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Title: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on March 13, 2013, 09:15:47 PM Greetings all,
this is me testing out my image posting ability for the start. Let's see if this works... (http://)http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/64-ka_zpsa6d6ab00.jpg Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on March 13, 2013, 09:27:23 PM ...not really. The link works, but I want an image in my post.
See John, there's always someone worse then yourself. It's a comforting thought to have. Ok, I'm trying again... (http://[IMG]http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/64-ka_zpsa6d6ab00.jpg)[/img] Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on March 13, 2013, 09:33:36 PM This is embracing! I will become a hero member before I post my first image.
Third is the charm... (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/64-ka_zpsa6d6ab00.jpg) Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on March 13, 2013, 10:01:22 PM Indeed! They found the new Pope and I learned how to post an image. Not bad for one evening...
Anyhow this is the intended subject of my modeling project: 71364, An-26 who survived fission of Yugoslavia into Serbia & Montenegro into Serbia, several local wars, NATO bombing and general abuse from its crew and still flies now re-hauled and repainted. I will however make it how it appeared in this turbulent transitional period, with an old camouflage and new markings, covering the old red star roundels. Some long time ago I served on the airport where this Antonov was stationed and my best mate was a mechanic on this very machine. So yes, there's some history and character to it, at least for me. In the following posts I'll try to entertain you with an A Model kit and a lot of Tamiya putty... Cheers, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: KL on March 13, 2013, 10:46:35 PM ...Some long time ago I served on the airport where this Antonov was stationed and my best mate was a mechanic on this very machine. So yes, there's some history and character to it, at least for me. Yes, extremelly entertaining!!! Lots of history and character, that plane must be well over 35... Good luck with your build. :) Cheers, KL Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on March 14, 2013, 10:08:27 AM Thakns KL,
Yugoslavia received these machines in 1975-76, so you are right about the age. The 64 above flew to Rostov in the winter of 2008-2009 to be re-hauled, giving her 6 more years of service (maybe more in real life). I?ll upload some workbench images this evening finally. In the meantime few comments about the kit: A Model?s An-26 family is quite nice, accurate and with very restrained and realistic surface detail. Shame that it?s cast in that шиᴛᴛи white plastic that obscures it all from your eyes. It is hard to photograph and even harder to work with. The molds are also nothing to write home about; sinkholes, lots of flash, soft edges and orange-peel here and there. Heavy gauge sprue-gates as well. Never the less, kudos to A Model for producing it. Subject appeal and accurate look is worth much more in my book than injection pressure. A Model also improved over the years significantly and some of their newer castings look very good (Mi-10 for example). I wish they?d grace us with a new-tool Tu-22 already. Trumpeter apparently got cold feet after release of the M2/M3 and the old ESCI is ridiculous. Anyhow, I digress? To begin work on the kit one has to arm him(her?)self with a solid pair of sprue-cutters, range of sanding sticks and a lot of patience. Dry-fit will be the mantra of the day. There are no location pins anywhere and that?s just fine with me. I can at least lay all the big pieces sunny-side-up on the sheet of 400 grit and level them to perfection. OK, enough of talk, hold fast till I ready the pictures. Cheers, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on March 14, 2013, 06:13:54 PM as promised, the work begins...
(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9028_zpsc19b07e1.jpg) The blister on the real plane is actually spherical, covering just the circular orifice (check the image below) - a teardrop extension improves aerodynamics but is a separate piece. I will build mine just the same. The pig is optional. After trimming the kit part I will fill it with epoxy putty for stability and use it to vacumm-form the new fairing. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/155850_54780358_an20261_zps035eb59d.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9031_zpsfc3c12dc.jpg) The fuselage is divided in front and rear part. Common wisdom would have you joining them first, before welding port and starboard together. I decided otherwise and first started work on relatively complex loading gate and tail assembly. An odd parts breakdown here, yet when cleaned, dry-fitted and adjusted it goes together well. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9033_zps132991ff.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9030_zps91d4bc0c.jpg) You can start to see traces of gray putty. Get used to it; there's going to be much more... (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9032-1_zps4406ce41.jpg) Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: learstang on March 14, 2013, 06:32:19 PM Good start, Aleks! I've always wanted to do one of the An-26 family - an interesting-looking aeroplane with a tremendous variety of schemes and markings. As far as fit problems, as a long-time VVS modeller I'm used to that. As long as the kit is accurate, that's what I'm interested in. I'm always amused reading posts on other sites where the modellers moan and complain about every fit problem. Wimps! That's what modelling's all about. If it were easy, everyone would do it!
