| With the exception of the cowl and spats, which have double curves, the model was covered using panels cut from A4 printer paper. Using the 3 - view as a guide cut a rough panel and Selotape to the model, then mark accurately. To make life easier, cut a strip about 1cm wide from acetate sheet, this will bend around any curvature. Remove the panel and cut to shape, emboss “rivets” from the reverse side using a dressmaker’s pattern copying wheel. To get a good fit to the next panel, Selotape the finished panel in position slightly overlapping the rough cut next panel, using the edge of the finished panel as a guide accurately mark the next panel. Depending on where you start you may need to make a few panels before you permanently attach the first, it sounds complicated but it’s easier to do than to explain! I used watered down PVA to initially glue the panels, this made them a bit pliable and enabled them to be stretched for a good fit. When the model was completely covered a couple of coats of very thin dope finally sealed everything in place.
Inspection panels are made from self-adhesive aluminium tape as used in car repairs and the cowl had a couple of litho plate panels to break up the plainness of the ABS.
When suitably weathered the resulting finish is very realistic, as in real life the butt joints between adjacent panels is quite subtle, I’ve seen quite a few reasonable sport-scale models ruined by thick black painted on panel lines. |