Even before I slip the cover off the kit box I need to start gathering up the material and resources I need to accomplish the project. I’ll of course dig into my stash of thin sheet aluminum that were once used for printing plates before the arrival of the digital age. These plates are harder and harder to find and I only tap into my very limited supply for special projects…such as this one.

I’ll also have to have at my disposal some other extruded metal products such as those which Albion Alloys Precision Metals provides. Their products are my go-to source for metal tubing, rod and other metal stock. Given that I’ll be recreating interior structures that has to be mangled, twisted and torn to replicate battle damage I want the realism and durability that using soft metal provides.

It just so happens that this week on The Plastic Scale Modeling Hour, I have as my guest Matthew John, Product Manager at Albion Alloys. We’ll see what he recommends for this project.

Amongst the resources I have collected and added to my spares stash have been various foils and other soft metals. These have come from food container seals, such as those used under the lid of a peanut butter jar or beverage container. Thin foils such as chewing gum wrappers are also in my stash, not just for the minty scent they add to the box they are kept in, but for the ultra thin foil itself. This foil can be used to cover a panel or make thin retaining straps. One of the challenges to using this foil, removing the paper laminated to it. Trying to peel the two apart can be sometimes successful.

TIP: But have found that the easiest way is to lay the wrapper on a piece of glass, foil side down and set the paper on fire with a match or butane lighter. The paper will burn away leaving the foil behind.

Old Photo Etched pieces including the metal frets will also be examined to see if there is anything useful I can use. Since my Mitchell is going to have some engine damage, I’ll be looking for pieces and bits to replicate a damaged cylinder head. PE frets are ideal for cutting to make the air cooling fins from. Lets also not forget to take a peek at all of the wire and solder collected over the years as well.

The tools necessary too will be gathered up and staged on the bench. My selection of pliers, shears and scissors from Xuron and the bending tools from The Small Shop will be necessary for the sometimes delicate work at hand to recreate this infliction of damage and destruction.

Once I have seen what I have on hand for resources or will need to acquire I can start to plan on what damage and in what amount and detail I can reproduce. Since I plan to display this aircraft in flight…or as it were barely flying while on final approach I have to decide what type and level of damage would still plausibly let the aircraft return “Comin’ In On A Wing And A Prayer.”  As I am writing this post and making mental notes of the tasks to do for this project I am asking myself…“Is this damage the result of a midair collision as part of a training exercise gone wrong or as the result of a damage during a combats sortie?” What’s your thought? Again it is something that must be decide before construction and painting…to source the correct scheme and markings. Something else to add to the list!

REMINDER: Poor planning = Poor Results. Each step of a scale modeling project depends on the proper execution of the previous one to allow satisfactory progression with excellent results as the final outcome.