IBEX T-6 Texan II

[Ernie]

This is going back onto the bench this weekend; or actually it never left it, just got pushed to the side. Things were going well until I needed another set of decals, and it took weeks for them to arrive and I couldn't really do anything without them, so it got pushed to the side. I need to get this finished by the end of the month so I really need to get back at it.




The kit instrument panels were used, though the instruments came from a sheet of instrument faces and some from the kit decals sheet. I also added a large nut/bolt/washer to the center leg of the panel to represent what appears to be an outlet for the cabin environmental control system.



The seats are supplied in resin, and look decent enough when all painted up, especially since the canopy is going to be closed.




The completed cockpit in place before the canopy went on.



Fitting the vac formed canopy, when all trimmed up it actually fit really well.




Canopy on and masked ready for paint.

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Paint going down, Model Master Gloss Sea Blue.....








Decals going on, using Two Bob's decals for a Centennial of Naval Aviation T-6







The nose checkers are single rows that have to be individually applied and off set, as well as fit around the lumps and bumps on the cowl. The fun part is that not all the panel lines represented on the decal instructions are present on the model. It was most important to get the anti glare panel masked off symmetrically as that was the point to start laying out the stripes. In the end, they turned out pretty well, which is good since this makes or breaks the look of the model.
 Probably will not have any progress on this until after I get home from work Friday night...

[JCON]

Looking very nice indeed!!!

[BUCKY]

I'm liking this, Ernie!!

[Ernie]

Thanks guys, appreciate the comments.

[Dukemaddog]

Magnificent work Ernie! This looks amazing!

[Ernie]

Thanks Duke, hope to make some meaningful progress on it this weekend!

[Dukemaddog]

I know how that feels. I also hope to make some meaningful progress this weekend. I hope you have better luck than I do.

[JCON]

My meaningful progress was attend a funeral, go shopping while in town, get an offer on one of my listings, get a new listing tomorrow morning and then input it online!!!

[Ernie]

Yeah, so far visited my brother and sister law this morning, a couple of churches in town were having big yard sales so walked around there with my wife, go over to the garage and pay for the inspection fee for our sons car, put together a cat tower for my mother's new, slightly used cat, daughter and son in law stopped by, tried twice to take a nap cuz I only got a couple of hours sleep last night, so yeah, meaningful stuff, just not really progress on anything...

[JCON]

Lol!!!

[Ernie]

Last of the decals are on...








Found a couple of spots that I need to touch up and then a couple of good gloss coats and then the detail painting of the antennas etc.
Getting there!

[Dukemaddog]

Coming along nicely! Bring it home man!

[JCON]

Oh yeah that's getting after it!!! Nice!!!

[Ernie]

Thanks guys!
Did some more touch-ups, so maybe tonight after work I can start the (hopefully) final gloss coats. I was looking at the model and fiddly bit parts and realized that there really isn't much left on this, I might be able to get it finished up over the upcoming weekend. Most of the small parts are already painted and stuff and ready to go on. I was kinda of surprised I had got as far along with it as I had. Still, will be nice to get it finished up, it has literally been sitting on my bench for several months, and I have been working around it

[Dukemaddog]

Yeah, I have a few models that I've been working around as well. Frustrating. You got this though. You're also motivating me to get on some of those stalled projects myself now.

[Ernie]

Thanks Duke, yeah, get on those stalled projects! It feels good to finally get them finished up. Plus, with those finished it is easier to look forward to the next project!
Between last night and tonight I have got the final gloss on and will let that set up for a day or two and then the mask off the wing walkways and flat coat them hopefully without screwing up anything. One of the worst parts of the kit are the wheels, they are not consistently round and the hub detail not well defined. I got them cleaned up so they look better and tried painting them twice now, and am not happy with the result. So I ordered some masks that might or might not work on them. They will be here on Friday. So, getting closer to the finish line slowly but steadily!

[doogie]

Awesome work Ernie!

[Ernie]

Ok, so got some time on this and getting close now! The wheel masks I ordered were useable on this, not a perfect fit to the wheels but closer than I was able to get without them. I used a set of Furball Aero masks for the EMB Tucano, it was a Hail Mary pass, but worked out

I also made a small base for the model to sit on, I used a piece cut from one of Coastal Kits display bases I got free from an online give-a-way that had a while back, a 98 cent WalMart picture frame and a piece of scrap styrene for the name plate. The lettering on the name plate came from the header of the Two Bobs decal sheet. Overall, simple, cheap, and easy, and looks pretty good.
The T-6 is up on her legs...





Only a couple of things left to add and this one will finally be done....Whooo Hooo
Hopefully this week.

[BUCKY]

That flyer looks great, Ernie! You have a nice base there, too!

[JCON]

Coming along nicely!!! Good base too!!!