I have started my build for the Aluminium Campaign. My entry is the 1:48 scale Czech Model Cessna UC-78 Bobcat (see review here). I will do "Uncle Tom's Cabin" (n°42-32072) a hack aircraft which belonged to the 361st FG in England...
The machine is all aluminium with black anti glare panels and yellow engine cowlings. Unfortunately the rest of the plane isn't visible on the picture so the overall decoration will be pretty much guesswork.
I started the build with the wings. They are composed of two parts that must be glued together, but the trailing edges need to be thinned down before for a more realistic appearance. The engine firewall for each wing has been glued in place as well...
The kit is pretty simple except for the interior which will benefit much from the accompanying photo etched frets later. Since I want to display the cabin door in the opened position on the finished model, I've replaced the pilot and passenger seats with scratchbuilt items to enhance realism. The original plastic parts may look alright if the access door is closed but they are too simplified if you allow the viewer to take a closer look inside...
The long rectangular patches are hiding the wing Karman hollows inside each fuselage halves. The kit provides photo etched parts for that but I opted for plastic sheets because they are easier to glue in place. Some plasticard was also used to scratchbuilt a frame for the two pilot seats. At the rear of the cabin, the structure made with evergreen stripes will act as support for the scratchbuilt passenger's seats. The latter, as well as the pilot seats, were made with wire bent to shape to replicate the tubular frame and self adhesive aluminium foil to represent the canvas. The floor was covered with fine sanding paper to represent what I assume was an anti slip revetement.
Jean-Luc
