There is a very good reason for my delay in starting this thread. While I have been able to successfully build biplanes in the past, I have more than often failed. The failure is always the same - getting the upper wing into position. Roden kits have been my Kryptonite in this regard. I could never get the cabanes to align as needed, even with the biplane jig I bought years ago. So I held off starting a thread until I passed that critical threshold of attaching the upper wing lest I have to explain why I failed at yet another biplane. Good news is that I got the upper wing into proper position last night.
I’ve been working on this kit this entire month, taking build progress photos along the way. Paints are AK Interactive (3G, Xtreme Metal) and Tamiya lacquers. I am using a PE set for the rigging (this will look much better than EZ Line). I am also doing something out of the ordinary for me. This is my inspiration for the build, which I will attempt to replicate as best I can:
Yes, a water-borne diorama. I purchased a couple of AK Interactive water gel products as well as various shades of blue to effect the water color. I have materials for the base. I have figures that I will have to cut into pieces to reposition arms and legs. I plan to build the life raft out of Milliput.
Nice Steven! How are you liking the kit? I attempted the old Glencoe kit ages ago but gave up at some point. I really like this airplane and would like to build one. Made famous by the movie Murphy’s War
Based on what I see in the model, it looks like a space to carry additional people plucked from the water. The side windows can be opened as seen in the photo I included in my post, so that would make it relatively easy for ingress/egress from that area. Or just climb the stairs and go out through the rear seater’s compartment.
Now comes the fun part. I have picked out a couple of figures leftover from a Monogram kit that I’ll have to go to town on Frankenstein style to reposition arms and legs. The MDF under the photos is the base for the diorama, to which I’ll add a section of hard foam used in insulation, and then do the water gel atop that.
I’m calling the Duck done even though I have a couple of additional things I am going to do to the diorama frame (it needs some wood filler at the one miter joint that I fudged up, and I’m going to use a laser cutter to create a small plaque to affix to the edge of the frame that will say “Am I glad to see you!” North Atlantic 1942
This was not my first diorama. I had done two previous dioramas, the first of an Hu-16 Albatross and the second of a Me262. This diorama was different due to the water effect. I did a poor job in getting the pontoon cutout - first it was too narrow, then I widened it a bit too wide. And it was always just a bit too long. I worked around the length by simply loading water gel into the front where the leading edge of the pontoon should rise a bit out of the water. The width issue was more difficult to deal with. I ended up getting water gel onto the edges of the aircraft, which I felt like ruined the effect. But by then there was very little I could do to salvage short of ripping the model from the base.
The other issue is brush strokes in the “water”. But looking at it at the right angle, the strokes do take on the appearance of slight ripples in the water, so maybe I’m just over-reacting to that.
Great job on the plane and the water. That’s a great action dio - seem to recall a photo like that somewhere. Bet the downed pilot is happy to see that duck!
