Aeroclub Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune completed

[adey m]

My Aeroclub P2V-5 Neptune is finally finished.
This multi media kit has been a challenge, consisting of thickly moulded injection parts, vacform clear parts and white metal propellers and undercarriage. The fuselage halves were moulded with no openings so I had to cut out all window openings, nose wheel bay and the cockpit and scratchbuild the cockpit and nose observer's position while still finding room to install enough nose weight. I built the nose wheel and main undercarriage bays and replaced the metal nose wheel leg and main wheels with more suitable plastic ones from my spares. The searchlight vacform glazing was too small, so for the first time I attempted to plunge mould, and made my own which took me numerous attempts to make a bigger one that looked okay. I also plunge moulded the side observation blisters.
I brush painted the model with Humbrol and Revell enamels and used the kit decals option for a US Navy aircraft, the kit also contained alternative parts and decals for a RAF aircraft.