Стрічка новин

Norbert Steffens
Very interesting. Do you use a conversion kit for the reconaissance version?

Thomas T
Hi Norbert. Yes. I'll use the CMK 4399, which was introduced in 2020. The conversion was created for the Tamiya kit, however it seems to fit almost perfectly on the Hasegawa.

Norbert Steffens
Decals from? and you need a withe 80

Thomas T
Hi Steffen.
There are two different machines known. The first is a documented F-5A-1 (based on a P-38H I believe), this is the one you talk about. St Ex flew the machine in Tunisia in 1943, quite a lot of pictures can be found of this aircraft, the serial number is unknown (to me).
The other one is a F-5B-1, based on a P-38J (the one with the vertical air inlets), this is the aircraft he was shot down on July 31st 1944. This aircraft had the serial Nr 42-68223, very few information is available on this machine. This is the one I am building right now, the F5-A-1 is due for another project.
For markings you have following options:
F-5A-1, decals are included in the CMK set (with the white 80)
F-5A-1 and F-5B-1 a decal sheet from Third group (1998) was available, maybe with some luck you can get a sheet on the big auction house with 'e'
For both: create your own and print or let print
For both: create masks, cut with a cutting plotter and apply the markings with the airbrush.
If you need profiles etc, PM me, I'm happy to help 🙂

Stefan Schacht
Nice start, I take a seat.

Thomas T
Hi Stefan. Be invited, please make sure to keep the appropriate Corona distance and do not share popcorn or sweets 🙂

Thomas T
Hi Norbert. Please apologize, I just noticed I addressed you with the wrong name.

Thomas Bischoff
Great start! Count me in 👍

Nathan Dempsey
Watching this one.

Spanjaard
i will join too, if there is still space with those corona rules😉

Norbert Steffens
Hi Thomas, thats OK. Thank you very much for the detailed information. I think you inspired me to start this project also. I had this idea for nearly a two decades, back then can't find any conversion sets. Because I'm mainly a ship modeller this gets out of my focus. But it's never to late...

Jim J
Looking good Thomas.

Nathan Dempsey
I agree. Your build is coming along very well.

Norbert Steffens
very nice. Your P38 looks like a black widow....night fighter 😉)

Boris B
Helo Thomas, Thank you for mentioning this build. Very interesting for my project (the F-5A actually). A very cleanbuild so far. Odd that the CMK kit fits the Hasegawa P-38 better than the Tamiya one !
I was not able to locate any pictures of Saint-Exupery's F-5b (the one he dies in). Did you find any ? I have a picture of the F-5B nicknamed 'Stinky' (not 'Stinky II') with serial number 42-68225, which was most likely very similar in options and finish than Saint-Ex's 42-68223. And also a color one of 42-68205 (both form the internet). Are you interested ?

Thomas T
Hi Boris.
Yes, I am curious how my CMK nose will fit on the Tamiya Lightning, the adventure of fitting it lies ahead.
According the serials, I think a 'nearby' serial gives just a hint about the basic color of the airframe. Most of the planes were in American service, just a handful were handed over to the Free French Army, I guess they were re-painted occasionally.
On one hand I recently read some books, in one of them, an eye-witness described (most probably) 42-68223 as silver with an American star on the lower side of the wing (?) and another one with the French cocarde on top of the wing. On the other hand, a side view picture of the plane exists.
To me the only questions still open are:
- what colors were the spinners painted on the 42-68223
- how exactly did a 'piggyback' seat (for example on 42-13080, F-5A, the other one St-Ex flew) exactly looked like, the documentation I own is pretty lean, I checked millions of books, manuals, educational movies etc. without a hint if there was a backrest for the backseat or not...

Boris B
Hi Thomas, I would love to see the picture you have of 42-68223. I have not located it yet, although I have not seriously into the research.
My impression of those F-5's (most of them, and other aircrafts (B-26,...) used by the French in the MTO) is that they were just passed on to the French from local US units. The French took them over as is, just painting over the minimum : squadron codes and national insignia. They did not bother painting them over (camouflage), especially late in the war when the US didn't bother with camouflage either.
That being said, was 42-68223 used in another US unit before being passed on the the French ? If so, I would wager that the spinners were not repainted.
As for the piggyback seat, since those were local modifications (like two-seater Mustangs, etc.), I would again only expecte reliable information from the actual aircraft or possibly ones based in the same airfields...
BTW, what pictures or first-hand accounts have been published of the wreck that was fished out off of Marseille recently, believed to be 42-68223 ?

