PK-03 Boeing P-12E *** "Finished" ***

[JohnRatzenberger]

This is an SMW build. OOB except Starfighter decal replacements, and rigged, of course.



As the F4B is the same aircraft, I may build one as an F4B also, or since I have several F4B kits in their own right I may just build another P-12E.

I also have, for testing purposes, the new Hataka Early USN & USMC Section Color Paint Set to try out.

[JohnRatzenberger]

Here's the parts -- I forgot to show the clear stands. Of the two kits, I have only one windscreen but that is not a problem.



The Starfighter decal set has enough common items to do two of the four aircraft shown, so I'm in good shape -- all set.

[fredk]

That is one plastic color pairing which is almost just right.

[JohnRatzenberger]

That is one plastic color pairing which is almost just right.

Hmmmm, yes it is .... should I or shouldn't I ?

[splash]

My favourite Matchbox kit, I built it when it first came out and thought it looked brilliant built straight out of the box in its full natural plastic beauty.

It's a shame Matchbox didn't match the colours so well to all of it's outher kits.

[iggie]

I must admit that I remember building this and slapping the decals onto bare plastic.....

Go on John, you know you want to......

[59North]

I just purchased on of these; being mailed to me directly. It had a different box art. Now I'm curious to see if it will have the same plastic colors.

[JohnRatzenberger]

I got another set of Starfighter decals with nicer options. Odd part is that they are not available from Starfighter in the US but I got them from Hannant's.



And this is as far as I got, cutting off the main parts for clean-up while I figure out what I am going to do.



I will be working two together ....

[JohnRatzenberger]

More checking/fitting/prepping parts. I am trying to see how many yellow & OD parts can stay unpainted and it is looking pretty good so far.

There is a flaw (see pic about, got to look hard) under both upper & lower wing. The lower will be hidden by the big underside tank, while the upper may be mostly hidden by the cabane struts and such.

I need to study rigging to see how I want to approach that & save the unpainted plastic.

I also need to decide if I want the pilot & clear stand -- the pilot hides the bare interior and keeps me from fiddling about in there.

[JohnRatzenberger]

Here we have interior paint and the pilots painted.



We also have a rigging diagram, simple actually. Study of that and the kit leads me to think my best approach is to drill some small dimples (starter holes) to accept the ends of stretched sprue or metal rod rather than drill through and use ez-line or the like. Jury still out on whether I do doubled lines.

Right now I am building "unpainted" -- the next decision point will be putting the fuselage halves together and adding the cabane struts and engine cover.

[fredk]

Not much rigging there.
Could you mix some of the yellow plastic frame/sprue with some glue to make yellow soup and apply that to the ejector pin depression in the top wing?

[Old_Tonto]

Right now I am building "unpainted"

Excellent choice John and very much in the Spirit of Matchbox.

[JohnRatzenberger]

Not much rigging there.
Could you mix some of the yellow plastic frame/sprue with some glue to make yellow soup and apply that to the ejector pin depression in the top wing?

I could, and might, but I suspect it will be invisible to the audience unless Chris hangs it upside down. We'll do a test drive later after I get fuselage assembled and can rest the wing on the center struts.

[Crashpilot]

I wonder where you got that rigging scheme from?!
I have three of these Boeings in my stash, but have no rigging diagram for them.
In this group build I stick to a MB Sabre, no rigging there
I´ll follow with interest,
Markus

[rob_van_riel]

Could you mix some of the yellow plastic frame/sprue with some glue to make yellow soup and apply that to the ejector pin depression in the top wing?

I could, and might, but I suspect it will be invisible to the audience unless Chris hangs it upside down. We'll do a test drive later after I get fuselage assembled and can rest the wing on the center struts.

This is pretty much what I'm attempting with the Buccaneer. The dissolved sprue will be indistinguishable from the original plastic. What will show, however, is the difference in surface structure after the inevitable sanding. I know from earlier experience that that particular problem can be overcome by finishing up the sanding with very fine sandpaper, followed by a coat of gloss varnish. A bit like sanding/polishing/Future coating transparencies, really.