Regards, Jason Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: KL on March 14, 2013, 07:02:14 PM Quote The blister on the real plane is actually spherical, covering just the circular orifice (check the image below) - a teardrop extension improves aerodynamics but is a separate piece. I will build mine just the same. The pig is optional. funny piglet... Wasn't there a bombsight on real JRV planes? Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on March 14, 2013, 08:54:11 PM Quote funny piglet... I see the navigator is not your friend...Quote Wasn't there a bombsight on real JRV planes? Yes there was. It looks like this (again not a JRV one, but just the same)(http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/NKPB-7-1_zpsf4d0d672.jpg) The NKPB-7 sight, tried and true since the GPW days. In one of the forums someone asked what is this used for on an An-26. Then someone else posted the image below and answered: "well to hold your sunglasses of course!" (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/NKPB-7_zpsb1b96c18.jpg) Cheers, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: B_Realistic on March 15, 2013, 09:29:12 AM Good start.
Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on March 17, 2013, 10:24:22 PM Greetings all,
Well the things are moving along... (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9034_zps61d610aa.jpg) In the cockpit I mostly left the things as they were, with only minor improvements to the seats and some spare decals to complement the less-than-exciting ones from the kit. Once the kit is assembled I don't expect much to be visible through the small windshield windows. Perhaps some light will enter through the navigators blister, but this will also be very limited. So i just want the office to look appropriately busy, not 100% authentic. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9053_zps81b7346a.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9052_zpsead75e2c.jpg) I decided to model the Antonov with the loading ramp closed. This means I don't have to worry about detailing the cargo bay, but on the other side I need to balance the model to make it stand on all three wheels. The kit is a heavy tail-sitter! After cleaning all the major parts I tapped them together and then added some lead weights to the nose to asses how much is needed. The trick is to add just enough, but not too much, as the model will then become too heavy for the landing gear. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9055_zpsb6e4f475.jpg) In the end a combination of fishing lead and ball bearings (fixed in an epoxy bath) provided enough nose ballast. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9056_zps4f7021d8.jpg) So much for now. Cheers, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: Massimo Tessitori on March 17, 2013, 10:46:22 PM Hi Aleks,
this Antonov is really a beautiful plane. It somewhat resembles to the Fokker 27. The work on your model is very clean. Regards Massimo Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: learstang on March 18, 2013, 12:20:58 AM Nice work on the cockpit, Aleks! It certainly looks good enough to me.
Regards, Jason Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: KL on March 18, 2013, 05:25:11 PM (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9053_zps81b7346a.jpg)
Interesting - "pistachio green" interior... :o ??? I guess it's authentic since you remember the plane. Was this the original Soviet colour, or maybe Yugoslav? An-26s were overhauled in Yugoslavia during 1980es and 1990es. Quote I decided to model the Antonov with the loading ramp closed. This means I don't have to worry about detailing the cargo bay this is too bad; IMHO, the plane would look better... I think the cargo bay was gray correct, or my memory fails? Cheers, KL Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on March 18, 2013, 09:34:51 PM Thanks guys!
Massimo, I share your sentiment and think that transport aviation is unjustly neglected whereas it offers some really interesting and pretty machines. They are also substantial modeling subjects. KL, please don't say its pistachio, I was really going for mint chocolate-chip! ;) To be frank I don't remember the real cockpit of the 64 at all. I do remember the cargo bay was indeed light gray. Here are some images I found on the web. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_311_zpsa79ce5a8.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_331_zps02d4a0ae.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/65492_43511372_P80201451_zpsf199c2b7.jpg) Of course I found images of An-26 cockpits that look different, but mint green appealed to me. I was also deliberating space-blue mosaic upholstery and fake-wood linoleum on the floor, but didn't want to get arrested by fashion police. :D Why I left the green so saturated? Oh boy, this will be a long one... I don't believe colors should be "whitened" for scale effect. It has nothing to do with lightness or exposure; it has to do with saturation. Objects observed afar lose saturation. Aircraft in the distance looks grey, not white. So you should be adding neutral grey to your hobby paints, not white. Models look like toys when they are over-saturated. Cockpits are the opposite. Cockpits like the one in An-26 are extremely so, as almost no light gets inside. You need more saturation to see any color when the model is finished. Anyway, this is my theory about color modulation for scale effects in a nutshell... Cheers, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on March 24, 2013, 12:33:57 PM Hello all,
