alain11 Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 well... not easy to find the way among all these different tiny details ... I think I would need a compass especially since that this kit , seems to be a "mix" of different versions Daniel Leduc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Williams Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 Actually, a French 2000C can be built straight from the box, as well as possibly some of the non-upgraded export versions. The kit itself isn’t wrong. It just lacks some of the different parts needed for some versions. Royboy, LSP_K2, Daniel Leduc and 3 others 4 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kagemusha Posted December 23, 2019 Share Posted December 23, 2019 Resin wheels now available, I have a few items from that manufacturer and they really are top drawer. I bought a set of decals for the French Army Puma from FFSMC, and they came without any instructions, so it may well be the case with their Mirage 2000 sets. Berna have a set of decals on the way, instructions for the similar 1/48 version. Daniel Leduc, Marcel111, alain11 and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgrease Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 My observations mid-build: - Cockpit - goes together well. Looks good aside from the missing throttle. Step 4 has you install A7 into the instrument panel, but I found that A7 fits better into the IP shroud, A5 which isn’t seen until step 59. - Almost all the photos I’ve looked at show the large forward gear bay door (G50) closed on the ground, meaning you should leave off G56 in step 9. - Wings - the tabs for the wings are very tight but provide an excellent join to the fuselage once you snap them in. What I’ve chosen to do is install the wing top pieces C1 and C3 into the fuselage halves prior to joining those halves together. By doing so you get literally no gap. - Forward gear bay - aside from glue, nothing is holding the bay assembly into the fuselage assembly. I wound up putting some cut sprue between the bottom of the cockpit and the top of the gear bay just to reinforce it. - Fuselage - once again, Kitty Hawk provide little, if any, positive joins for the fuselage halves. Why can’t they mold in larger pegs or some kind of stronger locating parts? There’s no reason you should have to wrestle the two halves into alignment. I’m still happy with the progress KH is making in their kits, but it’s disappointing to see the same issues come up again and again, such as no intake trunking and the lack of positive locating points. At the moment, I will rate assembly through Step 29 as 7/10. John Kagemusha and Alain Gadbois 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Williams Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 (edited) Not only is the large nose gear door normally closed on the ground, the inner main gear bay doors (E7, E8) are also closed. Also, the wing LE slats and speed brakes are normally retracted. The trailing edge flaps/ailerons are normally drooped, so that is correct as it comes in the kit. I’m working on closing up the nose access panels, gun bay doors, and the ground power connector under the tail on mine. Edited December 28, 2019 by Dave Williams Out2gtcha and jgrease 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jenshb Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 How well do the gear doors fit in the closed position? The separate leading edge slats are a nice touch for a dynamic in flight display. What is the plastic like? I have heard horror stories about their F-86K that doesn't bond properly... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alain11 Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 12 hours ago, jgrease said: My observations mid-build: - Cockpit - goes together well. Looks good aside from the missing throttle. Step 4 has you install A7 into the instrument panel, but I found that A7 fits better into the IP shroud, A5 which isn’t seen until step 59. - Almost all the photos I’ve looked at show the large forward gear bay door (G50) closed on the ground, meaning you should leave off G56 in step 9. - Wings - the tabs for the wings are very tight but provide an excellent join to the fuselage once you snap them in. What I’ve chosen to do is install the wing top pieces C1 and C3 into the fuselage halves prior to joining those halves together. By doing so you get literally no gap. - Forward gear bay - aside from glue, nothing is holding the bay assembly into the fuselage assembly. I wound up putting some cut sprue between the bottom of the cockpit and the top of the gear bay just to reinforce it. - Fuselage - once again, Kitty Hawk provide little, if any, positive joins for the fuselage halves. Why can’t they mold in larger pegs or some kind of stronger locating parts? There’s no reason you should have to wrestle the two halves into alignment. I’m still happy with the progress KH is making in their kits, but it’s disappointing to see the same issues come up again and again, such as no intake trunking and the lack of positive locating points. At the moment, I will rate assembly through Step 29 as 7/10. John hi I (we ) would like a thread , your explanations are welcome , but pictures would help to understand, especially since that some people haven't the kit yet Alain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgrease Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 3 hours ago, alain11 said: hi I (we ) would like a thread , your explanations are welcome , but pictures would help to understand, especially since that some people haven't the kit yet Alain If you can point me to an alternative to photobucket, sure thing! John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgrease Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 4 hours ago, jenshb said: How well do the gear doors fit in the closed position? The separate leading edge slats are a nice touch for a dynamic in flight display. What is the plastic like? I have heard horror stories about their F-86K that doesn't bond properly... I have been using Tamiya Extra Thin with no issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 10 minutes ago, jgrease said: If you can point me to an alternative to photobucket, sure thing! John Try Imgur. Hth Thierry Alain Gadbois 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Collin Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 9 minutes ago, jgrease said: If you can point me to an alternative to photobucket, sure thing! John I started using Imgur last week since I am in the same Photobucket situation. Works like a champ, super easy set up And ease of use. I’m done with PB. Cheers Collin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgrease Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 (edited) Here's the short-shot I had on the lower left fuselage: This is the wing to fuselage join from the top: Wing join from the bottom: Assembled cockpit (prior to decals): Yes, the pilot still fits: Since these were taken I've joined the fuselage halves. Photos to follow. John Edited December 27, 2019 by jgrease Photos dutik, Christoffer Lindelav, LSP_K2 and 6 others 7 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alain11 Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 1 hour ago, jgrease said: Here's the short-shot I had on the lower left fuselage: John thank you for sharing your experience ... what is that " hole" , it doesn't look " natural" if I could say........Gee !!!!!! , some putty is needed at the rear end BTW , I use " servim " , works nice !! Alain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgrease Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 Thanks Alain - that hole is a "short shot" where there was not enough plastic injected into the mold. Unfortunately this isn't the first time Kitty Hawk have had a problem with their quality control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kagemusha Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 Have you contacted HK regards a replacement part John? I would, you're covered by eBay, and it might be the kick up the backside they need to employ decent quality control. 32scalelover and LSP_K2 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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