Started 20/05/2005
27/05/2005
The start of the build - The cockpit and engine parts
10 grams worth of bolts added for nose weight
test fitting of cockpit tub.
29/05/2005
Major Construction work completed. A word of warning for anyone building the same kit - check the fuselage for flashed over holes for the scoops (2 x part no F7 - Step 2), the blade antenna (part no E11 - Step 8) and for the fuel dump under the RH wing (part no E21 - step 5). They are not mentioned in the Monogram Instructions (they are however in the Hasegawa instructions, which this kit is a reboxing of).
This kit has a few firsts for me. The main one being the Base Blue colour. This is the first time I have decanted a spraycan and then sprayed it through my airbrush. I was OK through the whole process, until the paint jar came loose from the airbrush, dropped on the table and immeadiately blue paint everywhere, as the gases still in the paint boiled up. Once I had cleaned up and secured the paint jar, the session went very well, and only two coats were required.
The next first is the use of Bare-Metal foil. I have tried to get a finish as shown in the linked picture , in the past with Alclad Chrome but to no avail. So I tried the BMF Ultra-Bright Chrome. Takes some getting used to, but dont look too bad for my first attempt.
The final test of the BMF will the application on the leading edges of the wings, stabs and tail.
01/06/2005
Since my last update, I have discovered more items missing from the build. Firstly there is no mention on the instructions of the Drag Chute housing. After checking the sprues and my reference photos I came to the conclusion to use parts #D10 and #E28.
Another item that is missing from the instructions and the sprues is a tube the Blues attached to the left hand gun housing to hold a boarding ladder. Theres a linked picture from the Skyhawk Org website showing the tube of the 2-seater version. I couldnt find any reference to the actual size and shape, so I cut a bit of 2.5mm plastic rod, rounded the point slighty and superglued the gun port area.
04/06/2005
Snce my last update, I have discovered a few more items of info. Firstly I have discovered I have a set of the Victory Productions decals, in which they mention the fact the drag chute housing should actually be #D11 not #D10, and they provide dimensions for the ladder tube, which should have been 22mm long (mine was about that) and a diameter of 1.5mm. I will not be correcting my mistakes but I thought you should know.
Today I masked off the A4 in preperation for spraying of Alclad II.
Masking removed.
14/06/2005
Victory Production decals applied and the couple of light coats of Klear applied. For these pics I removed the canopy and to my horror the canopy yellow deals cracked, their clear film being trapped under the fuselage. I shall now have to repair them before trying to get a decent finish on the remainder of the kit.
After repairing the canopy decals I then applied multiple coats of Klear thinned with Isopropyl Alcohol until satisfied. Final steps were the attachment of the landing gear and centreline pylon.
and a group shot
