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Before continuing with this article I would like to apologise for the length of time that has gone by since the last part. This has been due to family health problems and, so, the delay was unavoidable. So, explanations out of the way, on we go.
When I came to attach the smaller flaps to the main flaps it became apparent the plasticard actuators were not strong enough to take any degree of handling. I therefore decided that the best course of action would be to replace them with some fashioned from left over etch brass. To do this I cut five vertical slots in the leading edge of each flap and inserted five small triangular shaped pieces of etch brass and superglued them in place – much stronger. The small flaps were then superglued onto the etch brass pieces. Note that the actuators are not to scale as I couldn’t find suitable photographs of this area. However, I think that everything passes muster because once all is assembled you really can’t see much. You should make sure that these small flaps are assembled so that they have the short end on the outboard side of the flap.
Now, at last, we’re ready to do some painting. I should point out here that I have decided to paint all the white striping rather than use the kit supplied decals. The only parts of the decals I will use are the ‘Royal Air Force’ titling, the CFS badge and the union flag on the fin.
Talking about the finish at a club night, another of SMN’s contributors, Neil Pepper, suggested that the best approach to ensuring that the red ends up the correct shade would be to do the same as on the real thing and use a zinc chromate primer. So that’s what I did, and looking at some of the smaller parts when they were finished, I have to agree with him. So I decided to continue in the same fashion with the complete airframe.
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