This all started over a decade ago when a friend sent me a fistful of vacuform kits with the only condition being that I build them. During a chat with another friend (hello, Bill!) it turned out that we both have the same vac bomber kit mocking us from the pile. Hoping to one day build mine as a credible compliment to his, I figured I needed to up my vac game as I hadn't built one in ages. So I started with the worst looking one in the pile, an almost formless blob one is supposed to magically transform into a PZL P.7, I think.
Since my plans had been derailed by the Dept. of Transportation
I figured it was a great time to get started. So after an afternoon I had some parts to work with.
There was no way I was dealing with the most challenging aspects of this kit, the gull wings, engine/cowl, prop, landing gear & assorted struts.
Some replacement parts filled in.
I have no idea where that wing center section came from but the engine is from a 1/72 Airfix H.P. 0/400.
Funny, all the struts I was going to use came from that old Airfix classic too. The canopy is from a Monogram P-36 and the tailwheel was swiped from a P-40. I think the prop came from a Zero.
Travel warnings lifted, life got busy again and it would take me a few days to get to this:
I used plastic drinking straws cut to fit as upper and lower scoops to hide notches and holes in the engine and make it blend in to the fuselage better.
That lovely streamlined landing gear was from a 1/72 Monogram Curtiss F11C Goshawk.
Here's how it all looked before the canopy was added and the paint was on.
Speaking of paint, the old hairy stick was loaded up with acrylics, Polly Scale WarPac "Gray" mostly.
Polly Scale Light Blue was used under the wings & horiz stabs.
The canopy was tinted on the inside with Model Masters Insignia Blue. Model Masters Flat Black was used on the tires and Aluminum on the prop blades.
The Spanish Republican markings were done with a custom red mix, Model Masters Insignia Yellow and Polly Scale PA RR Maroon.
1/200 scale airline window decals were used for the exhaust ports. The fuselage codes came from spares.
It took me only a few days to build this, spread over a couple of weeks because things have been hectic. Before I forget, here's the "money shot" (U.S. penny for scale):
Even thought it was a bit challenging, I had a fun scraping the rust off my vac skills.
I hope you enjoyed the Koolhoven F.K. 42 Mk. II and reading a little more forgotten aircraft history.
Brian da Basher