Ike´s Stork - the build

A rare image of an organized bench, right at the start of the build. 

I built this kit mostly OOB, but decided to try to convert the German pilot to a more American look. 

So I brought out the Apoxie Sculp and tried what I could achieve. 

And painted the gentleman. 

The Argus engine is fairly well detailed and even partially visible.  

I only drybrushed the instrument panel and added some splotches of colour. The instrument faces reveived a drop of clear gloss in the end. 

The pilot has been trapped on his seat. I had some problems when closing up the fuselage and later how to get the metal reinforcement wires of the landing gear positioned as they should be. Apart from that it was mostly a hassle-free build. 

With so much glazing, Eduard´s canopy masks were a true benefit, and they worked well as usual. 

I didn´t want to build a German plane, so chose Gen. Eisenhower´s personal transport in OD over NG with full invasion stripes. ASK decals has this option on offer. 

The invasion stripes needed some corrections to get them aligned from slat to flap. 

Sadly, the white on the decals did not cover well enough, hence the difference in the rear bar of the US National Insignia. 

I was forced to mask the area and respray over the bars. Which ultimately worked out, but not without damage to the decal and more back-and-forthing. 

Only after completion , perceptive fellow modeler Bughunter told me I had omitted the wingfold release handles at the wing roots. Here are the holes that prove it. 

And the relevant bit of the kit instructions - I simply forgot. 

I managed to pick the instructions and the sprue from the soon-to-be-emptied dustbin, and remedied the omission. 

It looks way better now.