One from Romanian source, came all in one flitch of photoetch system, which is disappointing.
So, thereby, I bought another set from China from our trusty Trumpeter agent, Miniature Hobby.
To start the project, I needed some cheapo kits from Hobby Boss, which came in as a P38 Lightning in 48 scale as a easy build model series. $21 bucks damage total! No sweating of buckets.
Once I get the hang of it, I changed the masking tape guide to the Hasegawa steel photoetched templates which will be more sturdy to guide the wheels to form straight and even lines.
First, before we begin, we have to get good source of scale drawings on where the rivets are actually on the subject of choice. For this experiment, I am using the Kawanishi N1K1 Shinden Kai from Tamiya in 48 scale.
The drawings adopted as as follows.
The real work begins when we protect the ailerons from damage and areas not riveted with masking tape. Next we have to mark out the distances using the Hasegawa template set. And finaling rolling the cutter with pressure perpendicular to the surface.
The dots are satisfactory. However, if we need to weather this plane with paint chips and fading, we will have to use the Hasegawa Rivet Punch to augment each dot we marked with the rivetting tool.
I did some experiment earlier during the day using the P38 from Hobby Boss.
Once rolled, the areas area hand painted with diluted Vallejo black paint and then rubbed off with rags and alcohol to review the work done with the revelation of the rivets. If the dinks do not show up well, it will definitely need augmenting using the punch, dot for dot! Otherwise, it will not show up after 6 coats of various paints, varnishes and decals.
Watch this space for further updates coming up soon.