Bonehammer

Indeed. Had I known then what I know now, I wouldn't have bid a farthing on the thing. You're better off with styrene rod.

I had missed that one as I built the radar nose version. The worse gaps were on the underside with all the alternative parts for the cannon armed Farmer. The kit lacks the spring-operated doors on the upper fuselage. They're barely visible on the photo Radleigh provided: follow the flag poles down along an imaginary line and you'll see them... You can 1) live with it, 2) engrave all 8 doors with the help of a template, 3) cut to size aluminium tape and stick it onto the fuselage in the appropriate locations. Also, I don't know where Trumpeter got the idea that there are strakes on the fuselage on each side of the tailfin. They were missing in every walkthrough I checked. HTH, Bone

It is a well-known fact that I *never* finish anything, mainly because I'm waiting for the opportunity to use my airbrush, but the Hobbycraft Lavochkins have a particularly troubled history with me... the first one went straight into the bin because it would not look right. A couple of years later and with more reference (remember the days before the Internet?) the second one was made into a passable resemblance of Kozhedub's plane, only to mess up the finish. What's left to do but to try, try again? I started this project when the Hobbycraft kits were the only game in town in 1/48, not only for La-7, but for GPW Soviet fighters aircrafts in general! (Remember their I-16?) The weak points of the kit are well-known by now: tail fin, canopy, fuselage, gun bulges, Karman, wheel wells, surface detail in general. In the meanwhile the Gavia kit had become available, but their 3-gun version costs like a mortgage (for an extra bit of resin), so I converted mine since I was going to perform surgery on the cowling anyway. So nya-nya-nya-nyaaa-nyah to them. This is where I am now... Whoops. I made the reinforcement strips by eye and by memory, and they're too wide. The interior is not terrible, and the control stick is even right for this version, but the Legend set was so cheap... My first attempt was not so great, however. I ripped the parts off the fuselage (that's why the starboard one has a hairline crack), sanded them MUCH thinner, as in i-can-see-my-thumb-on-the-other-side thinner, put them back. Lots better. This is the point that's stalling the build... I've corrected the wheel well outline (see the white bits at the back?) but making the vanes has escaped me so far. (It's also the reason why the companion of this kit, a razorback La-5, is slowly decomposing in the loft). I've seen Milliput being used to make rather complex shapes, and I'm going to try that next. Bit of work done today... remedying the fuselage shape:

Can I join with a Hobbycraft La-7 that I've been working on-and-off for ages?

Wow, that was blink-and-you'll-miss-it fast! May I ask where you got the decals? I'd like to make a Pe-2 in those markings.

The thingy was first referred as a "marital aid", not a "marital surrogate"...

ESCI if you can still find one. The Trumpeter/Hobby Boss offering is an engraved Italeri.

I wonder if one may swap canopies between the OEZ Su-7 and the Su-9U to make a Mujik and a 'regular' Fishpot-B.

If that is the case, the spouse must be an easily contented person... remember, it's 1/72...

I get only the first half (I guess I have mild prosopagnosia) but nevermind, the idea is pretty cool.

Mannaggia, I wasn't even aware Italy had them. I'm really loving the new generation of ICM kits even if not all their subjects interest me. They manage to provide plenty of detail while keeping the number of the parts within an acceptable range. And they make twins! In quarter scale! I SAY! Off to take a chill pill.

IIRC the air intake was aove the fuselage, then it was moved below, then above again... I would've said the aerodynamics were detter with the intake below. Wonder what made North American designers change their mind. A crisp mould and a tidy execution so far. Keep up the good work!

As usual, when I start applying paint everything goes pear shaped, but no major screwups occurred and the main component have been brought together. Which doesn't happen often to me. Thanks to all who stopped by to express support or just say "Hi". I'll keep you updated on further progress. Ta for now, Bone

Have you considered installing GIMP? For my purposes (autocorrect white, resize, trim, join pics together) it's as valid as PS and it's free.

I'm impressed, truly impressed. And I know about the woes of this kit only by hearsay...

Vultee all the way, what with the tugboat windscreen XD

N-thing the J-6 option, less often seen and quite attractive. If you're going to use the Trumpy kit I can offer some advice, too. Edited as the autocorrect changed a Chinese manufacturer into a Snow White companion, LOL.

Hi everyone, I won't manage to bring a finished Mossie by the deadline, but the build isn't dead yet - yeah, I know, 'pics or it didn't happen', the pics will be coming, I swear. I'm looking for info about the payload. The kit comes with two rather simplified 'bommz', cylindrical body with a conical tail: I did some research and think they may pass for T.I.s if painted black with a red ring around the nose, is that correct? Thanks in advance.

Well even if the Trumpeter turns out to be less accurate, it'll hardly require more work to go together... 'nuff said.

Hey Procopius, Congrats on a productive year. D'you still need that Yak-25 nose cone? PM me if so.

Uh oh... anyone wants a started Kazan conversion set? And why does this always seem to happen just after I manage to get one?

You're doing a great job on this one and would love to see you pull out a Mk.V - although I can't think of a Beau kit that can be bought for cheap and has engine nacelles worth having...

Happy holidays everyone, to get you into the Christmas spirit.(Or shorter and more aviation-related)

The bare bones of a Martin-Baker Mk.2? The footrests throw me off.