The 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS in its custom home-made display box finally resting on a shelf. Effective against dust. Better photos to follow next month.

After 11 months hard graft on the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS.... time for a bench cleanser: the 1/10th Shima Rin (from the anime "Laid Back Camp") & 1/8th Nakano Miku (from the anime "Quintessential Quintuplets") from E2046. Something to restore my mojo and sanity. They are for fun.

Starting the process of building the display case for the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS. I measured the base precisely. Wooden bases are rarely perfectly square so I take the max dimensions plus a little wiggle room then calculate sizes. I have to do the perspex cutting downstairs.

11 months work is finally over as I finish the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS some 3 months behind schedule after an extremely difficult build. The decision to use the Armory resin engine pods was regrettable but I overcame. Time to move on.

The process of attaching the aerial that runs from vertical tail to cockpit mounted mast on the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS. I pre-drilled a hole through the mast, threaded the wire and held it with a tweezers grip under the force of gravity before applying super glue to the mast.

The 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS project has been on the bench over 11 months but finally nears completion. The remaining masking has been removed and the rear upper gunner position is assembled. The mast for the aerial will be allowed to set hard over night before final rigging tomorrow.

Assembling the mid-upper gun position onto the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS. The detachable canopy was meant to slide under the fixed section but I found no space to insert it without risking breakage so I will just glue it closed.

I used a drop of PVA to secure the rear gun canopy to the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS. There was a small gap so I filled that with PVA mixed with a little water then wiped away the excess with a cotton bud.

The 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS is now ready for final assembly so I have flipped it over to add the rear gun assembly. The ammo belt is from an Eduard photoetch set.

Final coat of Semi-Gloss onto the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS using a Humbrol enamel that I always prefer for the final coat. The model has been around the bench for too long so is covered in dust tufts to be removed if I can.

Adding the open engine cowls on the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS. They are held open by struts that I replicated with wire. Placement was fiddly but I got it done with super glue gel.

After a couple of weeks absence from the bench due to work pressures and heatwaves I finally get a few hours to assemble the rocket rails on the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS.

After a week away from the bench (away on business) I return to mostly finish the pigment weathering on the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS. It will all be over by Christmas. Don't know which year.

I use pastel pigments the way some use an airbrush to achieve weathering and shading techniques. This on the underside of the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS.

A coat of the AK Ultra-Matt for the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS and all its various components. This seals in the oils/enamel washes and preps it for pigment weathering. I put a drop of the principal camo colours into the varnish to tone down the decals and blend everything together.

Finished the base for the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS. It looks pretty good. I just need to add the traditional green beize underside. I use the self adhesive stuff on a roll. Easy peesy.

Added the static grass to the base for the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS. Looks good. I used two different tuft shades combined with a little fine-scale grass material to give some variety.

I declare some kind of victory by mounting the wing flaps onto the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS

In process of fixing on the flaps to the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS.

Black panel line wash for the flaps and flap bays interiors on the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS.

Touching in the light panel line wash with a black enamel to darken it on the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS. The original was too contrasty for my liking and didn't match the panel line colour over the light green camouflage areas.

Continued weathering the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS with a Buff coloured oil paint followed by some streaking grime both from the Mig range.

Earlier today I carved two shallow indentations into the wooden base for the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS. The main wheels slot into these in lieu of the fact the resin wheels are not flattened to represent weight.

Finished with the top side panel line washes on the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS. Not entirely convinced it looks right but the contrasting wash colours will be modified by later washes so I am not too concerned.

Weathering the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS topsides using two different enamel panel line washes by Mig: 1615 Stone Grey and 1001 Afrika Corps Wash.

More pictures of the underside weathering on the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS.

Started weathering the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS by working on the underside with Mig enamel Blue Dirt panel line wash. Pretty happy with results so far but so much left to do.

I washed the remaining glue off the decals on the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS then airbrushed some Klear over them. This left me with time to apply the first layer of French Polish to the wooden base.

There are just FOUR decals for the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS so this task didn't take too long!

Using PVA to fix on the navigation lights to the wings of the 1/48th scale Xuntong Tupolev Tu-2VS. This was a little nerve-wracking as one wrong move would send the tiny clear part into that black hole where these things ping-off to. There are no spares & it'd be tough finding a decent substitute.