Nikola Topalov Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 Hi guys, My first 1/32 scale build and my first post here. Also my first time using PE and aftermarket goodies - Eduard Look IP and seat belts. First the cockpit: HB252, Grunticus, rafju and 13 others 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kagemusha Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 Wonderful work Nikola, looking forward to seeing more, and... Nikola Topalov 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grunticus Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 Welcome, and what a nice start! Looks fabulous so far. Nikola Topalov 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 7 minutes ago, Kagemusha said: Wonderful work Nikola, looking forward to seeing more, and... Thank you Kagemusha. Appreciated. Glad that you like it. Best, Nikola Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 8 minutes ago, Grunticus said: Welcome, and what a nice start! Looks fabulous so far. Thank you Grunticus! Best, Nikola Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 (edited) Next, the fuselage buttoned up. The fit is very good and it all went together without any fuss, except that the top part of the fuselage required some extra pressure. Good engineering by Radu Brinzan. Edited November 9, 2021 by Nikola Topalov dodgem37, MikeC, Troy Molitor and 13 others 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 Wings are on, as well as the rudder, horizontal stabilizers, elevators and ailerons. Wheel well is mostly finished with some touch ups and details to be done, but that's basically that, OOB. The fit is very good, but I must say that the wings required some persuasion to fit in place since I had to do slight sanding and hard pushing in place (very tight fit). This is as close as I could get it. Some sandpaper will finish the job. The engineering of the stabilizer connection is interesting as they interlock between each other within the connection to the fuselage (pics below). Basically, there was no aligning required, although I think that the left stabilizer is off by a hairline. Not sure. I couldn't do anything about it though. Thanks for looking! Best, Nikola coogrfan, AdamR, HB252 and 10 others 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 (edited) My kit had a problem with rudder shape and alignment so I had to fix it: Before: After: Edited November 9, 2021 by Nikola Topalov Greg W, rafju, MikeC and 10 others 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 (edited) Hi gents, Here I just want to share a small tip about tackling a slight canopy misalignment with those who are yet to build this one. I am generally not happy with the quality of the clear parts. Among some other issues, the windshield is slightly deformed meaning that it is slightly narrower that the fuselage and shorter by a millimetre (another fellow modeller had the same problem). The bubble canopy has deformations within the ''plexiglass'' part (I will post some pics later). I couldn't avoid the gap between the windshield and the cowling but regarding the joint with the fuselage luckily there is a way to keep filling and sanding to a minimum as there is space to insert a piece of toothpick fixed with CA which will not be seen later and keep the windshield at the proper width until glued to the canopy: Edited November 9, 2021 by Nikola Topalov HB252, Rockie Yarwood, Model_Monkey and 11 others 13 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 She is finally ready for priming! I had to do some windshield-cowling gap filling, and panel line and tire threads re-scribing, added some rivets where I thought appropriate... I will go with white Tamiya Liquid Primer or white Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500, followed by desert yellow shades, my complementary pre-shading using various reds and aluminium where appropriate for future chipping. Then goes the OD base coat. I chose to go with white primer since it will require less coats to achieve good OD coverage without it looking too dark. Best, Nikola Paramedic, Isar 30/07, dodgem37 and 9 others 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 Hi gents, White primer and complementary pre-shading done: coogrfan, LSP_Kevin, Model_Monkey and 12 others 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 Well, here is some contradictory information for you: The painting instructions say that the checkered pattern only goes to the front end of the exhaust stack: The decal disagrees since it has a cutout to go around the stack past the front end of it: And if I see it correctly the truth is somewhere in the middle as the pattern only slightly goes past the stack front end: So, I painted the nose yellow and will either bite the bullet and paint the damn thing or cut out only the red squares of the decal and apply them to the painted yellow (this should make the decal easier to conform to the shape as well. I'll see. AdamR, HB252, johncrow and 8 others 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 Neutral Grey base over blue pre-shading on the belly finished. I try to keep the pre-shading effect very subtle initially and then modify where required with post-shading afterwards. Out2gtcha, AdamR, Martinnfb and 9 others 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 (edited) OD finished. The hardest part for me now with my complementary pre-shading method is judging how much to cover initially knowing that weathering and subsequent coats will affect it. It's just like regular pre-shading only more difficult because if it is with black, no risk of too much of it showing through since it only gives a darker tone of the base color with no hue modulation. Still long way to go until I master this one. Best, Nikola Edited November 9, 2021 by Nikola Topalov Out2gtcha, Isar 30/07, Model_Monkey and 10 others 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 (edited) Invasion stripes done, with some test weathering just for fun at the wing and horizontal stabilizer tips. Next is masking and painting the checkered pattern on the nose which is going to be a b&#ch. Stripes before test weathering: Edited November 9, 2021 by Nikola Topalov blackbetty, Kagemusha, Antonio Argudo and 16 others 19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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