

Guess the plane needs a bleach as it is there for years...

The pilot didn't made it I read.

A bleach? That might be beyond my skill set, but I'd be keen to hear what you had in mind.

I airbrushed the base with Tamiya Desert Sand, then tried a little Tamyia Buff and Vallejo dark yellow in spots, but it is all too dark.

So I decided a trip to the LHS was in order to seek a lighter sand colour. But when I arrived - tragedy ! They have been closed for a week and don't open again till Monday! So I'll have to attempt one of my dodgy colour mixing experiments over the weekend :o/>

Stay tuned, it could end in tears......

Yes, sadly, the pilot did not make it, it seems.

My background reading on this crash was that 2 Kittyhawks were flying to another airfield for repairs - see http://www.vintagewings.ca/VintageNews/Stories/tabid/116/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/357/language/en-CA/Original-Kittyhawk-HS-B-Discovered.aspx.

This one did not make it - mechanical problems? Though it does appear to have battle damage - perhaps it was that previous battle damage which was going to be repaired? Or perhaps it was shot down?

Edit to say cag_200, I see you are from the Netherlands - very sad day for you, my condolences. 28 Aussies also lost on MH17. Terrible day.

Edited by Thommo
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Airbrushed the the rocks light grey and gave the Kittyhawk a test fit on the base. The port wing needs to be half covered in sand, so I'll have to do that with the putty next. I'm happy with the sand & rock colours. The sand took some experimenting with different shades of Tamiya desert sand.

BaseTest_zpsbaba9b19.jpg

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Yes, the putty cracked like crazy so I spent today filling the cracks with Tamiya putty, then used a beaut Brett Green video to learn how to decant some Tamiya spray can primer into a jar and airbrush the puttied area. Next, I'll try to match the colour of the surrounding sand, which will be tricky, as it took me a lot of trial and error to get the colour right.

PuttyWingPrimed_zps3efc65f5.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

Cor Thommo, thats looking a bit good. I followed this story at the time & like many would like to see it resolved, with the plane secured in a decent museum & poor Flt Sgt Copping's remains found & interred among his comrades. In the meantime, I reckon your dio is doing a very good job of paying its own tribute to this incident. Very nicely done indeed.:thumbsup:

Steve.

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Cor Thommo, thats looking a bit good. I followed this story at the time & like many would like to see it resolved, with the plane secured in a decent museum & poor Flt Sgt Copping's remains found & interred among his comrades. In the meantime, I reckon your dio is doing a very good job of paying its own tribute to this incident. Very nicely done indeed.:thumbsup:/>/>

Steve.

Yes, it was sad to see that with successive pics and videos of the plane, it was gradually being destroyed. I've based my diorama on what I think are some of the first pics before the clowns started smashing it up. Shame it wasn't taken straight to a museum, but I guess that is tricky to organise. I too hope they find the pilots remains and can return them to the UK for a military burial.

If I get the mojo, I might attempt a more refined version in 1/48 scale one day. This is a bit of a quick and dirty attempt.

Edited by Thommo
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Man, this is awesome! I remember reading this news article a few years ago when they discovered this aircraft. Ive wondered if they have identified the aircraft and pilot yet...

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Man, this is awesome! I remember reading this news article a few years ago when they discovered this aircraft. Ive wondered if they have identified the aircraft and pilot yet...

Er, go back and read the thread, in post #9 there is a link to an article from Vintage Wings of Canada. It was being flown by a Sgt Copping to a repair facility, when it went missing.

Tony

Edited by Snowbird3a
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Er, go back and read the thread, in post #9 there is a link to an article from Vintage Wings of Canada. It was being flown by a Sgt Copping to a repair facility, when it went missing.

Tony

LInk doesnt work.

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