I would bet everyone here has built this...
I had just finished a Tamiya conversion of this aircraft in 1/72 scale and I was struck by how nice this bright little yellow aircraft livened up the predominately gray, green and brown colors in the display case.
My Dad is 85 years old. He introduced me to model building. I thought he and his display area could use a little sunshine. I hope it brightens him up as well as his room.
I found a more resent issue of the same kit. I wanted to covert this classic kit the way we would have in the the 60's. No aftermarket and everything done from scratch.
I started surgery on the nacelles. If I couldn't get this done right, Dad was getting a sweater for Christmas.
I cut out the rear of each, removed the extra, then re-attached.
I think that should work OK so now onto the other minor mods. No nav lights and the elevators were shorter.
Paint up the kit cockpit and rummage about the stash for decals. Serial numbers I made with presstype on clear decal film.
After applying putty and sanding all the surgery areas, a coat of Tamiya fine white primer on everything to see how we stand. I scribed in the stall slats on the leading edges of the wings. These were only on the prototype. Ultimately taped shut as they were deemed unnecessary.
I glued the canopy on with 5-minute epoxy and smoothed it with a wet finger. The exhaust shrouds were made from styrene tube.
Next came two coats of "trainer yellow" (FS13538), Future clear coat, oil wash, decals and done.
I used the kit quartz-like canopy, inaccurate canopy frames and all. The kit panel lines were enhanced with pencil.
Mounted on a wood base perhaps with a brass plaque, Merry Christmas Dad.
