$10.25 BBI PH ZERO AND A SPITFIRE PROJECT - IN PROGRESS

[Buckyroo]

I am new at repairs/custom work on the 1/18 airplanes so I am starting out slowly....

first project is a 1/18 bbi Pearl Harbor zero that I go from Ebay for $10.25. Auction closed for $20.50, but the seller reported to have broken the propeller while packaging. It turns out that the whole prop asssembly pulled out of the engine hub. a little glue on the metal shaft and its good as new. The Zero was so cheap because it is missing the horizontal stabilizers. (which if anyone has a pair -green or white- I am interested in buying or trading for them) Everything else is present the pilot (including sword and pistol), drop tank, and no broken pieces. As you can see I am gluing the front seam of the wing leading edge near the fuselage. I have not seen the wing seperate like this, but it is an easy fix.





My other project is more intense... Repair and repaint a 1/18 spitfire. Without any good answers posted to the question of how to remove tampos... I wet sanded with 320 and then 400 grit papaer. Seemed to have worked well. As you can see in the pictures I am fixing the oversized marker lights on the wings. If anybody has pictures or links to any great Spitfire paint schemes feel free to pass them on.

As for the repairs... I am building new landing gear because one was broken and missing, I will post some additional pics of the gear as they start to look like more than just aluminum tubes.

Any words of advice will be welcomed - BTW I am looking for the moving section of the canopy for the Spit.

[nooker21]

I'd just remember to put the propeller blades in the right way - many 21C spitfires had them reversed on the model, and if you cut the blades out, it shouldn't be too hard to make that right and face them at the proper pitch. Also, you may want to realign the one gun barrel so it is aligned with the ammo doors, if you're feeling ambitious

[Buckyroo]

Thanks for the tips. I can make sure the prop spins in the correct direction, but I had to glue one back on the center hub so I don't think that I will mess with the pitch. I haven't looked at the gun ports in relation to the doors until you indicated the error. I might try this fix for I am replacing the barrels with 3/32" aluminum tube. Thanks for the help.

Kris

[Buckyroo]

SPITFIRE UPDATE......

Not much work has taken place. I have been doing some research into tools, materials and methods. I have been working on creating the decals that I will use. I am going to use the "print your own" waterslide decals as I have found a local print shop that can print white ink. I printed the decals out at home for a trial fit. I have purchased the paints, but cold weather has put that on a hold. I am going to finish it in a USAAF scheme. I know that it is not the correct variant, but I think its a good test for my paint and graphics education. Anyway, i am not hung up on the variant being correct, I just hope it turns out good. Just remember the decals are not the final run. I had to shade the background to see the white print and they were cut out with sissors. The real ones will be printed on clear so the lines will be clean and crisp. Plus I will do a better job of alignment.







The low dollar PH Zero is 90% complete. The rear stabs are not final. They are from my regular green BBI Zero. (so if anyone has two to get rid of contact me please). When I get my stabs I will paint them to match. As for the fixes. I glued the prop shaft into the engine, I glued the wing seam along the leading edge, and I glued the wing root to the fuselage. this turned out to be a really great deal for the price.

[flpickupman]

Neat! Looks good so far.

[RED]

Nice job fixin' that birds broken wing!!! The Spit is comeing along pretty good as well!!! ---RED---