Wolfman63

Kapton tape is the type. It is typically used for electronics work. The tape is translucent, made of polyimide which resists thinners, paints and glues. The silicone adhesive used on it is designed to be residue free. The adhesive also does not pull paint off like some masking tapes. I prefer using this tape as it has some small stretch to it so you can wrap around curves like canopies. It trims easily and leaves a very good edge. I use an orange wood stick typically used by finger nail stylists to get a good stick on the edges which prevents bleed-thru of the paint. It comes in varying widths as well. I used it to mask the stripes on the tail. You can get a pack with different widths on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/ELEGOO-Polyimide-Temperature-Resistant-Multi-Sized/dp/B072Z92QZ2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1537607346&sr=8-3&keywords=Kapton+tape The orange wood sticks also work well for apply in putty as well. one end is pointed and the other is flat. You can get them on amazon as well https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077GR3Y8H/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=AI5NMG8XBYKC1&psc=1

Update on the 1/48 Accurate Miniature SB2U-2 Vindicator. It’s been a busy week with not a lot of build time. I was able to get all the initial painting done. Instead of using the decals I decided to paint the tail stripes. I mounted the gun and bombs. I am masking the canopy with Kapton tape now then on to decals. All the build photos are at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-sb2u-2-vindicator/

Work continues on the Accurate Miniatures 1/48 SB2U-2 Vindicator, the gun and bombs have been detailed. I painted the base coat on the aircraft. This is kind of a new area as I am trying out Vallejo paints for the first time. I usually use Model Master and Tamiya paints for many years. With Model Master now owned by Krylon, they are cutting back of many of the military colors. The Vallejo paints work very well and gives you a nice even coat. Build log with all photos at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-sb2u-2-vindicator/

Weekly update on the Accurate Miniatures 1/48 SB2U-2 Vindicator. The engine has been detailed and painted. Next it was installed and the cowling was completed. The cowl consisted of 4 separate pieces and the fit was very good. Just juggling 4 pieces was a little difficult to get the alignment correct. The landing gear was detailed, painted, and mounted. Now working on the bombs and mounts. All build photos at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-sb2u-2-vindicator/

The cockpit on the 1/48 SB2U-2 Vindicator is now complete and the fuselage is together. The cockpit was a little tight getting everything to fit but it is together. Now working on detailing the engine. Using 30 AWG wire, I am making the pushrods for the cylinders. Build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-sb2u-2-vindicator/

Starting the 1/48 Accurate Miniatures SB2U-2 Vindicator and will be using the Eduard photo etch detail set. The scheme will be the Centaur Vampires of VS-72 assigned to the USS Wasp (CV-7) that operated in the Atlantic Ocean during WWII. The detailing of the cockpit in this kit is great and the photo etch details add a little more depth. The pilots section is done. Working on the rear cockpit now. More build photos at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-sb2u-2-vindicator/

The MH-60K is now complete! Overall an OK model. I really still cannot believe Italeri purposely does not include the K nose. I have had many respond that their kits do not have the part as well. The only other thing is the cockpit clear parts do not fit very well. Took a lot of shaping to get them to fit OK. If I ever did another one I would fill the edges and then trim to fit the clear parts. With all the photo etch already installed I was not able to do it. The Werner’s Wings decals are awesome. They went on easily and just the right thickness. You can see all the build photos at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-mh-60k-blackhawk-soa/

The nose has been received! Back to work this week. Will have an update with photos later this week.

So after realizing the Italeri kit does NOT include the correct nose, I surgically removed the “L” nose. Utilizing the numerous modeling forums and groups I was finally able to locate the correct nose from a fellow modeler in Ankara Turkey. The correct nose should be here late next week. In the mean time I am working on the smaller details. Main rotor, machine guns, side doors have been detailed. Corrected the placement of the smaller antennas and started to base coat the model and rotors. The kit decals only have the black lettering for the warnings and such so I scanned the decal sheet in and changed the colors to the dark olive color used on the 160th Night Stalkers aircraft. More photos at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-mh-60k-blackhawk-soa/

So here is where I stand, Lone Star Models does not know when it will get to the MH-60K set. I contacted them. I found out that Italeri stopped molding this part. Many modelling friends on Facebook have looked in their MH-60K kits and the part is missing. The kit was released back in 2007 and the kit did include this part. It appears that sometime around 2012 Italeri stopped molding this part. It is the only part that is not in the kit. A fellow modeller in Turkey has the K nose. The kit he has was molded in black. This may be the old RoG version (which Italeri used). He did not use the nose and has shipped the part to me. Not sure of shipping time from Turkey to U.S. so I will be doing some of the smaller details (main rotor, the guns, side doors, etc.). It is actually OK since next week I have two sons who are are going back to college and there is some travel involved. Stay tuned.