Thomas T
Hi Boris. Sent you a PM

Viking93
Very nice, motivated me to go on with my own St. Ex project. But i am building the white 80. I am still not sure which camo it really had, there are many different opinions.

Neuling
Very beautiful build with impressive finish and subtle weathering!

Nathan Dempsey
A great result for your efforts. Well done!

Thomas Bischoff
your research paid well off! Excellent result and very convincing wheathering 👍

Thomas T
Hi mates. Thanks for your kind words. And getting the compliments from masters like you, counts at least twice ??. After all the painting / paint stripping over and over again I am quite happy how she came out and every time I look in my display case, I feel pleased. Also a very good experience was the coordinated research (hi Boris, hi Norbert ??)

Spanjaard
It looks great, that is for sure

Gustavo Monasterio
Beautiful build! Congratulations!

Alex K
It's July 31st, today - and I just thought it would be nice for this to appear again on the newsfeed - congratulations on this build, Thomas! 👍

Robert Podkoński
Fantastic idea and awesome build. Congrats!

Thomas T
A very nice move to push the thread for St-Ex's anniversary of death, and thanks for the kind words.

Boris B
Hi Thomas, Sorry, I thought I had written a comment yet ! Yes, very nice build indeed !!
I haven't started on mine yet, but now that I have decided to build one of Saint-Ex's F-5B, I need to find a P-38J kit again. Modelling the F-5A #80 ('Jeanne') would be nice, but I prefer less wear on my models, like you. So I think I will go for one of the overall blue F-5Bs he flew, which will be a bit different. Hopefully done before July 31 of next year ! 😉
Thanks for all the great info you shared. If anyone is interested, this is the thread to ask !

Thomas T
Hi Boris. Too bad, two weeks ago I sold my other Hasegawa P-38J, if I had known earlier, I had asked you first. However, I am confident you'll find one. We have a local bidding platform where I see P-38 from time to time, keep my eyes open for you. I look forward seeing your build here!

Daniel Klink
Wow!!! 👍

Thomas T
Reminder to all friends of Antoine de St Exupery, his work and memory:
Today is the 80th anniversary of his death. Luckily, the mystery of his disappearance was solved.

Patryk S.
Following! Good luck!

J35J
Taking a chair!👍🏻

Łukasz Gliński
Me 3, I have to see that! Still procrastinating mine 😄
Thomas, are you considering getting rid of the decal with my support perhaps? 😉

Thomas Kolb
Łukasz, I am not going to use the provided decal sheet, so if you want it, just PM me with your address and I can post it.

Thomas Kolb
(And for everybody else with knowledge about the different versions of the Yak-12, yes, I am aware of the differences between the A-version in the kit and the R-version used by the Hungarian People's Army. But since I am not able to scratch build the entire wing and empennage structure, let's just call it artistic license.)

Cuajete
Looking good so far, Thomas 👍
Feel free to take artistic license 😉

Robert Podkoński
Watching for sure!

Alec K
Taking a seat, looks great 👍

Skyhiker
My next big project is turning this FROG into a Prince. Wish me luck I'm going to need it.

Moreno Baruffini
Good luck! 👍

Robert Podkoński
Ambitious! Keep my fingers crossed!

Nicolas
I'm following. In my opinion the Ta-152H is the most beautiful plane of WW II. I got the kit from Kora in my stash and hope to start the build in spring this year. Good luck and, above all, have fun building it.

Skyhiker
Nicolas, I agree. It's a long, lean, fighting machine as they say. Definitely one of the more elegant designs to come out of the war.

DerMattes
Taking a seat 🙂

Skyhiker
I had to widen the fuselage today, in order to make space, before I scratch build the cockpit.

Jennifer Franklin
Following 👀

Skyhiker
Bit more done today.