Here?s another update on the An-26. I?m starting to chase that devil in the details again? The main landing gear legs are supported in the engine nacelles by two lateral bushings. These bushings are cast on the inside of each half of the nacelle, so to fix the landing gear you have to sandwich it when you join the nacelles together. I noticed that the legs can pivot in these bushings and retract inside the bay, just like on the real aircraft. I decided therefore to finish, paint and weather the landing gear before assembly. I will store the legs in retracted position until the whole model is painted and then extend them for final fixing with drops of superglue through the open undercarriage bay. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9040-1_zps39b4727e.jpg) I first cleaned the parts from flash and casting misalignment and then added hydraulic lines and other small details as per available photos. I've also scribed some thread around the circumference of the tires. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9048_zps6b3aa499.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/w_an26_krivoirog_43_zpsc6c2829b.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9050_zpsd8f41993.jpg) The propeller hubs are cast in two parts: front and rear and they are mere blobs of plastic straight from the sprue. I cleaned them as much as possible and then fixed them to a length of a steel tubing for turning on my Dremel. Steel tubing will later come to be a propeller shaft. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9036_zpsc98f4cea.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9037_zpsc1ef2cff.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9098_zps9a2e9c56.jpg) Exhaust ports of the Ivchenko-Progress turboprops are quite prominent on the An-26. They open to the outer side of each nacelle and consist of the external casing and inner exhaust pipe. Only the outer casing is given in the kit. I used the kit parts and thinned them considerably from the inside so that I can slide in the coaxial tube made of drinking straw (from IKEA). I also made the casing fasteners from thin strips of brass. I?m attaching some images for reference. Note the red heat coming out of the exhaust. Part of that energy contributes to the overall thrust and lift of the aircraft. And when everything cools down the inner pipe turns cobalt blue. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/RedExhaust_zpsa06c7dd6.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/BlueExhaust_zps5620ae49.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9100_zpsad50c2ed.jpg) That's it for now. I will be off-line for about two weeks. When I return, I hope to have another update for you. Please be patient. Cheers, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: B_Realistic on March 24, 2013, 07:02:56 PM Stunning like we've expected. :D
For the landing gear you've made all the wiring but you used also some small tubing where the wiring runs trough. Are those small piping but where can you find those? ??? Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on March 24, 2013, 08:26:40 PM Thanks B,
Quote Are those small piping but where can you find those? The small length of tubing is syringe needle cut with Dremel. You cut the point of the needle then secure it in a pin-vise and cut it to desired length. Cheers, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: B_Realistic on March 25, 2013, 12:09:17 PM Thanks B, Quote Are those small piping but where can you find those? The small length of tubing is syringe needle cut with Dremel. You cut the point of the needle then secure it in a pin-vise and cut it to desired length. Cheers, Aleks Thanks. :D Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on April 12, 2013, 11:15:01 AM Hello all,
just a short message to say that I am back and still working hard on my Antonov. Unfortunately my computer is in the shop at the moment, with a hard-drive beeing replaced due to a recall from Apple. This means I will also have to reinstall and regenerate the whole system from a back-up when it comes back; so the new pictures may take a while. Heavens bless Time Machine... Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on April 19, 2013, 11:03:52 PM Hello again,
Sorry for taking so long, but better late than never, right? The work continues on the fuselage and central section of the wing with nacelles. So let’s start with nacelles; there is a recessed flap on the underside of each engine, just ahead of the main landing gear bay, which is represented in a kit with just a flat panel outline. I wasn’t happy with this detail so I decided to open it up and make it more authentic. Here’s how that went: (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/w_an26_p_31_zps5a103d23.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9059_zpsadf6d8c6.jpg) On the next image you can also see the homemade mounts for the exhaust pipes. The kit provides no positive location for these, so I decided to make my life easy when time comes to slide them in, after the model is painted and weathered. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9062_zps6547884c.jpg) After gluing the halves together I shaped the opening for that air flap to its final appearance using scalpel file and sandpaper. At this point the main legs are already installed and stowed in retracted position. I therefore covered the bay opening with paper to protect them from mishaps. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9065_zpsafc8b7e0.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9103_zps62d3b736.jpg) The fuselage was also glued together, first left and right halves and later on front and aft section. Note the pegs I made from scrap plastic for better alignment of the front and rear fuselage. Round windows of the cargo bay are in place and now masked with pieces of tape, to protect them from any scratches. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9057_zps1ee50ffa.jpg) Test-fit, correct, test-fit, correct and then test-fit again! Saves you headaches later one... (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9072_zpscd5a7308.jpg) People use various tools for applying putty; mine is toothpick sliced at an angle with a scalpel, to create small flat area. Slow and steady. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9074_zps52bf64e0.jpg) That’s enough for Friday night. I’ll see you all next time. Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: learstang on April 20, 2013, 05:47:20 AM Good work, Aleks! This should look quite nice once completed. Having worked with Amodel kits before, I realise they can have some fit problems, but how's the accuracy and the surface detail - good, bad, so-so? I'm really very tempted to buy me one of the An-26 series, but they do cost a bit, so I'd like to know what I'm getting into.
