Mikeew's Electronic Destroyer EB-66 E

[Mikeew]

I'll throw my hat in the ring with this GB as I have just acquired this Italeri Douglas Destroyer.
I will need to sort some decals out as the kit ones are crazed. If anyone has a spare set please let me know, I would be most grateful for anything you have.

[Old_Tonto]

Good choice, haven't seen one of those for years.

What decals do you need?

[Mikeew]

Thanks old Tonto,
I would ideally like replacement for the kit decals, but that's gonna be a long shot.
I have found these on Hannants though, which might be just what I was looking for, two options on this Almark sheet are the same as the kit options anyway...
http://www.hannants.co.uk/product/AKS07;

[Old_Tonto]

They look nice & a good price too. I would leave it a week or so and see if anyone gets in touch. You never know.

[smethwick]

Looking forward to this..never even heard of this one...

[Mikeew]

Thanks guys, I got those decals now, so that's sorted.
I have been working in this this evening. Got the cockpit parts ready for painting and got the wings together. Hopefully get some pics up tomorrow.

[Mikeew]

Righto....

Here we have the main sections all separated from the sprues and the wings assembled, its difficult to photograph white plastic easily, so apologies for the not-to-hot piccies. There really isn't a lot to it TBH...



Some of the details are very finely rendered, especially on the wheels , for example...



Here are the cockpit components assembled prior to painting, I have left the control yoke on the sprue as its very delicate and I fear I may lose it or break it if its removed before I need it!

[Old_Tonto]

Welcome back. Those seats look pretty fragile too.

[Dirkpitt289]

Looks like a nicely detailed kit

[Mikeew]

Thanks guys.

@Dirk Its very nicely detailed, just that being moulded in white, the details don't show up until paint is applied.

I sprayed the interior bits in Dark Gull Grey followed by an oil wash of Paynes Grey. Some details have been picked out with Citadel Black Ink and various enamels. I may add more to the main IP, but TBH not much will be seen inside the heavily framed canopy once its installed. I will add seat belts to the three seats though.

[Mikeew]

Thanks Bruce.

I use oils thinned with common or garden white spirit. Its only a very thin wash so the oils dry out relatively quickly. I remove some of it with cotton buds after an hour or so drying time to help speed things up. Also, having sprayed the base colour with Gunze acrylics, the oil paint and white spirit leave it unaffected.

[novokits]

Nice work with cockpit

[Mikeew]

OK, cockpit all done then. Belts are simply tape painted up and CA'd into place. A dry fit shows little will be seen within the fuselage, especially the rear seats and consoles.

[MerlinJones]

...But we'll know it's there!

Mike, have you decided which of the many schemes available you'll be using?

Regards,
Bruce

[Mikeew]

TBH Bruce, there aren't that many variations for the EB-66E model, most that took part in the Vietnam air war were in standard SEA camouflage. Like this one...



I'm doing mine in the markings of EB-66E, 54-521, 39TEWS, 36TFW USAF operating out of SHAW AFB in South Carolina. Using Almark decals.