Lukas Muller
good job 🙂 Following

Łukasz Gliński
Respect for your patience 👍

Martin Nevo
this is going to be awsome.
I am picking kits that are near perfect so I have fun.
but there are also people who pick not-so-perfect-kits like this Ta152 and they still have loads of fun!
GL 🙂

Skyhiker
Well mostly I pick not-so-perfect-kits because I'm a cheap skate. I'd rather pay 6 euros than 40 for a kit. I do have some moderately priced kits and they are a lot faster and fun to make, but often I just have the need to challenge myself and see where my skill level is at.

Rui
This looks like a real challenge; I'm watching 🙂

Moreno Baruffini
@Skyhiker: I totally like your approach and I think you did a great start!

Martin Nevo
same here @Skyhiker, I really like the 6eur price point. so affordable. probably thats why I started to look into the 1/144 scale 🙂

Skyhiker
A bit more progress on the scratch built cockpit today.

Jennifer Franklin
Excellent work on the exhausts, and the cockpit is coming along nicely.

Skyhiker
I did a bit more today but I can't seem to get any images to upload. Anyone else having these problems?

Treehugger
Looking at photo #17 I want to give a tip:
I would be a little careful keeping the roll of masking tape on the table. I like keeping them in a holder, or placed in a bag, to avoid the side of the roll picking up all kind of dirt.

Skyhiker
Yes, I keep my tapes in a bag but it doesn't seem to help as well as it should. I think I need a better bag. When I photograph things at this scale there is more dust than I realize.

Jennifer Franklin
I can finally upload my images again now, I was having problems too.

Skyhiker
Thanks Jennifer

Skyhiker
Treehugger I cleaned my tape and got a new bag. Thanks for pointing that out. No need for fuzzy tape.

Skyhiker
Cowling remade with a lot of sanding, cutting new flaps and a PE grill.

Moreno Baruffini
Really a great progress!

Skyhiker
Thanks Moreno, I am having fun with this one.

Skyhiker
I have to take a break and will be back in a week. I must say I am in love with this plane. It's really a beautiful design with those long wings. I can't wait to get back to it.

Lukas Muller
I'm agree with you, one of the most beautiful plane for me 👍

Dave Flitton
I like it so far!

Guy Rump
I'm going to build this one from my stash this year, definitely following! 👍

Skyhiker
The canopy was totally uneven and so I decided to do the risky thing and file it from the inside. Hopefully I didn't just ruin it.

Vincent
This is already an impressive build. Good luck!!!

Skyhiker
Worked a bit on the cockpit today.

Oliver
Follow. Want to See the result

Trez Mackenzie
I have built 70s Tamiya kit - but that was a least workable. The base was there even though many errors. This 'kit' just seems like a waste of time. Like trying to make a dog poop look edible by putting a cherry on top.
If I saw this kit I would stamp it into the ground. Useless

Skyhiker
This kit has its flaws but nothing that can't be corrected with a little bit of skill. Are there more accurate kits out there that are easier to build - yes. But the modern trend of wanting perfect kits seems counter to the art of modeling. If you have ever built a model from a block of wood you wouldn't call this kit useless. Challenging or time consuming I can agree with but it is not crap.

Trez Mackenzie
I agree with your modern trend thesis - especially if you add in the AM factor. But I think there is a line to be crossed between the kit manufacturers chucking out a quick buck kit with no effort in a fancy box (my pet peeve - rebox) etc, and thereby throwing the burden on the modeller and on the other side 'great expectations' along with spewing out bundles of dollars on AM on an already close to perfect kit.

I suppose if you are saying the kit can be built into an accurate replica then the modifications and work are justified.

I do admit that scratch building is the purest form of scale modelling so it depends on one's 'Weltanschaaung' and philosophy.

Anyway it looks like you gave up on it which influenced my previous comment - in other words all that effort bore no fruit

Skyhiker
I haven't given up yet. Sometimes life forces me to take breaks but I hope to get back into this one soon. I have to put a lot of tiny details in the cockpit next and I need the right head space for that. Kits like these take time and often I will start easier kits mid process to keep things flowing. I absolutely agree that reboxing old kits without a mold date is deceptive. Thankfully with this site we can look up the history and sometimes see the sprues before buying anything. I've only had one kit that I couldn't do anything with. I bought it for 20 bucks opened up and threw it directly in the trash. That was a Top Gun F/A-18 Hornet snap kit, which really was a piece of shit.