Regards, Jason Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: Massimo Tessitori on April 20, 2013, 06:20:42 PM Hi Aleks,
very good work till now, there is much to learn from your works. I also use cutten toothpicks as spatulas and for a lot of other uses. Regards Massimo Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: B_Realistic on April 21, 2013, 03:22:53 PM Great improvement and the end result will be stunning. :D
Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on April 22, 2013, 09:22:28 PM Thanks guys!
Your feedback is helping to keep the morale high. ;D Jason, as I mentioned in one of the early posts, the detail and accuracy are quite admirable. Surface features are very fine and scale-realistic. The problem of the kit is not there; it is with white plastic and low-pressure castings. Still, I'd buy it again without hesitation. How many Bf-s and FW-s will you see between two An-s? This kit is fresh as the mountain air... Cheers, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: learstang on April 22, 2013, 10:38:39 PM Thanks guys! Your feedback is helping to keep the morale high. ;D Jason, as I mentioned in one of the early posts, the detail and accuracy are quite admirable. Surface features are very fine and scale-realistic. The problem of the kit is not there; it is with white plastic and low-pressure castings. Still, I'd buy it again without hesitation. How many Bf-s and FW-s will you see between two An-s? This kit is fresh as the mountain air... Cheers, Aleks Thank you Aleks; that's what I wanted to hear. As an avid VVS-modeller, I'm used to limited-run type kits so I'm not afraid of a little filling and sanding. What I'm interested in is overall accuracy and interesting subject matter. I'm rather amused at other sites where they complain about every little fit problem. I mean, isn't that what modelling's all about - taking a kit which needs a little work, doing the work, and making it look good? It is to me. Best Regards, Jason Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on April 28, 2013, 11:49:24 PM Hi again,
I've been working on details of the fuselage on my An; mainly the belly - I removed (some times ago) the central rail for the rear loading ramp and now rebuilt it using thin styrene strips and some brass sheet for details. You may also see some riveting done. I am not replacing every rivet, but rather concentrating on the most visible ones according to the references I have. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9067_zps78378ad7.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9088_zps838bbf91.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9093_zps5a945316.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9091_zps314380d2.jpg) I detailed the radome as well. The hinges for the front dome and the longitudinal reinforcement strips were lost in the process of sanding and puttying the fuselage, so they needed a remake. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9069_zps7125df26.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9094_zpsdb8c71ca.jpg) The model is at a stage where the progress is slowed down, due to many small details that exist on the airframe. It would be easy to compromise and ignore some of this work, to quickly get to the more rewarding part of the build. Yet I believe that this is exactly the point where one should use that extra stock of patience and stay with the task at hand. Small details are after all what makes or brakes the model at the end. So much for now. Bye, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: Massimo Tessitori on April 29, 2013, 02:22:33 PM Hi Aleks,
I like the new rail and hinges very much. Excellent work indeed. Regards Massimo Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on May 05, 2013, 09:17:37 PM Happy Easter to the Orthodox folk? This ?egg? is not yet painted but I started priming anyway. The fuselage and nacelles assemblies received a coat of Surfacer.
I also permanently joined the wing central section with the fuselage. The ubiquitous Tamiya putty covering the scars again? You may notice a piece of sprue used here as a main wing-spar. Always good to keep those straight pieces of kit frames for some later use? This time mainly to reinforce outer wing sections and help with setting of the proper anhedral. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9125_zps72520ccc.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9126_zpsc97c8c36.jpg) Cheers, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: 4bogreen on May 06, 2013, 04:14:13 AM It doesn't carry bombs or missiles, its build in 1/72 scale...yawn ::)!
But...Detailing is awesome Aleks! You make a lot of nice stuff on it. It almost looks like 1/48 scale :D I see a lot of putty! I always use tape next to the hole or seem than fill it, take away the tape and you have a nice small seem of putty so sand. No loss of detail then ;) I am very curious to see it in the color. Especially the engine/ landinggear area :D Nice build Aleks (nice subject to :)) Regards, Remco Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on May 06, 2013, 11:32:29 AM Thanks a lot Remco,
An-26 can in fact carry bombs if needs be, so you can tick that box. ;) I?m not dogmatic about the scale; the perfect scale changes with the subject. This An in 1/72 is a tad bigger than say Mosquito in 1/48 so it?s quite a handful, without being a burden to handle. I also use masking tape for puttying joints when applicable , but this time two surfaces were uneven. So, the high command decided for ?carpet-puttying? and collateral damage was assessed as acceptable. Cheers, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: 4bogreen on May 06, 2013, 07:19:00 PM Yes sir!
