A One Night Stand With Babs UPDATED

        Having completed the WW1 German tank hunters I didn't much feel like painting any minis for a little while and, lacking the need for additional terrain, I was at a loss for something to turn my hand to. Without a wargaming project I decided to take a pass at Mount Plastic; an entirely unscientific method brought me to choose an LS model of the KI-15 "Babs" that was sitting on the top of the "Spats" pile.

 

        Despite it's considerable age (Scalemates shows an introduction date of 1976) this is a superb kit. Fine inscribed panel lines, perfect parts fit and simple to assemble. The instructions and decals are not up to the quality of the model (the decals especially).

 

a very straightforward model 

 

the surface detail is excellent

 

panel lines are inscribed and delicate

 

parts fit is superb, mind you this kit is forty-five years old!

 

cockpit detail is sparse but would be difficult so see under any circumstances

 

an elegant layout, almost like a single-engine DC-3

 

and just look at those spats!

 

a quick coat of flat white to provide a base to paint on

 

you can see how superb the parts fit is,

absolutely no filler anywhere on this kit

 

the Imperial army had a very simple camo scheme early-on

 

the worst part of this project was waiting for the paint to dry

 

looks like a close cousin to the Northrop Gamma

 

a quick coat of gloss floor wax

 

the decals are truly disappointing, the color is good but they are

thick and have a pronounced surround that is cloudy

 

these might have to be subjected some serious solvent treatment

       I tried to get this done in one night but I was defeated by the drying time of the paints. It is an excellent kit but you may want to think about alternative decals if you are planning one building one.

 

having given it a night I did some remedial work on the decals which took 

care of the foggy surrounds and then the kit was ready for a shot of Vallejo Matte spray

 

a sleek and elegant looking aircraft

 

now it reminds me of an AT-6 Texan

 

and look at those spats!

 

I mean, they are HUGE! 

 

       Fixing the decals consisted of removing the gloss coat and then the decal and washing the glue off of the back of the decal before setting it into a spot of floor wax and coating over it with more. Fortunately the solvent for the floor wax (ammonia) didn't bother the paint so I was spared the task of repainting the entire kit. In the future I plan on doing that with all the decals just to be on the safe side. Most of these kits are thirty plus years old and funny things happen to decals as they age.