Trez Mackenzie
lol - hopefully I wont end up with one of those 'open kit open bin' models. I would reconsider throwing in loads of detail in that cockpit because none will be seen - it may be one of those more of a burden - but it is your show.

As I'm just getting into it again I bought several boxes of the 1/72 AZ joy packs - about 20 bucks - 3 kits in a box - although the Gustav set has no stencils the Emil set does but no decals - much easier to deal with. I am using them to practice some skills. (Will post on here soon)

Just to add they are about to bring out AZ Mustang Joy pack - I'm only into German aircraft and armour but it might be for you. I suspect they may bring out another later mustang set

Remco van Haren
Following. Really looking forward to the end result.
Especially since I built this kit myself last year. Although I didn't put so much effort and detail into it as you are doing.

Johne 69
So gar so good 👍

Skyhiker
I added a bit of detail to the scratch built cockpit today.

Skyhiker
Worked on the canopy and tried to figure out how the scratch built cockpit will fit into the body.

Skyhiker
I corrected the seat position today.

Skyhiker
Added some space for the wheels

Trez Mackenzie
It's coming along!
From about halfway back on the underside there should be no join line - but forward of halfway you are good which makes things a little easier.

Just an idea but you can download the ZM instructions to get an idea?

Skyhiker
Trez your message is pretty cryptic. Are you talking about panel lines or internal wing structures? The last photo is just a dry fit. I haven't started with dealing with any panel lines yet. I've been working on the inside of the wing walls to make something that gives an impression of space for the wheels.

Trez Mackenzie
Apologies - I meant the external join lines. I can see what you done - it looks good. I thought the ZM instructions would help as a guide

Skyhiker
Trez, thanks for your ideas. I'm using a lot of photos and the instructions from a 1:32 model to help figure out what is going on. This little model is a challenge to correct but I'm having fun pushing my skills and learning as I go.

Moreno Baruffini
I'm really enjoying this build! 👍👍👍

Skyhiker
I worked out most of the cockpit issues today. It's not perfect but I got it in there.

Skyhiker
Moreno, I'm glad you're liking it. This is kinda pushing my skills a bit. We'll see what happens in the end together.

Trez Mackenzie
Don't worry too much about updates - things like that can cause one to rush. We ain't going away so take your time! 🫡👍

Skyhiker
Getting this kit to accept a cockpit was like pounding a square peg through a round hole. I had to reshape the whole damn fuselage.

Patrick Hagelstein
Whoah!!! Amazing what you did to that old tooling! Very cool to watch! 👍🏼

Skyhiker
Thank you Patrick. I'm trying. We will see if it works.

Bruce Huxtable
Really liking what you're doing, Skyhiker, and learning lots too. Impressed with your skills 🙂

Łukasz Gliński
What is that superglue thingy?

Skyhiker
Łukasz the shape of the hood is really off in the kit. The superglue is just material for me to try and sculpt into a better hood.

Łukasz Gliński
I was just wondering if you have mixed it with something

Skyhiker
No, It's just cheap super glue from a discount store that I poured right from the tube and hardened with accelerator.

Skyhiker
Started reshaping the fuselage today.

Skyhiker
Hood work today.

Nicolas
That looks very messy. But as long as it works, and it looks promising.

Skyhiker
Yes, very messy but it works. Old school style.

Patrick Hagelstein
The effort put into this is just amazing! 👌🏼

Skyhiker
More work on the exhausts today.

Moreno Baruffini
The true essence of modelling!

Skyhiker
I began rescribing the panel lines today. This will take a bit of time.

Tony Cooke
Dedication!!

Skyhiker
Bruce, thanks for your encouragement. It definitely helps.

Dave Flitton
That's a lot of work!

Skyhiker
Well the fine engraving blade I just bought broke within a day of use. Very frustrating.

Skyhiker
Luckily I bought a .02 mm blade in addition to the .01 mm that broke. It will have to do even though I would prefer the lines to be a little bit thinner.

Skyhiker
I finished the panel lines on the underside of the wings today.

Vincent
Impressive work!! Keep it up!

Patrick Hagelstein
Amazing progress! Once you go the route of updating such an old kit, there's no way back, is there?

