In stock Product is on the shelf in our store and can usually be dispatched the same day if ordered before 14:30, or collected from the store once order confirmation is received
Special Hobby has been causing something of a buzz with releases including its 1/32 Tempest and 1/72 Mirage F-1 being lauded for their quality and detail. When a new-tool 1/72 Sunderland was announced, it generated equal excitement among the ‘plastic afflicted’.
The large box contained 12 grey runners, one beautifully clear frame and a small photo-etched (PE) metal fret. Surface detail featured finely recessed panel lines, with numerous high-quality antennas and machine guns. A Cartograf-produced decal sheet provided markings options for four aircraft: one French and three RAF machines.
However, initial impressions quickly gave way to concerns. Interior detail was moulded rather softly and no locator pins were evident save for a few tabs on the fuselage, which meant many butt joins. No component numbers were included, which resulted in constant reference to the parts ‘map’ prior to cutting anything. This was looking more like the limited-run Special Hobby of old.
Construction started with the busy interior (see photo), with sub-assemblies including seating, radio racks, crew bunks and work desks; these were built and detailed with lead foil and various paint shades. Using the instructions and photographs as reference, all interior parts were decorated and weathered with oil washes and pigments, with assembly accomplished using cyanoacrylate (CA) and PVA (white) glues. The decks featured shallow grooves to locate the various bulkheads, but these were essentially outlines for butt joins and this type of construction slowed the build process – often due to holding the parts in place as the adhesive cured.
The fuselage interior was prepared for assembly by removing any flash and grinding any ejector marks. Gunners’ hatches were opened by chain drilling their outlines, removing them with a sharp blade, after which a needle file smoothed and refined the shape. The interior was painted the base shades of Model Master’s 2062 RAF Interior Green and 1749 Flat Black, plus Alclad’s ALC-101 Aluminium , over which a gloss coat was applied. A pin wash of Burnt Sienna and Lamp Black oils was applied to the detail and then sealed with a matt coat, after which it was dry-brushed with aluminium- and grey-toned highlights.
Specification
Specification
Scale
1:72
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In stock Product is on the shelf in our store and can usually be dispatched the same day if ordered before 14:30, or collected from the store once order confirmation is received
In stock Product is on the shelf in our store and can usually be dispatched the same day if ordered before 14:30, or collected from the store once order confirmation is received
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.