Carpet puttying is authorised, collateral damage is sandable ;D Its always nice to see someone build nice things no matter the scale. Good is...eh...good! :D I am building my first plane since 1997, so its a bit of going back to my roots. My first was a MiG-29 and some other planes. Then i went crazy with armor, and my passion for planes faded a bit... Now I'm back ;D (a bit then) Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on May 13, 2013, 10:38:08 PM Howdy folks,
Before, we go any further I want to show the result of that puttying exercise from the last time. All is nice and smooth and panel lines are now restored. As a contrast to that self-coined “carpet-puttying” I will show you some “precision/tape-guided puttying” later on… (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9138_zps4920e5e3.jpg) Moving on, it is time to work with the transparent bits. There are several small navigation and position lights and all of them require additional attention. To represent reflector bulb inside the enclosures simply drill a blind hole from the base of the part and then apply transparent paint inside. The base of the part is then painted silver to give it some reflectivity. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9132_zps243d1988.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9133_zps581b55e8.jpg) After gluing the transparent pieces to the airframe sand and polish to level everything with the surface. There is a red reflector enclosure at the root of the vertical stabilizer that has a distinct metal fairing around it. To represent this fairing I used thin strips of adhesive tape as a border and then applied a layer of putty between these lines. Sand, polish and repeat if necessary. After couple of iterations I’ve obtain the satisfactory result. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9134_zps9df423e4.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9139_zpsb3890f35.jpg) I sanded down main canopy’s internal side to a less absurd thickness and then polished everything. Then I started thinking on how to produce the masks for painting the frames. The windshield panels are engraved so finely that all my efforts to transfer the shapes to a piece of paper, or masking tape failed. I used thin strips of masking tape again, to trace the frames along the engraved lines, so that I can get a positive template. Then it was a simple task of covering this with yellow Tamiya tape and tracing the shapes with a pencil. As a result I’ve got painting mask that I will later on cut out with scissor. And yes, I will add rounded corners at the end, by nipping them with a scalpel. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9128_zpse3a18ac8.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9129_zps82201ac6.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/Scan_zps4aa071aa.jpeg) For the end here's couple of pictures of the assembled airframe. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9137_zpsc4c59f2b.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9142_zps878ddded.jpg) Cheers, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: Massimo Tessitori on May 13, 2013, 10:53:16 PM Very well made work, Aleks.
The work to sand the inside of the canopy is very risky. Have you utilized any trick to do this? Regards Massimo Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: B_Realistic on May 14, 2013, 09:14:59 AM Very well made work, Aleks. The work to sand the inside of the canopy is very risky. Have you utilized any trick to do this? Regards Massimo @Massimo I think it's called craftmanship. :D @Aleks A very effective tip to make those lights. Thanks. Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on May 14, 2013, 09:53:37 AM Hi guys and thanks again for cheering,
Massimo, the canopy was tricky, yes. Sorry but I didn?t make any pics of that process. As you can imagine, my hands were full? I started with a sanding wheel on my Dremel. There is no trick, one just needs low RPM (brake it with your wet thumb if necessary ? no, modeling isn?t always pleasant), have light and steady hand and try not to melt the plastic. I then progressed through several grits of sandpaper and sticks: 400, 600 ? 3600 and used micro-mesh and Tamiya polishing compound at the end. I did have a plan-B in the back of my head: if all went pear-shaped I would fill the canopy with epoxy sand it smooth from outside and vacuum-form a new one. Luckily it didn?t come to that? Regards, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: 66misos on May 14, 2013, 01:23:27 PM Hi Aleks,
a really good job. I like to watch it even as "how to do" manual. Work with clear parts is really impresive. :o 66misos Title: Small stuff indeed Post by: asekular on June 03, 2013, 12:28:21 AM Greeting from ASBO (Antonov Scale Bureau Outfit) again. I was away for quite some time, due to varied unexpected home tasks, form plumbing to IT and back. But I did also squeeze in some workbench moments. So here?s the update. We are all excited here that the main airframe is now done and some finer details can be dealt with. For instance static dischargers are not regularly seen on models, especially in this scale. Positioned at the trailing edges of wingtips and tail surfaces, they are best represented by short lengths of nylon monofilament. I simply made few mill deep cuts with a razor saw and anchored the nylon thread with superglue. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9150_zps3dd6034f.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9154_zps99c7a532.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9155_zps03034671.jpg) For the wings I had to be more creative, as the static discharger is placed at the very tip where there is no obvious way to attach it. I decided to cut the tips off and then use the flat inner surface (facing the butt end of the aileron), to cut a groove and place the discharge in it. Difficult to do, even more so to put in few words, but easy to show in pics? (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9145_zps7628dbf6.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9146_zps4f963008.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9147_zps2021a5a6.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9151_zpsacf55289.jpg) Now to deal with the navigator?s office. The most prominent object in that big blister on the port side is the ubiquitous NKPB-7 bombsight. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/Pic20-1_zpsb3116c29.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/NKPB-7_1_zps1573492e.jpg) There is no better way to do this, but a good old fashion scratch building. Look for most appropriate bits in the scrap box, cut, bend, sand, fiddle, lose it in carpet, curse and start all over again. After few attempts, something promising will emerge. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9156_zps986e54ab.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9162_zpsfb2f5ebb.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9161_zps124d769e.jpg) The blister itself was made of two parts: the spherical dome and the streamlined fairing. I made my new transparencies by vacuum-forming. Some may say that this is a lot of work for such a small detail, but I think the result is worth it? (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9171_zpsabce623a.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9172_zpse8c91553.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9173_zps04dc9aa3.jpg) Till the next time, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: learstang on June 03, 2013, 01:17:41 AM Great work on the sight and blister, Aleks!