Skyhiker
Thanks Patrick, your right there is always more to discover and do. I'm having fun with it. Of course I have no idea what it will look like in the end. I'm spending far too many hours allowing myself to be lost in process. But if that's what it takes, why not?

Skyhiker
It's amazing how every kit I look at of a FW Ta 152 H is different. All the photos of the original aircraft are so blurry that details are impossible to pick out, so I'm left with looking at kits and guessing which ones are correct.

Skyhiker
Anyone out there with a book on the TA 152? I'm trying to figure out if the top of the flaps have a vertical line down the center of them or not. From underneath there is a line there but I am getting conflicting images of the top surface. Can anyone post a decent image?

DerMattes
I looked through some of my books and picture collection. But to find even a picture of the Ta152 is rare. 🙁

Skyhiker
Thanks Mattes. There are a few decent books out there but they go for 80 Euros and I can't afford that. I doubt the library would have anything worth while. Maybe the model shop will let me look through one of their books but usually they are sealed in foil. Hopefully someone here has something. Getting panel lines correct is not so easy. Even worse are the rivets.

Skyhiker
I found this image which clearly shows the flaps divide in two sections. Interestingly the sections are not even like the underside.
[img1]

DerMattes
Maybe this would be helpful? flugzeugclassic.de/f..hlands-bester-jaeger
I do not have the magazine, but kind of stumbled over the link 😉

Skyhiker
That's cool Mattes. Thanks for the tip.

Ben M
I admire you trying to make something of this kit.

Skyhiker
Thanks Ben, this kit gets a bad rap. It's not as bad as people make it out to be. Of course I am putting a lot of work into it to make it better. But if its done straight out of the box it's not that bad. The backwards propeller is a stupid engineering mistake but that's an easy fix.

AndreasK
Nice project, Skyhiker. And really stunning what you achieved so far. 👍🏻

Sy Bar
Can't wait to see fruits of your hard work 🍿

Skyhiker
I'm worked on the top side of the wings today.

Skyhiker
Panel lines... panel lines and more panel lines...

Matthew A
Owch

Skyhiker
Yeah, I was a little heavy handed, but it's not a problem. I just glued it back together. I prefer trenching and filling over trying to get the lines the exact depth overall and then accidentally sanding away lines. The only problem with using this method is the deep panel lines can make the model unstable in places if you are not careful. But in the end it should all work out.

Skyhiker
I am slowly moving forward on the panel lines behind the scenes. This is the part I have to force my way through because I don't really enjoy it. But it is coming along and I could have some photos soon.

Patrick Hagelstein
Looking forward to that! 😊

J35J
Good progress, great craftmanship!👍🏻

Skyhiker
Got most of the panel lines down. I still have to do the bottom.

Moreno Baruffini
I personally ate re-scribing, so my admiration for you is huge!

Skyhiker
Thank you Moreno, re-scribing is definitely the part that's the least fun for me too. Some days I have to force myself just to do one line. If you do that once a day eventually it gets done. But yeah, re-scribing sucks.

Skyhiker
Big step made with attaching the wings. It makes me feel like I am moving forward after all.

Patrick Hagelstein
There ya go! 😄

Skyhiker
Wing plates are made.

Pietro De Angelis
An impressive amount of work, your patience and skills are incredible, congrats!

Skyhiker
Thank you Pietro.

Thomas Kolb
Wow, what an insane amount of work you put into this project! I am humbled by your perseverance and attention to detail!

Skyhiker
Thanks Thomas, I enjoy the process of trying to figure out how to do stuff. The model is just an added bonus in the end.

Skyhiker
Today I continued with the landing gear. A few pictures added.

Moreno Baruffini
As I wrote above, it's the true essence of modelling!

Skyhiker
Thanks Moreno. I'm having fun with it, mostly. The panel lines were a drag but I got through that part. Hopefully after the primer I won't have to any major touch ups. But we will see. One step at a time...

Skyhiker
Primer started!

Johne 69
Nice Details 👍

Skyhiker
Yesterday and today I filled the panel lines to the appropriate depth.

Patrick Hagelstein
This keeps on being cool to watch! 👍🏼

Vincent
Watching you making process is indeed great to watch. The plane is starting to look great!

Moreno Baruffini
Wow! How do you filled the lines? How was you able to calculate the exact quantity?

