Airfix Westland/Sud Aerospatiale S.A. 330 Puma HC.1 1/72

[Bigkev]

Ha ha for the filler.
I have now completed all the major filling and sanding that I think will be needed, maybe just a little around some bumps and lumps still to be added to the airframe.
The replacement resin cabin doors have had glazing added and the etch brass 'quilted' padding added to the insides.
The cockpit glazing has also had some attention, with some thin strips of plasticard to the main piece on the upper edges. Once sanded to shape and test fitted it seems to line up much better, just need to touch in the edges of the glazing with a black sharpie pen to help disguise the thickness of the glazing. Then it will be masked up, and finally glued in place with epoxy resin.
some pictures, thanks for looking:- 

[cph64]

Nice tip about using the Sharpie.

[Bigkev]

Here is the canopies given a dip in Kleer and then once dry have had the edges touched in with the Black Sharpie.
Only thing I hadn't thought about was the plasticard should really have been black, I don't think it will show on the finished canopy once all painted up.
The kit doors were intended to be 'moveable', but to do this Airfix had to grossly oversize the runners. As I am using replacement doors, new door runners have been made from shaped plastic strip. Also two new resin conduits under the fuselage have been fixed in place.

[zak]

Your attention to detail never ceases to amaze me.

[cph64]

That's why he always produces fantastic models. He goes that one step further.

[MSea]

No  he goes 17 steps further than me - well done another great model on the way

[chriswil42]

As I've said before Kevin; great attention to deail.

[Bigkev]

Hi All,
Little update. Canopy now attached with Epoxy Glue. Taped up quite tightly to get as close finish as possible. On drying still a couple of small gaps could be seen. These will be filled with Kristal Kleer and Vallejo Black paint mixed together. The Black will blend in with the frame colour and the Kristal Kleer will seal the gaps. I tried some as an experiment on some plasticard and it seems to work.

[cph64]

Coming along nicely. The wiring looks great through the glazing.

[Jonners]

I've just caught up with this, Kevin, and it is looking really good. I've gone the opposite way with my Airfix Puma and decided to build it more-or-less OOB as an antidote to fighting an utterly rubbish vacform kit, plus the aftermarket resin SAAF sandfilter which would be quite nice if it actually fitted. I've used the kit side doors but tweaked them and replaced the rails, although yours looks far nicer than mine. It's currently sulking in the desk drawer until I pluck up enough enthusiasm to fettle that sand filter!
Jon

[Bigkev]

Thanks Chris and Jon,
A bit more progress. Yesterday I managed to get most of the front canopy masked ready for filling and then painting. Masking is with thin strips of Tamiya tape around the edges of each panel, then in filled with bigger bits of tape. I filled the gaps with my Klear/Black paint mix and it worked quite well. When it had dried I noticed a couple of faint gap lines on the cockpit door sides, so these has pure Kristal Klear touched in and then cleaned up the excess with a wet brush. The base of the glazing on the nose had a bit of a step, so out with some filler applied, and ready for sanding smooth later.
Some pictures of the above, thanks for looking.

[chriswil42]

Really nice detail Kevin and a good tip to produce some black filler.

[Bigkev]

Hi All,
A bit more progress. The filler under the nose has been sanded smooth and the masking re-applied where necessary. I also did a quick bit of rubbing down on a door frame to improve the fit where it appeared raised. The masking helped to prevent the sanding stick from damaging the transparency. Next, I masked all the open doors, windows, engine openings with either Tamiya Tape, or damp Toilet Tissue. This can be pushed into all the openings with a pair of tweezers of filling tool. It can be left until the main paining is complete, by re-wetting it and pulling it back out.
Once happy, all masking done, I have sprayed Tamiya Flat black to give inside colour to the cockpit framing. Now I need to make up the etch brass steps for either side of the cabin and drill out new location holes for them. After that a quick coat of Mr. Surfacer to act a a general primer for the camouflage colours.
Some pictures of the above, thanks for looking:-
 

[Bigkev]

All primed. Still had a little more work on the cockpit door seam. This time some Green Stuff water soluble putty applied sparingly and smoothed out with a damp brush.
Holes have been drilled for the steps and some of the aerials ready for later in the build.
Next, Dark Grey part of Grey/Green/Black camouflage to be sprayed on.
Some pictures, thanks for looking
.

[chriswil42]

Looking good Kevin.