1/48 Hobby crap DHC-3 Otter

by Shawn "Phantom" Weiler

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This is another group build, in this case for the trash haulers build.  This model reminds me of a Start Trek episode. The Trouble with Tribbles were the Klingon remarks, "It should not be hauling garbage, it should be hauled away, AS GARBAGE!!!!!  The only nice thing you can say about Hobby Craft  is at least they have the courage to make models of stuff that Hasegawa and Revell won't touch. Mainly for me this means Canadian subjects.  Things like the Avro Arrow and a Snowbirds Tutor.  Things that no other company would give a rats bum about as only Canadians could care about them.  Having said that.  The kit is not without its issues. Biggest of which was something I never never had happen in 30 years of making models. The clear parts all melted.  Weirdest thing I ever saw.  I said, screw it....fixed it by adding some clear film. That looked like crap so I just painted over the side windows with Tamiya clear blue. From a distance it looks slightly less then awful.

So after I finished yacking my breakfast after looking at this waste of plastic I went back to try and fix it again. Remembering only once has a model defeated me. That too, oddly enough was a Hobby Crap product, the Dash-8 in 1/72.

Click on images below to see larger images

Well, using the ninja skills I developed the second time I attempted the Dash 8 I sanded the living crap out of the front windsheild area so the clear part might work without the use of glue.  God had pity on me and let it be so.

So wretched clear and painted over clear parts in place I added 47 pounds of Tamiya filler to the roof section and spent the next 7 years of my life sanding.  OK, 7 years is a slight exaggeration but you get the idea.

Next the only thing that saved this abortion pretending to be a model, the paint. Simple Model Master steel and some lighter mix from a past project, white to cover the 47 pounds of putty and then Tamiya red for the high vis wings.

Decals from Belcher bits and Leading Edge spares from past Starfighter and Voodoo projects and I had something that was slightly airplane shaped. This kit came with pontoons so I used 'em. Course they don't fit worth crap but at this point I could care less. It was also now that I figured nose weight would have been a good idea. Too late for that of course.  It was either go to work and beat a criminal to get over my anger or start drinking.  I'm too cheap to buy booze.

So. anyway.......Pontoons on, markings for 400 squadron Canadian Armed Forces out of Downsview (Toronto) Circa 198something in place.  Stick a small piece of plastic under one pontoon to have the stupid plane sit right. Take photos.

Stupid camera card is full from Disney trip. Erase some photos of Carl the stupid cat so there is room on the card.  Load photos. New computer is getting on nerves. Call Apple to figure out what's wrong. Card reader does not work, buy new card reader......... 

You get the idea. This plane did NOT want me to win.  

IN YOUR FACE!!!!!  I won. Yeah, it will never win a IPMS contest but I don't care.
ITS DONE!!!!! I'm going to build a Phantom now to get over this Hobby crap anger. No Doctor Phil for me,  I solve my anger building Phantoms.

I'm only sending 3 photos. The only 3 of the 10 or so the camera seems to remember.

Shawn "Phantom" Weiler

Photos and text © by Shawn "Phantom" Weiler