Regards, Jason Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: Massimo Tessitori on June 03, 2013, 07:27:42 AM Really fine and impressing work. I hope that the carpet monster has appreciated the tribute.
Regards Massimo Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on June 03, 2013, 09:17:30 AM Cheers guys!
Massimo, My carpet creature is more of a swine than a monster really; not very appreciative and spiteful too. It sometimes rejects old offerings, but always when is too late. Just the other day I was down on my knees looking for that special missing piece, when I suddenly found another long lost part. Peculiar thing is that I vacuumed the room in the meantime twice! So either my vacuum cleaner is not working very well, or there is indeed some sadistic beast breathing in my rug. Accepting the more plausible of the two answers: the carpet swine really exists! Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: B_Realistic on June 03, 2013, 10:18:21 AM Spectacular bomb sight. :o
Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: 4bogreen on June 03, 2013, 04:24:36 PM Hi Aleks,
One word to discribe this...Awesome... :o Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on June 21, 2013, 10:29:07 PM Hi again,
Here?s a small update on how to mask the canopy and create realistic looking fairing. Usually the kit transparency doesn?t correspond to the actual edge of the canopy frame. This is also the case on the An-26. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/CanopyFrame_zps81cb5304.jpg) First of all I wanted to smooth out the joints between the canopy piece and the fuselage. This is done by some more putty and a masking tape. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9175_zpsd6015db8.jpg) Then came the window masks that I created some while ago (see my previous posts). Masking tape was used to define borders of the canopy fairing as on the real aircraft. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9178_zps8d4074f8.jpg) After spraying a very thin layer of the interior color I proceeded with the thicker layers of Surfacer 1000. When it dried I used fine sand paper and micromesh to smooth any imperfections, before spraying another layer. The idea is to build-up an edge against the masking tape. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9179_zps8769588c.jpg) De-masking followed and voil?, the canopy is ready and waiting for later application of the camouflage colors. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9181_zps88d12c54.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9182_zps012c93a4.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9183_zps703b83cd.jpg) So much for now. Ciao, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: Massimo Tessitori on June 22, 2013, 01:36:21 PM Hi Aleks,
great work indeed. Looking at the photos of the real An.26, we can see that some panel lines appear as 'steps', not recessed lines; other ones are filled with some sealer. It's not the same look that is often seen on models. Regards Massimo Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: bbrought on June 24, 2013, 09:59:34 AM Alex, I always admired your work and I am so glad to see you on this forum. Great work so far on the An-26!