Yes, In fact I was just getting ready to paint it. However: Normally I'm a happy kind of guy. But today I am very not very happy. You may have been following my build of Itarei's 1/48 MH-60K Blackhawk SOA. Well the instructions have you install the MH-60L nose. So on one of my posts I was informed that the kit does supply the correct nose. So I looked and the part was missing. I contacted Italeri and they say to confirm part and it would cost 5 euro's to get the part and 20 days shipping. Well I used a coupon and purchased another kit due to time and figured later I can build a MH-60L. Guess what???? On the newer kits Italeri REMOVES THE PART or has blocked it from being molded!!!!!! If anyone has an older release of this kit and your tree has part E25 or if anyone knows of a resin replacement, Please contact me. The build is going to be on hold until I can locate the correct KILO nose.

After many hours of trimming, folding, and bending the numerous photo etch parts for the fuselage are now installed. Some minor finishing and some minor filling then the fuselage will be ready for painting. Still have some items left to build and detail like the main rotor, doors, and the machine guns. See all the numerous build photos at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-mh-60k-blackhawk-soa/

Using CA glue. I use the glue looper to apply the glue. It is a very nice tool and applies an accurate amount of glue. http://www.creativedynamicllc.com/the-glue-looper.html

The continuing work on the 1/48 Italeri MH-60K Blackhawk. Fuselage together, starting to add photo etch details to the outside of the fuselage. It is slow going as there are over 170 pieces to add. The bottom and nose of fuselage is done. Working on the top and sides now. Still need to do the boom, some more on tail, and the main rotor. See all the photos in my build log at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-mh-60k-blackhawk-soa/

The Italeri 1/48 MH-60K cockpit and cabin ready to install into fuselage. Working on the adding details to the fuselage. Many of the vents and grates need to be cut out and replaced with photo etch details. Should be ready to close up fuselage soon. All build photos are at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-mh-60k-blackhawk-soa/

More details on the crew cabin being added. Seat belts and turn buckles done. Working on the cabin roof. Need a few more details to be scratch built and some more photo etch to be added. Also the decals I ordered for the paint scheme arrived today. They are the Werner’s Wings decals representing the aircraft from Operation Gothic Serpent from the 160th Task Force known as the Night Stalkers. Includes markings from the infamous “Blackhawk Down” operation. All the build photos can be seen at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-mh-60k-blackhawk-soa/

Added a page to my blog on making cloth seat belts for aircraft using fiberglass cloth tape. https://davidsscalemodels.com/tips-and-tricks/making-cloth-seat-belts-for-aircraft/

Moving forward after some corrections the cockpit section is almost done. I scratch built the fire extinguisher and painted the cockpit section the correct color. I then started work on the crew area. The photo etch comes with the support cables for one side of the crew seats and I used 32 AWG wire to replicate the other side. The molded in seat belts were removed. I will make new seat belts out of cloth tape. I am working on making the turn buckles that go from the top of the seats to the supports. Need about 20 of them. Still have lots of details to add to the crew area. Build log at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-mh-60k-blackhawk-soa/

Starting on Italeri’s 1/48 MH-60K. With this build I will be using Eduard’s “Big Ed” detail kit. Beginning with the cockpit I added the photo etch parts to the floor and console. As I started on the seats I noticed that the rear of the seats on the reference photos have a bin and bracing as well as a first aid bag behind headrest. Using some stock styrene sheets and rods I made the braces. I used a small piece of nylon cloth to make the first aid bags. More photos in the build log at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-mh-60k-blackhawk-soa/

The Trumpeter 1/48 Vampire FB.MK.9 has been completed. This was a nice build with very little issues. The only issue was the intake to the leading edge of the wing required filling and shaping. The decals were on the thin side and great care was required to get them into position but they did lay down nicely. The build log can be found at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-vampire-fb-mk-9/ and the galley photos are at https://davidsscalemodels.com/gallery/1-48-vampire-fb-mk-9/

Moving forward on the Vampire. Flaps and landing gear finished, Cut out the intakes to add the more accurate vanes, and assembled the rest of the fuselage. The only real issue with fit was the intake mating to the leading wing edge. Filled and shaped to blend them together. Just finished painting the base coat. Have some more detail painting to do then on to the decals. More photos at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-vampire-fb-mk-9/

Completed the landing gear bays and now working on extending the flaps with the Eduard photo-etch parts. The flaps have been cut open and the parts have been dry fitted after the fuselage was assembled. All the build photos can be seen at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-vampire-fb-mk-9/

They are part of the Eduard photo-etch set. The set has detail parts for the cockpit, landing gear bays, external panels, and flaps.

As the build progresses I have completed the cockpit and did some detailing of the landing gear bays and struts on the 1/48 scale Trumpeter Vampire. So far I am really enjoying this model. Dry fitting the fuselage looks like a very good fit. You can see all the build photos at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-vampire-fb-mk-9/

The next build is a de Havilland Vampire jet of the RAF. It was the second jet to be flown by the RAF. It did not become operational until after World War II in 1946, but had a successful history with the RAF until the late 1950’s. I am using the Trumpeter kit with the Eduard detail set. More photos in the build log at: https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-vampire-fb-mk-9/