SPA Modeler

I've got a few things off the bench so time to start this monster kit - Revell 1/144 Airbus 380-800 in Emirates 'Wildlife' livery.





For size reference - here's a same scale 737



Trying out an idea I saw on another airliner site. A guy uses clear casting epoxy to fill the windows. He actually polishes them and comes out with crystal clear windows. I'm looking for an easy way to fill the windows and go the decal route.



Masked off from the outside



Mixed the two part stuff and poured into a syringe for easy application



Here's where we stand now



Given the position of the windows and the pooling of the epoxy right between them I've been periodically moving the fuselages around a bit while it still flows - like you would a pancake batter in a pan. I imagine with smaller airliners with a single row of windows this would work like a champ. We'll see - needs 24 hours to set up.

Sounds like a good idea. I would suggest maybe next time use UV resin, so you don't have to keep moving it around. You can put the resin where you want it and then cure it almost instantly using a UV light.
Looks like a beast of an aircraft!

Interesting idea Declan. Does the UV resin flow well? I want to make sure it gets into all the nooks and crannies.
Thinking of doing this one wheels up as I'm not sure I have shelf space!

Good question. From what I have seen, it is a little more firm than a regular pouring resin. But that does mean you could use a toothpick to spread it where you want and it won't come out.
Wheels up would be cool, you don't often see that

John, I did what you are doing except I didn't use tape, there seemed to be enough surface tension, and I worked one window at a time. It was on a Nitto 1/100 727 which I think has larger windows than the 1/144 A380. Here's a link to my build log, and a photo of the finished model. I think I used the same clear resin as you. It took a good long time to harden up enough for sanding and polishing. At least a week, it was a little rubbery until then.

http://www.yolo.net/%7Ejeaton/mymodels/ ... /1727.html

Good to hear John. Nice job on the 727. BTW - where did you get that stand from? Looks sturdy, maybe enough for this model. Otherwise she's getting hung from the ceiling.

I built it for a fellow R/C club member and he supplied the stand, I think it may have come from a diecast model manufacturer or retailer. It was pretty sturdy. You could make a stand using a clear Lucite rod like Paul Boyer does, fitting it into a receiving tube in the model, I think that might look good.

If you was to do it with uv resin I would do small sections at a time. Uv resin heats up super fast when it cures and shrinks.

Can't wait to see the build. I have an airliner in the stash that I'd like to do eventually.

After 24 hours the epoxy is a touch gummy like you mentioned John, but I was able to pull the tape off. The painters tape has a bit of texture, so if I were to consider keeping these as clear windows in the future I'd find a smoother low-tac tape. Overall I'm pretty pleased as this is the easiest path to filling windows I've found.
This really isn't a helpful pic but...

Little better

Backlit with a flashlight shows best