1/144 Minicraft CC 137

by Phillip Steele

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Finished at last!!!  This build represents plane # 702, and I hope the actual aircraft looked similar to this at some point in its CAF carrier, considering how difficult it was to get the model to look this way (this is the second paint job).  The kit was a difficult build, with a great deal of shimming & filling required to align the engines horizontally.  Thankfully, the kit had engraved detail. 

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

  

Three CanMilAir sets,157,158 & 159 were used.  The windscreen is a decal as well, supplied with the kit.  The engine air doors are 4 x 4 mm die cut decals, made from painted Walters decal film.  This detail was missing, and proved too difficult to scribe in on such a small diameter.  I made the cutter from a piece of antennae tubing, forming it over 4 mm key stock.  After careful sharpening, it easily punched out the 32 required squares.

I made up two different shades  from Chrome silver for the aluminum paint and natural metal surfaces.  They contrast reasonably well in the photographs.  BMF was also used in a few areas.  Fins and pitot tubes were added.  Highlighting and weathering were done with a lead pencil and a few Q tips.  I usually prefer a pristine appearance, but these were often dirty old birds in service.

Many thanks to my photo contributors, and to Larry Engram, a former maintainer, for his advice. 

Phillip

Photos and text © by Phillip Steele