The big parts went together very smoothly and lined up pretty good. Didn't really have to fix any seem lines or gaps at all other than a few bay doors that were a tight fit. It made for pretty fast work.
This bay door was the hardest part of the build so far, it just simply wouldn't fit until I cut some pegs that were inside the bay, i believe to have something to glue to when the doors are open. I still need to even it out on a corner and that's no problem.
I love the recessed panel lines much more than the old school raised ones like those on the F-14, and plan to accent them somehow that I need to decide on how prominent I want them to be. Since it's a stealth plane I haven't seen too many pics of heavy dark lines but there is some grime.
I love that the kit had a few steps that you had you choose to do some things open or closed and chose closed for the exhausts. I learned recently that the reason for the triangle shape to them and not round is because there is a significant increase in not being seen on radar from behind with the beveled exhausts. I also love that the tails fins can be moved into other positions.
A couple more closed bays that needed some filling and sanding and I masked the panel lines around the edges and didn't lose too much detail and am pleased so far with the progress.
A couple parts to sand again and then give a first try at scribing the lost panel lines and then another coat of primer I think because of the lost paint due to sanding.
I am looking forward to painting metallic paints with a rust as well for the exhausts. The two halves of the plane fit so nicely all the way around.
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1 December 2024, 18:38 -
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I still need to do some sanding work on a couple of sections around the bay doors. They did not fit very well and I have protruding sections on one. I have primed with Mr. Surfacer 1000 grey in a rattle can and have been practicing on plastic spoons with various colors I have found at my LHS. I am waiting for an online order for some colors I could not find and wanted to implement. I am looking forward to trying to do a camo paint job for the first time and I am confident that I can pull it off. Easier paints, a knowledge of masking, a better skill with sanding and filling, is my source for my confidence. If you have seen my 1st build in over 35 yrs, an F-14 Tomcat from Top Gun, you should notice a much better job so far
