Matchbox Spit

Hy DAZ, can totally agree with the replys before ´cause I´m in progress with that kit converting it to a MK 47 Seafire: worst kit in construction and fitting of parts I´ve ever seen! Never had to use such lots of filler on a kit but if you familiar with a bit of scratchbuilding I think you can do a bird that is finally looking like a MK 22/24. Here´s a link to my online build at LSP where you can see some major modifications I had to do:

http://forum.largescaleplanes.com/index.php?act=ST&f=4&t=1958&

She´s in the spray booth now and I would like to post a few pics when she´s finished here. I have ordered a correction set from Vasco Barbic from warbird productions ( higly recommended) which contains: solid resin nose with corrected shape of the “griffon bulges”, solid five-blade prop, prop blades, corrected gun barrel covers.
Also the landing gear is/ has to be modified, did mine from alu tubings.
Hope this helps,

cheers and happy modelling

Chris/germany

Statement from Jerry Crandall

Hy guys, bringin´this thread back on the top because of some information from Jerry himself ´bout the paint-job and the condition of the D-13, posted on the LSP/ LargeScalePlanes site.

His words:

Hi Guys;

Thanks for your nice comments and encouragement on the D-13 project. It is a lot of work! It is over 100 degrees F inside the building where we are working. We have only been here for four days!

Let me give you some brief background information…the D-13 was originally restored in the early 70s to the best of their ability at the time. A lot of systems and details were improvised due to the lack of original parts and capabilities of the restoration facility at that time. In January 2001 Doug Champlin gave the go ahead to Dave Goss and his team at GossHawk Unlimited facility in Mesa to tear it all apart and start over, doing it 100% right! It has been a very expensive proposition, searching the world over for the correct parts and details such as latches, pumps, parts for the engine, and a lot of ther things that needed to be replaced and/or remanufactured.

Some parts are still missing, such as the correct propeller hub that would have the hole in it for the cannon blast tube. No one has been able to find one in all these years, so the existing hub actually belongs to a D-9, which is a solid type. The fueslage has been re-skinned, at least partially. The Belly pan that originally was wood on the D-13 has been replaced with a metal panel for preservation reasons; however, some of the other fuselage panels have been correctly re-fabricated in a plywood as were the landing flaps.

Doug was very concerned to correctly match the color and luster of the new paint job, and make sure it was not overall glossy like the first restoration. The paint is an automobile acrylic paint that has a hardening agent. Each one of the colors, such as RLM 76, RLM 82 and RLM 75, RLM 83 were produced in such a way as to match the luster of the original paint. RLM 82 has a little more luster than RLM 83 and so on. AS a result, it will not be glossy like most museum restorations. The overall luster will be a semi-mat or egg shell just like the original paint.

The national markings – “Yellow 10” and the stab markings look beautiful and accurate. I was delighted today that I was able to add the word “Kommodore” to the lower radiator cowling. My first inclination was to make it more professional looking, but as we studied the photos and enhanced them by computer, we realized the word was crudely applied and all the circular letters were filled in with black.

Doug does not want to fly the a/c as long as he owns it. In fact he directed that the engine be sealed up and that no fuel should be put into the system due to long term anti corrosion prevention. Therefore he will not even allow the engine to be started at all.

Tomorrow we apply the little bit of stenciling that we think was showing through the camouflage paint and it will be pretty much finished except for the installation of the canopy and the propeller with spinner. The interior and fuel system is still not complete but it will be in the next few months.

As I was working on this a/c today, I felt I was doing it on behalf of all modelers and enthusiasts throughout the world…I only wished we could have all been together to experience this occasion together.

Cordially,
Jerry

http://www.largescaleplanes.com/