Bennie Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on June 24, 2013, 11:47:42 AM Thanks all,
Massimo, I agree completely about the panel lines. Not all are the same and they should be more diverse on the model as well. This kit is actually very good in that respect and features many overlapping panels and 3D surface details. The trick is only how to preserve them while sanding all the rough edges... But I'm almost done with that stage and now the painting will commence. Cheers, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on June 30, 2013, 11:11:00 PM Hello all,
After wrapping the whole of the airframe in Surfacer 1000 and dealing with all the blemishes that it revealed, I finally started painting the model. The ?Tan? was used for the radome and the tip of the vertical stabilizer. They will be painted light blue, but I wanted to provide some base for chipping paint. Few grain of salt wetted with water are applied in the most exposed places and then the blue coat is sprayed. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9185_zpsbdfaded9.jpg) I used Bright Blue and added white to find the shade I was looking for. None of the readily available light blue shades really cut it for me. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9187_zps0c47124a.jpg) Then came Alclad Duraluminum for the de-icing panels on the leading edges of all the flying surfaces and also some ?Burnt Metal? Metalizer for the inside of the APUs exhaust and Dark Aluminium for the outside with some soft blending of the two at the nozzle. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9190_zpseb1899e5.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9192_zps6e0c1ec4.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9193_zpsb523dcc4.jpg) Next on the action list is masking of all these surfaces for the application of the main camouflage? Till then, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: Massimo Tessitori on July 01, 2013, 09:24:41 PM Hi Aleks,
impressive work as usual. It's interesting to see an application of the salt method. Regards Massimo Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on August 26, 2013, 12:18:48 AM Good evening everybody,
Hope you are all still here after the summer hiatus. I bet you were thinking that this is another one of those build posts without resolution. But fret not, rainy weekends started again, which means that my workbench is busy once more. To quote one popular TV epic ?winter is coming?, and before that happens I hope to have my Antonov in full regalia and under the glass doors of a curio cabinet. So let?s start were we left it off the last time? (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9198_zpsc0229b30.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9200_zps5aeecace.jpg) I prepared small subassemblies for the propellers and painted the front ends of the hubs blue. The propeller blades will be painted and weathered separately and then I will try to align them properly into the hubs. I made small slot-doors for the main landing gear hatches out of strip of metal. This was much easier that cleaning and thinning the kit parts. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9203_zpsad124ca6.jpg) In the mean time all the masking of the bare-metal leading edges was finished so I could start with pre-shading. I don?t rely on this technique as much as I did in the past, but I still decided to do it here, as the camouflage is relatively light and quite weather-beaten. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9208_zps34189dc9.jpg) M.M. ?Bright Blue? gets to be used a lot on this model, as I mixed it again with ?Fulcrum Gray?, to get my own shade for lower surfaces. Surprisingly, none of the dozen jars of different light blues I have didn?t come close to what I found in the pictures. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9210_zps01f1ab02.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9213_zps1581d618.jpg) After the main coat, I sprayed thin layers of slightly modified mix to break-up the uniformity and also enhanced some of the panels with blackish-brown shadows. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9214_zpsd67d9f4d.jpg) The rectangular foot of the main cargo ramp is quite beaten-up, as it rests against the ground while loading the plane. I first painted this block with Alclad Aluminium, then black and finally the main undersurface color. By rubbing the edges with micromesh hidden layers of color are exposed, which gives a convincing end effect. Till the next time, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: learstang on August 26, 2013, 02:17:26 AM The undersides look great, Aleks! I can't wait to see the topsides.
Regards, Jason Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: Massimo Tessitori on August 26, 2013, 04:36:01 PM Great work indeed.
However, we were not worried because we are accustomed to see your models made up to their completion. Am I wrong? Regards Massimo Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: B_Realistic on August 26, 2013, 08:24:10 PM Very good underside weathering. :D
Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on September 01, 2013, 10:26:20 PM First of all thanks for the cheers guy! Sorry I didn?t get a chance to reply during the week, so I?m doing it now.
Massimo, you are right of course, I do finish all my builds - eventually, but some take quite a while (years) to gestate. Oh well? The moment has come to lay the two main colors for the upper camouflage. But first to protect the lower part I used some more meters of Tamiya tape and Parafilm M. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9217_zpsabf5ce01.jpg) The disruptive pattern got ?disrupted? over the years and the color changed in hue significantly. I relied on the photos of the period and chose my own mix of paints once again. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/112015_61555242_IMG_11811_zps4a04e146.jpg) The demarcation of two colors is quite sharp on the real machine, so I decided to use ?crazy goo? or whatever you call that kneading material, to roll it into ropes and lay out the shapes on the surface of the model. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9218_zpsaecb9566.jpg) For the gray I used Dark Ghost Gray + Fulcrum Gray both by Model Master and the green was mixed from RAF Interior Green also by MM and WEM?s AMT 12. Don?t ask me about the actual ratios; I was adding droplets until the mix was ?right?. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9225_zps2362612b.jpg) The noticeably darker patches of new color applied over the old national insignia indicate no effort of blending with the existing camouflage. If anything a strong contrast is achieved. I mixed Xtracolor?s RLM 70 Schwarzgr?n with WEM?s AII Brown in more or less 50 - 50 ratio for these and sprayed it through a paper mask. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/2719L_zpsf6515851.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9224_zpsc56578cc.jpg) The colors are not really matching on this images, but mind the different lighting conditions on my desk. In reality they are actually quite fine. We are slowly getting there? Next, I will start with some decals, but first I need to clean the airbrush and let some fresh air in the hobby room? Till then, A. Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: Massimo Tessitori on September 01, 2013, 10:44:01 PM Excellent work again.
