Bish,
Don’t forget the Ar-234 had the canopy framing on the inside of the Perspex, with only the fasteners on the outside.
It’s a difficult look to achieve. I wonder how Zoukei Mura will handle this in their announced 1/32 kit? We’ll have to wait 4-5 years to find out, given their pace of development.
But best of luck for your build!
Ye, i was looking at that. Dragon give a seperate colour for the frame and it seems they have taken it from the one in the US. I have the Eduard mask set, but i haven’t opened it yet. I am thinking about useing that on the inside, and spraying the canopy that way before fitting and then mask the whole of the outside off. I will have a look at that tonight.
The main problem i can see is the thickness of the kit canopy. The other option might be to spray the outside then possable give the whole canopy a coat of future so the frame has the same shiny look as the clear parts.
That’s the same strategy I have often contemplated. I’ll be curious to see it, if you decide to go that way.[Y]
Great work so far, really enjoying it!
The more i think on it, the more i think that might be the way to do it. Other than the thickness, trying to apply papers masks designed for the ouytside on the inside will be tricky as well. The curves will go the wrong way and if my understanding of maths is right, the clear panels will be smaller inside than out.
I’ll have a good look at the canopy tonight and go from there.
Masking on the outside is the easier way to go but even after applying gloss, you may have a slight raised edge on the paint showing it as an exterior frame. If you don’t care about that then the outside method is a go.
Good point. And i had not thought about the frame haveing a raised edge over the clear parts when the clear parts should sit on top of the frame.
So, after giving the framing some thought i decided to go for plan B. The canopy framing is on the outside on the kit pieces, but fortunatly it just very fine raised lines. So i masked as normal and aplied a coat of black primer and left it at that to avoid a build up of paint. Once dry and with masks removed, i dipped the clear pieces in future 3 times, allowing to dry each time. This was i hoped the framing would have the same shiny look as the clear pieces and it might also level it out. Once that was done, time to get the clear parts fitted.
The front piece was first with the IP in place. The wiring i added did make the fit a bit tricky and it did put the IP, which is only attached by a piece of PE with 2 anchor points on the canopy, out of place slightly, but nothing i am to worried about.
I had to use a bar clamp to keep the front in place while it dried and theres a bit of white glue to clean up. Once that was set, i added the top piece.
In the close up you can see the raised lines of the canopy framing, of clourse to the naked eye they are not that apparent. I do have 4 more Dragon 234’s of different variants in the stash. And i have some ideas on how to do things different next tie, especially for the wiring and canopy.
And yes, i have missed off the rear view periscope in my haste to fit the canopy. So i am in the process of fixing that error.
The ‘glass’ really looks good, Bish. Looks like you picked the best route!
Onward and upward…
looks good and no one will know unless you spill the beans.
That’s great Bish the glass came out perfect at least to me it did.
Thanks guys, i am rather pleased with it. As Real G said, its a tricky look to get. I think next time i will mask and then lightly sand away those raised lines, it should not take a lot.
For a change, this one was painted the darker top colours first. I used Xtracolur RLM 83 and Colourcoats 81.
Then the blue. Even though this variant did enter service, i am doing a what if build as the unit i am assigning it to never operated the type. So for the scheme i was inspired by the Hasegawa 72nd Ju 188A kit which i happen to be building after this. But then when i got the kagero book on the 234 there was a B-2b in there which had a similar scheme. So while its not to far fetched, its my own pattern and doesn’t replicate an exact aircraft.
After masking, the RLM 76 was sprayed underneath as well as partly ove rthe top.
Then the decals. I used the kit decals for the foot and hand holds as well as the work number on the tail though i made up my own. All the rest are from the decal stash.
I just have to get a few bits finished and fitted. Weathering will be minimal, possable just some grime underneath.
Looking great Bish, I have looked at this kit a few times and have passed it up. I’m sure I will finally cave and pick it up. The paint scheme looks wonderful. Looking forward to the finished product.
Wow that’s a great camo scheme I really like the what if look.
That is some clever camo!
Cheers guys. I do like this scheme but i haven’t been able to figure out why they did this. I don’t think it was for over water use, i am learning towards the idea that iot might be to help break up the shape while on the ground.
Drifter, i do like Dragon aircraft kits. Their subjects are often not covered by anyone lse in this scale and while there may be minor accuracy issues and they need some work, i have enjoyed all the ones i have built.
I think that’s the right call, Bish. With Allied a/c ranging far and wide looking for ‘targets of opportunity,’ any little confusion or distraction might give those few extra seconds that might aid survival.
Really cracking build…and very inspiring! I sense my own ‘Blitz’ moving closer to the top of the pile. [:D]
Thanks Greg, and it does seem to be the one thing that makes sense.
Which kit have you got. I can’t believe its been this long and its my first 234, i love the look of the aircraft but its a lot smaller than i had expected.
I’ve got the 234C with the double engine pods:
Just like a little kid, I was grabbed by the box art of it making passes over what I presume to be the D-Day beaches.
Always had a special affection for this particular a/c. My dad was at Remagen in the days after the bridge was taken, and described hearing the weird whistling sound of the 234’s whizzing in to try to ‘pickle’ the span before a blistering hail of AA opened up. He regretted that he wasn’t in a position to see anything…but he knew they weren’t your ‘everyday’ German bombers.
(I actually think I have the old Frog kit with the V-1 as well, buried away somewhere. I’ll have to root that one out as well!)
Nice. I’ve got 5 of the Dragon kits, only one i am missing is the P. They have a nice selection. The box art on the one i am doing, i think thats meant to be Remagen bridge in the back ground, though he seems to have missed by a bit.
Must have been really strange hearing that sound back then, i can only imagine what the guys who saw it must have thought.