112 replies to this topic

[MARU5137]

WOW !! Good work...

[Daywalker]

Wow that cockpit is fantastic.
Great paintwork.
Oliver

Thanks Oliver, I do appreciate that!

Frank, really check the fuselage mating surfaces or anything that might be hindering the fuselage halves from coming together cleanly. This is one kit that fits so well, you shouldn't have need for any filler at all on the upper spine. Any extra work here will go a long way to preserving the extremely fine rivet detail by minimizing unnecessary sanding. I found I had to use a little Mr. Surfacer 500 on the lower wing to fuselage join but that was very minimal. The only area I found that gave me any real grief at all was the gun inserts on the wing leading edges. That really surprised me as the entire rest of the kit just wants to fall together.

Keep up the good work Frank!

Cheers,
Wolf

Thank you for the advice Wolf, I will be certain to go back and see where I need to adjust the fit, good to know it is me and not the kit! I tend to make those kinds of boo-boos on each build and it always comes back later to bite my in the $%&!

WOW !! Good work...

Thanks mate, I am so happy to hear your are enjoying this one!

[harvey]

Very good work Frank. Glad to see you do one of these. Looking killer !..........Harv

[Daywalker]

Very good work Frank. Glad to see you do one of these. Looking killer !..........Harv

Thanks Harv! So far so good, but you really have to be on your toes with this one! One little oversight and it can really ruin your day. Nothing bad to say about the kit, just demands some respect- especially for the engineering that went into it- WOW!

[Daywalker]

Hard to believe it's been over a month since I updated this build! I have been working steadily on this kit, and enjoying it immensely. I have managed to sort out the fuselage seams, build most of the wing, the tail surfaces, and the engine. So far, the only things I have been unimpressed with are the fit of the wing gun inserts, the sloppy PE hinges (causing all of the control surfaces to droop, OK on the elevators but not the ailerons) and the seam across the surface of the elevators, right between the rib tapes. A bit challenging to get smoothed out without damaging the details. I am building mine flaps up, and was a bit concerned with how the parts would fit in the retracted position. I needn't have worried! They fit very snugly indeed. Here are some photos to show I am actually making progress, thanks for looking in!

[Pfuf]

Hi daywalker nice progress I see you got the same little troubles as I did especially the wing gun inserts.
Johan

[Daywalker]

Thank you Johan! Yes, those inserts are certainly not any fun to sort out! I got the outer two on the left wing sorted out, using layers of CA glue , sanded once cured. One has to be very careful sanding so as not to destroy the details around them. It's hard to show how poorly they fit, but the before and after photos here might help show it:
Before





After

[LSP_Kevin]

Great work Frank!

Kev

[Daywalker]

Thanks! More progress on the Spit...

The wing is complete, with the gun inserts sorted out, the ailerons mounted rigidly (those bloody hinges make them both flop down), and the wingtips mounted. I was very disappointed in the hinged ailerons, they are so loose that both just flop into the downward position. The Tamiya Zero was the same way. So, I added tiny strips between the ailerons and the wing and glued them solid. Problem solved! I also opted to mount the flaps in the retracted position, and those were very easy to do. I was afraid they might not fit well up into the wing, but they certainly do!

[Wolf Buddee]

Frank, I had the same experience with the gun inserts. Not the best fit and I spent more time than I wanted to getting them sorted out. As far as the aileron hinges are concerned, I put a small drop of CA on them where they pivot within the aileron. Not enough to make 'em solid but just enough to impede free movement. Worked perfect and I can position them any way I want and they stay put. I used the same technique with the elevator hinges.

Nice work so far!

Cheers,
Wolf

[Daywalker]

Wolf- Thank you, and brilliant idea on the ailerons! I'll use that method on the next one. Glued up the rudder parts and tail gear bay, and glued the opened bay option into place as opposed to using the magnetic attachment as I do not plan to ever pose it in flight. Camera batteries dead this morning, so I'll get some more pics once they are charged up again.

[harvey]

Very good, my friend ! I will have to build mine sometime. Its the HB MKVb. Thanks for the updates, keep 'em coming......Harv

[Daywalker]

Thanks Harv, glad you like this build! I do not know a lot about the HB kit, but if you ever get the chance to build the Tamiya kit- by all means GO FOR IT!!!

[zaxos345]

Very nice work so far my friend, i have also build the IX one and i know exactly what you mean!!!

John

[Daywalker]

Thank you John!

Small update today, the wing is sorted out and I couldn't resist taping up the cowl bits to see that gorgeous Spitfire profile! Little things like that really help keep me motivated.