Those repaintings under the national insignas are particularly nice, they look as black flags in the wind. Regards Massimo Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: learstang on September 01, 2013, 10:59:16 PM Great work, Aleks! And finally somebody found a use for WEM's fictional "AII Brown".
Regards, Jason Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on September 10, 2013, 12:18:42 AM Here?s another update from the west bank of the Rhein.
Work on the Antonov is now nearing the end of the painting phase. I needed to accurately represent repainting done on the real aircraft. Big areas on both sides of the nose section received what seams to be a much darker version of the green color, here represented by mix of ex-enemies now working together: RLM 70 and AMT 11. I traced the shapes on the printed line drawings and then cut out the masks. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9227_zps566e486b.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9229_zps555d2b1d.jpg) As the first decals I applied new Serbian cockades on the fuselage and port upper wing position. According to my references the fourth marking that should be at the bottom starboard wing was missing at this point in time. The markings came from the ?Lift Here? decal set, meant for another Serbian An-26. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9231_zps4e2caa1d.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9236_zps849f669a.jpg) Unit number on the tail is also completely missing from the port side of the vertical tail, but an earlier photo of the same machine from the starboard side shows the worn number just above the national flag. I decided to represent this dilapidated number by first applying the decal and then rubbing it with micro-mesh when dry. I had to assemble the number from separate digits, as there is no option for this exact unit number. I didn?t find appropriate numeral ?4? so I made it by cutting and pasting parts of another ?7? and ?1?. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9234_zps1cad5c6a.jpg) On the last shot you can already see effect of some oil washes, de-masked cargo-bay windows and various antennae and lights being attached. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/IMG_9238_zps63fbd1f6.jpg) The back end of the engine nacelle is waiting to receive a heavy coat of soot from the engine exhaust. Till the next time, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: Massimo Tessitori on September 10, 2013, 08:05:50 AM Hi Alex,
amazing and impressive work indeed. Regards Massimo Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on October 06, 2013, 10:41:08 PM Hello all,
well the deed is done. Sorry for the wait - it took me a while to shoot the images of the finished model. I had quite a bit of fun and very few problems with this fine kit. Not a first Amodel for me and certainly not the last (some BIG boxes calling me from the stash). Anyhow, here'S the An-26 in "transitional" Serbian markings. (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/_MG_6760_zps2ffa7f63.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/_MG_6763_zps600a09a1.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/_MG_6785_zpsfed62853.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/_MG_6768_zps3eae3a76.jpg) (http://i1276.photobucket.com/albums/y474/asekular1/_MG_6794_zps816342d8.jpg) Hope you like it. Cheers, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: learstang on October 06, 2013, 10:46:52 PM Brilliant job, Aleks, what's not to like! I really need to buy me one of these kits - such a great selection of markings and schemes.
Regards, Jason Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: Massimo Tessitori on October 06, 2013, 11:11:14 PM Hi Aleks,
very beautiful model indeed. I like it on all the respects. How did you do the wire aerial and its details? Regards Massimo Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: 66misos on October 07, 2013, 12:22:26 PM Hi Aleks,
fantastic work. Very inspiring. And I have the same question as Massimo above. 66misos Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: asekular on October 07, 2013, 02:17:41 PM Thanks much chaps! Regarding the antenna, it is a thin nylon monofilament ("invisible thread"). Sorry, I didn?t take any photos of this part of the process. I usually spray the line with some darker shade of Alclad, before installation. Then it is good to remember to bead all the small bits on the antenna before actually securing it ? it goes much harder if you reverse these steps? ::). The insulators were made from small pieces of styrene rod. I pre-drill one end of the Evergreen rod ? trying to center the hole with the smallest drill-bit. Then put this end in my pin-vise and try to sharpen it with sandpaper to a conical shape. Then cut the cone off and lead the antenna wire through it. Finger dexterity is quite the benefit here... Usually it takes me double the number of these bits to select the decent ones. I lead the antenna through the pre-made fairlead on the vertical tail and an an eye in the stub mast, and then double it through a small cylindrical piece of insulation (already threaded on the antenna) - stripped from a thin wire. Touch of superglue holds the whole thing taut. Hope this makes sense? Cheers, Aleks Title: Re: An-26 1:72 Post by: Massimo Tessitori on October 08, 2013, 02:02:09 PM Looks clear enough... I have just to try and see if I've understood well.
Regards Massimo |