Skyhiker
Moreno, I used an engraving tool to cut deep lines and then I rubbed white putty into them. By rubbing the excess off it automatically brings the lines to just below the surface of the model. As the lines dry they also shrink a bit. So, it was not too hard to do. The trick is to use enough water and a brush to apply the putty and to use enough water on a paper towel or cotton bud to remove the excess. Hard to get to areas need to be cleaned up with a wooden tooth pick.

Robert Podkoński
I never would believe that the base kit is a Revell's offering.... Awesome job!

Moreno Baruffini
@Skyhiker: Super! Many thanks for the explanation!

Alec K
Great project and some serious dedication to a challenging tooling 👍

Skyhiker
I worked on some details today. Tomorrow I will give it another coat of primer and hopefully start the riveting.

S M
Wow this is borderline masochistic👍

Skyhiker
I am debating with myself when the best time to do riveting is. If you do it before priming you run the risk of filling the holes. If you do it after priming it makes it harder to correct mistakes. If you do it after the final paint job you run the risk of fucking everything up. Anyone have any experience with riveting?

Matthew A
I think you typed f when you should have typed m

Skyhiker
I stand corrected. Thanks.

Alec K
Regarding riveting: I have done it before priming but I don't see why you could not do it after. You'l have to sand after as the riveter leaves 'rings' around each divot (as it pushes the plastic out). In my experience, a thin coat of primer has negligible impact on the rivet holes (if it had, this would be a problem with any factory-riveted kit).

Skyhiker
Alec, I tend to agree with you. My thoughts on doing the riveting after the primer was that the rivets may remain a bit better defined. But I am not convinced. I think I will have to do some tests for the future. By riveting before and after the primer on some styrene, then spraying a color coat over both should give me a better idea of which I prefer. Right now I feel like I prefer not doing it at all, because riveting is a pain. But that's just me feeling sorry for myself for wanting to do a half way decent job on this kit. I do wish I could find some reliable riveting guides for this plane. It seems like everyone is just guessing at it.

Skyhiker
I got some riveting done today.

Patrick Hagelstein
That riveting looks very impressive! 👌🏼

Skyhiker
Thanks Patrick, I haven't mastered riveting or panel lines yet but I'm learning. I am pretty limited in my tools and the scale is not the easiest. But with practice and study I hope to improve.

Skyhiker
I've realized that one of the benefits of doing the riveting after the primer is that you can make sure that most of the sanding is completed. However inevitably there are areas that get messed up and sanding is required after all. I just haven't found the perfect solution.

Sy Bar
Enjoying your progress a lot, the transformat is amazing.
I must say your plans are so clear and great reference where do you get your plans like these from, I search the tinternet but never find any as useful as your plans, any extra guidance would be appreciated

Skyhiker
I drew my plans on the computer by looking at various images on the internet. Unfortunately I haven't found any place to download great paneling or riveting guides. There is a Russian website that has blueprints that I sometimes use but I'm not sure if it is still available. I didn't use it for this project.

Skyhiker
Sy Bar, which plane will you be doing next? I can look around for blueprints and see if I can find anything useful.

Sy Bar
Cheers Skyhiker v kind offer and thanks for the info. Not sure what will be next and if plans will be required but I'll keep you in mind should the need arise.
Keep up the work I'm loving watching the progress 👍

Skyhiker
Widened the wing roots and I am continuing with the riveting today. Also I did a lot of research on the proper colors to use, which was not as easy as one would think. They certainly are not what the instructions say.

Moreno Baruffini
Great work as usual! I'm curious about the colours: aren't they the late RLMs?

Skyhiker
The colors are late RLM colors but not exactly as the instructions say. To start with they call for the hood to be RLM83 which of course is wrong, since in actuality that was a marine color and blue. Many paint manufacturers have some type of green with that number but it was based on a typing mistake in the original RLM records. I believe the hood should be RLM73 as in the original photos it is a bit darker than 81. The fuselage is RLM81 and RLM82, but there were three variants of 81, two that were brownish and one more green. The green is the correct one for this plane. The under carriage is RLM76, but once again we have three variants to choose from; one that is greyer, one bluer and one more tan colored. The greyer one is correct. There is confusion about whether the nose is red or black. I still have to do more research on this. I believe the propeller blade was RLM70

Moreno Baruffini
Many thanks! Super explanation! 😀

Skyhiker
I hope to be finished with the riveting today. Most of my time was spent trying to figure out which of the conflicting diagrams was closest to the original. I don't know if I got it right since there are no surviving planes left.

