Hey, I just started a JU87G-1 Stuka "Tank buster" 1/72nd scale by academy

And I'm almost to the decal phase (paint decal clear weather flat clear)

And my local hobby shop didn't have any decal solvent and I was wondering what else i could use to get the decals to melt into the crevises etc. i have about every thinner known to man too. Thanks..

Pics of the stuka tomorrow

Hi Max.
If I were you Id hold on until youve got hold of some Microset/sol or similar.Its certainly worth it.
In my experience Academy decals are not the best and you'll find it very helpfull when you apply them.
Hope this helps and looking forward to seeing some pics of the Stuka.
Nige

Another quick question. Since this is my firstplane.

Do i assemble it all before I clear and weather?

I would say that there are no hard and fast rules, but I usually leave off all the dangly bits (anything that might get knocked of or broken during handling) but add clear and matt coates and weather those bits at the same time as the rest of the model.

These might explain a little better, the Mosquito is also finished but, as yet, I haven't uploaded the pics.
My on line builds

Mal

Well, Heres some pictures. Later I will get some with my dads camera.


Landing gear getting rid of the seams!


Bottom of the wings.


Low light. lol.


Lil blemish I need to fix.


Top with flash.



And yes this is my FIRST plane model I have built.

Hi Max!

Looks good so far! Especially the underside. It seems you can eliminate the seams quite easily. Good job! Is the cockpit out of the box? Looks busy!
Anyway, I'm looking forward to see more in the near future!

Jean-Luc

Hi Max;

all of the advice you have recieved so far is spot on, and very good. I would only add in that I would test the assembly of the seperate parts to be added after the decalling and weathering so you can have everything painted and glossed at once. This will reduce the amount of time you spend painting and cleaning etc.

I would also hold out until you can get some solutions as they will certainly make life easier, especially with Academy decals as Nigel mentioned.

Cheers,

Jay

Finished!

I decided just to do the decals w/o some solvent (big mistake) I will make sure to get some before my next model. ahha..











That was my first attempt at the smoketrail from the exhaust i think it looks ok. maybe needed to be darker. but meh.