The Delphin sub from MikroMir is back on deck with painting. The dark grey camo shade on the upper half is now on and after masking will be mostly covered by the lighter grey main colour.

I’ve been working on the torpedo with a coat of Model Master metallic on the front and after masking some of Vallejos Aluminium Metal colour paint which sprays beautifully.

Currently weathering with Payne’s grey as a wash. I’m using the acrylic version but really should have gone for the oils being a different medium which wouldn’t have reacted with the underlying acrylic at all though it’s not been a big problem.

Also on my other workbench is the D9. The tracks have a major seam running down the middle of the tracks so lots of sand, check, then sand again cycles. Most annoying is the instructions depict this issue as normal. Fortunately the work on the undersides can be omitted.

Not happy with this issue. Its always something wrong with tracks when you do armour !

Since I started this entry I have now finished this sub kit. On the whole I am happy with the job I’ve done although mistakes were made and there are a number of lessons learnt.

  • completion order list would be helpful
  • pin parts where needed early on – eg the snorkel which was a bitch to add later, when I did this on the front dive planes this helped a lot.
  • risk adding some smaller parts where appropriate – particularly the four brass tail braces – earlier would have been better.
  • double check fit of major parts – the stand and canopy had issues that could have been fixed earlier but on first checking seemed ok
  • varnish over Vallejo early on as I had issues with scratching on the paintwork
  • OTOH I am particularly happy with the torpedo and given it was metal paint that is surprising.
In the cabinet already!

BTW if you ever see this brand of drills avoid them. Unlike proper drill bits they are flat at the top rather than a peak which enables you to both centre it and also actually drill in rather than flopping around on the surface. Mine are now at the local tip!

And a recent backyard visitor

Brush turkey – Australia