1/72 Execuform N1M

by Gabriel Stern

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There is always a first time; fortunately.
In my ever increasing stack of "to build" models there are some kits in other media (resin, vacuformed) that have been waiting for a certain time. I was always a little bit concerned about the time they may consume, given that you have to deal with new materials and techniques. Well, at least for one of these models, the time has come. This is my first vacuform kit. I found it in a hobby shop for a more than reasonable price, and the subject was so appealing that...well, you know the rest. I read a few articles about vacuformed models and was all set to begin: some Internet references that immediately pointed to flaws in the kit -of course-, several trips to the spare box to account for the (many) unprovided  bits and construction began.

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I decided beforehand not to worry to much about accuracy and just "play around" this time a little bit. The cockpit was first in the list, with some plastic sheet and bits to provide an appearance of something going on inside. The wheel bays followed, with suitable landing gear pieces from an unknown donor. Some nose weight was added (I ended up with a tail sitter, anyway) and the two halves of the wing, that account for most of the model anyway, were glued together. Filling/sanding/filling...etc and the remaining bulky parts were added (the propeller axle fairings and the tail wheel support and fairing). The engine front ducts were hollowed and the "gills" added. 

Paint came this time  from a spray can, house type, acquired at the local hardware store. Pitot tube, vac canopy, propellers -with hubs fabricated from small plastic tube-  and we are almost done. Decals came from an anonymous left over. Not very accurate, not very detailed, but fun for sure, leaving a good feeling about this first time experience with "vacs".

Gabriel

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Photos and text © by Gabriel Stern