Oleksii
Great Work on this old Revell Kit and there is still one surviving aircraft.In National Air and Space museum.
airandspace.si.edu/c..11/nasm_A19600317000

Skyhiker
National Air and Space museum has a different version of this plane. It is very similar but there are a lot of differences.

Oleksii
Ouh okay, thank you

Skyhiker
Worked on a bunch of details today.

Skyhiker
I redid the engine today and laid down a second layer of primer. The rivet lines came out well. There are just a few small touch ups on the engine cover and wing tips to do before I start on the wings.

DerMattes
Fantastic work, looks like a different kit!

Skyhiker
Thanks DerMattes. It's more a scratch build than a kit at this point. It's starting to come together. I still have a while to go though. How is a scratch build defined at the official contests?

Hans-Jürgen Haag
From an old crow to an up to date beauty! Owsom project!👍👍👍

J35J
It's like you are building a vac kit with the amount of work and attention to details you are putting into this build. Impressive and inspiring!👍🏻

J35J
Found this gem on the web. Time for another vacu kit!

Torsten
WOW, very exciting and challenging, I'll be watching

Duster_d
Oh, it's super interesting! I'm taking a seat

Skyhiker
Fun...fun.

J35J
Welcome to the project mates!👍🏻

Alex K
... joining the gallery...

Gordon Sørensen
Following!

J35J
Thanks Alex & Gordon for your intrest!

gorby
Looks like an interesting and challenging project.

J35J
Thanks Gorby! This is my second vacu kit build and this time it feels a little bit more straight forward…
My experience so far with vacu kits is that you have to spend a good amount of time on fitting, sanding and putty work to get a nice base for paint and finishing. Also spending quite some time reviewing old photos to get a good picture of the details. This as there is a fair amount of scratch work to get a decent build.

Łukasz Gliński
Brave idea

Robert Podkoński
You're a brave man, indeed! I will follow this thread with pleasure, for sure.

Michael Kohl
Me too

J35J
Thank you everyone for you supporting words! 👍🏻

Mr D
Nice, Nice 👍👍, lalways wanted to see a vacform build, Do you have to make up other parts to add on ??
Thanks for upload 😃👍

J35J
Thanks Mr D for your comments.
There will certainly be scratch build involved, mainly regarding the details as it looks for now. Otherwise I will raid my spare part stash first in order to save time and frustration.
If you are intrested in vac kits you can also have a look at my first vac kit:
McDonnell XP-67 Moonbat | Album by J35J (1:72)

Mr D
Thanks 👍👍 great, will do , l have an intest...as l enjoy making parts, lve had to do it few times, when parts lost or broken or details missed of kit...even canopy once 🤣.
Will check out the XP-67

Mr D

a.aliexpress.com/_EQ0vBTd

J35J
Thanks for the link Mr D!👍🏻

Mr D
Need a good pair of scissors ✂️🤣, do you use the same Poly glue's

Skyhiker
Any behind the scenes progress going on?

J35J
@Mr D - yes you will need some good scissors as a start😅, for the fine tuning of the parts I normally use saw razor blades and sanding paper of variuos grits. Regarding glue I use "normal" Tamyia Extra Thin, the vacu kit plastic is often quite soft and melts easily.

J35J
@Skyhiker - Happy to hear that your following with great intrest. Usually the building pace goes down during the sommer period as I have been reminded that we have a garden that also need some TLC…😂
Nevertheless, yes there is planning and ordning of parts going on behind the scenes. Cockpit need to be done, rescribing the full kit, alignment of wheels as the mold was totally off-set. Drill out all machine guns for after market parts etc.
The main work will be to prepare the plane for NMF look also including some aluminum dope areas. Will try AK's metal paints this time. Stay tuned!

Łukasz Gliński
Luckily the old Russian saying applies to Sweden too - "we have only 10 months of winter, but all the rest is summer!" 😄

J35J
@Łukasz - Spot on! 😅