Nice! Love how the colour turned out, top and belly.
Vertical Vengeance: A Dive into History. Dive Bomber Group Build
- Thread starter TimM63
- Start date
D@mn! That's some mighty fine work!
Excellent build. Pantherman
So as I prepare for the death defying leap into the AB world, I've decided on a paint scheme used in the fall of 1940, when Skuas were sent down to the Mediterranean. According to this Google summary, which I'll quote here,
So with this in mind, I also know that my plane needs a few alterations, among them, only one landing light on the port side. It also had four wing mounted browning machine guns, two to a side, none of which are in the kit. I'm also going to take the liberty of loading the 500 lb bomb, which it wouldn't have had on that fateful mission... well, just because!
To prepare for painting, I've printed out and varnished a similar sized drawing of my Skua to practice on after getting familiar with the Airbrush.
Other references state that none of the six Hurricanes made it either.
So with this in mind, I also know that my plane needs a few alterations, among them, only one landing light on the port side. It also had four wing mounted browning machine guns, two to a side, none of which are in the kit. I'm also going to take the liberty of loading the 500 lb bomb, which it wouldn't have had on that fateful mission... well, just because!
To prepare for painting, I've printed out and varnished a similar sized drawing of my Skua to practice on after getting familiar with the Airbrush.
Bear43
Well-Known Member
I'm really looking forward to seeing how the Skua turns out for you.
Don't hesitate to ask for advice on taming the wild airbrush, which is a useful but sometimes recalcitrant beast. There's lots of good experience available here.
That's a great idea for practice. I recommend bending and curling the paper at times—planes have all these curves …
So after some careful measuring of drawings, and consulting reference photos, I prepared to transfer the measurements to my wings for gun placement... barely visible in just the right light, I find that the kit has them scored, closed up!
A little graphite helps to highlight them...
A little graphite helps to highlight them...
Edbert
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 16, 2024
- Messages
- 3,117
I'm not familiar with that aircraft, but I think you could drill them out before painting.
Oh ya, done, and I have the barrels to insert.
Looking great. PM
My, that's nice!
Seeing the canopy open front and back makes we want to do the same!
Thanks.
Thanks
Well done. Love the chipping on the prop.
She's been there and back many a time!
VegasAWACER13
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2025
- Messages
- 434
Beautiful!
Thanks. I think i went too far on the prop.
Thanks
Love the weathering! Not so much the prop is overdone, but with that much wear on it, I'd expect more on the cowling. But consider how these aircraft were "stored" on the carrier—rather extreme, real world weathering, and the prop gets the most and worst of it.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2024
- Messages
- 1,569
Great job! Man that plane has been on a lot of missions. I think you should Nick the cowling up a little bit to match the rest but it's all better than what I can do
Nope, my old Skua limping even further behind!
Down Time
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2022
- Messages
- 1,861
Well then, I feel a skooch better.
Edbert
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 16, 2024
- Messages
- 3,117
Gary, you did it right!
The top flaps of the dive brakes should be flat (as you did) not raised (as I did) when the aircraft was parked.
+10
Not even close. The kit is sitting on the table in my workroom, in its box, waiting for me to finish my current build. I did say that I build with glacial speed …
So I'm back into the dive, only, just spent two hours, filing, sanding and fitting. My Skua in Mediterranean service has one landing light... so the second gets filled in. The four guns which I am also adding (not in the kit) can wait until camo paint on.
I thought I might just add the lens after painting, but noticed a precut mask for it while spending two hours yesterday applying masks to the bus, I mean canopy! Inside and out, why not?!
Back to the kit lens is way two big to fit, and the wing opening way two small... so both needed adjustment.
You can see how big the unused one on the sprue is by comparison! It is not quite flush yet, but running outta gas... maybe a bit more in the morrow?
...as for the bus...
Rookie move: had one whole side done when I noticed I'd placed the innies where the outties should be!
I'm thinking of using @Edbert technique of gluing them up with white glue on the plane, paint then remove for final placement.
I want to have the pilot's open, and the rear gunner's rotated up to be able to mount his gun: unbelievably, the gunner would have to open his canopy, then pull up the gun from it's transport position to use it!
I thought I might just add the lens after painting, but noticed a precut mask for it while spending two hours yesterday applying masks to the bus, I mean canopy! Inside and out, why not?!
Back to the kit lens is way two big to fit, and the wing opening way two small... so both needed adjustment.
You can see how big the unused one on the sprue is by comparison! It is not quite flush yet, but running outta gas... maybe a bit more in the morrow?
...as for the bus...
Rookie move: had one whole side done when I noticed I'd placed the innies where the outties should be!
I'm thinking of using @Edbert technique of gluing them up with white glue on the plane, paint then remove for final placement.
I want to have the pilot's open, and the rear gunner's rotated up to be able to mount his gun: unbelievably, the gunner would have to open his canopy, then pull up the gun from it's transport position to use it!
Same on the SBD, and IIRC, SB2C.
