Red Pelican

[cph64]

This is the second of my Aldi bargain buys, the Airfix Hunting Percival Jet Provost T.4 released as a starter set with only the one markings option of the Red Pelicans Aerobatic Team. I started this at the last Play Day and also worked on it in between working on the Spitfire. The cockpit has enough detail for 1/72 scale and features a decal for the instruments. The sides, ejector seats and central console were painted Vallejo Matt Black with the instrument console the Humbrol Grey issued with the kit. Details were picked out in various colours. Most parts went together well with only the ejector seat headrests and the central console being a tight fit. The cockpit was then glued to the starboard side and noseweight was started to be fitted. When I came to close up the two fuselage halves there was a gap just behind the nosewheel bay that I couldn't close no matter how much I sanded and trimmed the interior parts. Checking online I found that someone else had the same problem. So it wasn't me for once!!! You can see the Green Stuff used to fill the gap and the PPP used for the subsequent gap the problem caused when the lower wing was fitted in one of the photos. In no time the model was ready for masking and re-priming to check what further work is required.

[chriswil42]

You're getting as fast as Dave with your models Chris. Looking good.

[Bigkev]

Hi Chris,
Coming along nicely.
Bigkev

[Bob C]

You have a good production line going.

Bob c

[cph64]

With filling and sanding completed it was time to fit the front and rear canopies using Glue and Glaze and the 'closed' middle section as a mask for the cockpit. The kit supplied Humbrol 19 had to be thinned to become airbrush friendly and it's taken 3 coats and some covering with another Humbrol red to cover the white of the PPP. This still isn't satisfactory andif you look closely at the photo you can see the grey primer is visible faintly too. Looks like a trip to the Auto Shop for some Ferrari Red as used by an online builder!!!

[zak]

The joys of modelling.
A steep learning curve.

[Bigkev]

Hi Chris,
Yes, Red colour is always difficult to get the right level of density. I sometimes find SEVERAL coats are required.
Patience, and plenty of time and paint will get you there.
Cheers,
Bigkev

[zak]

Hi Chris,
Yes, Red colour is always difficult to get the right level of density. I sometimes find SEVERAL coats are required.
Patience, and plenty of time and paint will get you there.
Cheers,
Bigkev

I usually use a white undercoat for red.

[Bigkev]

Hi Chris,
Yes, Red colour is always difficult to get the right level of density. I sometimes find SEVERAL coats are required.
Patience, and plenty of time and paint will get you there.
Cheers,
Bigkev

I usually use a white undercoat for red.

Yep, me too. But still find Red a challenge.
Bigkev

[chriswil42]

Looking good though Chris.

[cph64]

Thanks for the tip, I've seen white mentioned online as well. Another bottle of the red arrived today and it's still been a bi##h to use. More on me and the airbrush than the model, first it was too thick even though it says airbrush ready, then too thin, so it's gone back in the bottle and Imay resort to the hairy stick!! That will be after sanding any lumps out!!!!

[zak]

I have been known to resort to rattle can red sometimes.

[chriswil42]

The Mr Hobby reds appear to go on ok.

[cph64]

A fair bit of painting/sanding/painting was needed to get an 'acceptable' finish, with several touch ups in areas such as around the canopy once the masking was removed. The undercarrige was fitted and a coat of Klear applied for the decals. These went on well only needing cutting and Micro Sol over the raised details under the wings, then it was time for another coat of Klear after the pitot and aerials had been fitted, followed by fitting the sliding canopy.
This is a good kit with only a few fit issues and I would recommend using white as a base for the red. I didfor the pitot and it covered in one coat. Lesson learned.

[Bigkev]

Well done.
You got there in the end, and a little wiser into the bargain.
Bigkev