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Sophia's Plastic Model Airplane Adventure

Realities

• This is not like Lego, the pieces rarely fit well & mistakes are hard to undo.
• Success requires patience, dexterity and the acceptance of frequent early failures.
• Many models kits will need to be attempted with marginal results before satisfaction will occur.
• Skills with tools and methodologies will determine success, not the cost of the kit.
• Good disciplined assembly habits need to be developed. A place for everything and everything in its place.
• Start with low cost easy kits, expect and accept most of them to be botched until skills develop.

Plan

1. Airfix HAVOC model
• Learn about the plane especially its history in Russia/USSR.
• Already molded in color (silver gray) so no painting needed. but the yellow propeller tips and the black tires are not molded in color so a decision needs to be make how much to paint.
• Kit was made in 1979 but all pieces appear to be present.
• Will need to determine and get the proper cement.
• Need to determine what tools to get and find a suitable expandable toolbox and organization for them. This will be the start of a toolkit you will use for the rest of your life.
• As was common in kits of this era there is a lot of flash that will need to be carefully removed.
• Kit has decals that will need brushes and decal setting solution.
• First step will be planning the entire build before starting.
• Web searching and YouTube watching of each process step methods will be needed before assembly.
2. Eduard L-38C Albatros model
• Learn about the plane.
• Do NOT be fooled by the ridiculous marketing label "Weekend edition". Ignore it, this kit will take much longer for many reasons.
• Kit was made in 2012 so the mold quality will be a bit better.
• All the pieces appear to be present but a thorough inventory is necessary before starting.
• Will need to get four colors of paint, solvent, brushes and appropriate masking.
• Planning of this second kit will incorporate lessons learned from first kit attempt.
• Web searching and YouTube watching of each process step methods for masking and painting will be needed even before assembly.
3. Additional low-cost models as they become available at garage sales

Details

1. Airfix HAVOC model

















































A-20 Havoc in Action 2ed - Mesko, Greer & Sewell 1994 - PDF

2. Eduard L-38C Albatros model