Cmelak Z-37

Here some progress on the second plane of this project: the Z-37 Cmelak from Eduard. With everybody praising this kit it was the inspiration for the project. Here most of the cockpit assembled. So far, fit is very snug. As snug that the PE parts sometimes require a dash of modification. 

Masks for all clear parts are provided. Even more perfect would have been, if masks for the inside of the windows would have come with it. 

I want to show tow plane and glider during take off, so I need pilots. Now, this turned out to be easier said than done. Do you know of any glider pilots in scale 1:72? No? Civil pilots maybe? PJ Productions has one, but they are commercial ones. To cut a long story short: I did not find any. So I grabbed a German U-Boat man, broke his legs as he sat too broad legged, severed his right arm and replaced it with one from CMKs assorted hand and head set. And this is where I am now. 

The kit lives up to its reputation with the only problems encountered so far being the guy who builds it and fills seams not to be filled and sands of details not to be sanded off. That notwithstanding this little gem goes togehter very smoothly. 

That was quite an effort to tweak Janek into his seat. Now he is just a tad too tall and will have to shrink one or two millimeters. Then I can bring some color to his live. Anxious to continue with the Cmelak but these figures bog me down. 

Janek is ready and finally takes his seat. 

 

With the pilot on board completing basic assembly was quick. 

Only the clear parts needed a bit of adjustment.  

Ready for primer. Then silver. Then yellow. 

Well...
Obviously wasn´t quite ready yet. I added the landing gear to color everything in one go. Some more detailling done (exhausts, brake hoses, handles...) 

Now! Ready for the paint job. 

 

Alclad ll gloss primer as a base, then Mr. Color Nr. 8 silver. This time not as a base for weathering but as a foundation for the yellow top coat. 

Unfortunately if not unexpectedly some small blemishes will have to be fixed before the next step. 

Preparing for preshading modulation 

Preshading finished. I started with Tamiya X19 Sky, but contrast was too weak. So I switched to Alclad II gun metal which I like much better 

 

Next Step: Yellow 

the pic looks okay but I am not happy with the result. 

 

Second round 

No preshading this time. All color variations will be done using postshading techniques.  

Test sample: Yellow (Mr HobbyColor 413 (RLM4)) on a silver (right), white (middle) and pink (left) base.  

Yellow again (you gotta believe me ?). I am much happier with the result. Pitty only that all those layers of color start to soften up the details. 

This is an imagined plane, so I chose a livery to my liking and mixed decors of various models. 

Bit of overspray here and there. I hope I can fix that. 

Decals and stencils are on. 

I just put on what I liked and considered reasonable. 

The Eduard decals were a charm to handle 

 

With this being an Eduard kit I wanted to try their technique to remove the decal film. Eduard explained it in their 5/21 newsletter in detail (scroll far down, then you will find it.)
The effect is demonstrated on the black step areas. On the left side the film is removed, on the right side the decal is still covered with it. 

Decal film removed on both sides. 

Now this feels a bit like open heart surgery: I want to mount the plane at take off and with one wheel only touching the ground. So I drilled a hole into the tyres to achieve that. If I would have used my brain, it would have been crystal clear, that the flimsy axle would never been able to support the weight of the whole plane. What to do? Ok. I use the strut, drill it out and insert a metal piece for stability. Said, done, failed. Drilling off alignment ruined the strut. I managed to force the mangled gear strut out of the wing after clipping off the supports. Then I replaced it with a piece of syringe. Now I have to rebuild the landing gear again and paint it. Stay with me, as I will need all the support I can get for this. 

Stability. I need stability. Took me a while to figure this one out. Here is my solution. The styrene axle was drilled out and replaced by a brass rod. As a mused that a blunt superglue bond would not be strong enough (soldering brass on stainless steel requires solder and an appropriate heat source I do not posses), I enforced that with a thin wire which was inserted in axle, the lower part of the strut and the actuator of the landing gear. Here the layout. 

Here assembled. 

That is the way it looks on the plane. Now I only have to detail the strut with brake hose, scissors and metal bands. But the construction is sturdy and I can now progress again. 

 

The landing gear is detailed again and the tubes to receive the pins from the gear are inserted into predrilled holes in the base.  

With the metal strut the landing gear is now stable enough to support the plane. I am happy that it worked out that way. Now lets finish this. 

I finally got back to this chap and gave it a dark brown grey wash. I did not want to overdo it, as this tow plane of a glider club should be in decent shape. I think, it turned out ok. Right side is treated, left not yet.
Unfortunately one landing gear disassembled during handling. Need to fix that.