The Spadgent Posted June 14, 2021 Share Posted June 14, 2021 44 minutes ago, Nikola Topalov said: 🤣 Btw, even though I told myself to be careful and not to over-sand parts, I might have been an idiot and done just that on the top of the rudder. Could you please check your parts (when you get to it) to see if it is the kit or my pure genius? I can't remember how it looked when I dry fitted it. Thanks in advance. Best, Nikola No probs. I’ll have a look after work. 😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted June 14, 2021 Share Posted June 14, 2021 1 hour ago, Nikola Topalov said: 1 hour ago, Nikola Topalov said: Could you please check your parts (when you get to it) to see if it is the kit or my pure genius? I can't remember how it looked when I dry fitted it. It genuinely does look like that, the top of the rudder does not line up with the angle of the top of the fin. I used an aftermarket rudder for mine. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spadgent Posted June 14, 2021 Share Posted June 14, 2021 13 hours ago, Nikola Topalov said: 🤣 Btw, even though I told myself to be careful and not to over-sand parts, I might have been an idiot and done just that on the top of the rudder. Could you please check your parts (when you get to it) to see if it is the kit or my pure genius? I can't remember how it looked when I dry fitted it. Thanks in advance. Best, Nikola Well almost forgot. I just cut mine / Jim’s off the tree and it looks ok to my eye. Maybe fix with a small bit of plasticard? Hope that helps. Johnny 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted June 15, 2021 Author Share Posted June 15, 2021 11 hours ago, The Spadgent said: Well almost forgot. I just cut mine / Jim’s off the tree and it looks ok to my eye. Maybe fix with a small bit of plasticard? Hope that helps. Johnny Thanks Johnny. Definitely yours looks right. I'll try with a thin sprue bit. Good that I have extra free time for unnecessary repair works. Best, Nikola 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted June 15, 2021 Share Posted June 15, 2021 31 minutes ago, Nikola Topalov said: Thanks Johnny. Definitely yours looks right. I'll try with a thin sprue bit. Good that I have extra free time for unnecessary repair works. Best, Nikola Maybe we had a bad batch 🤔 ? Very odd! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted June 15, 2021 Author Share Posted June 15, 2021 1 hour ago, Alan P said: Maybe we had a bad batch 🤔 ? Very odd! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spadgent Posted June 15, 2021 Share Posted June 15, 2021 Only a little bit of work. I’m sure you’ll sort it. 🤩 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted June 23, 2021 Author Share Posted June 23, 2021 On 6/15/2021 at 6:02 PM, The Spadgent said: Only a little bit of work. I’m sure you’ll sort it. 🤩 Fixed. Not perfect but good enough. Best, Nikola 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spadgent Posted June 23, 2021 Share Posted June 23, 2021 12 hours ago, Nikola Topalov said: Fixed. Not perfect but good enough. Best, Nikola Bravo! Looks fantastic to my eyes. 🙌 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted June 25, 2021 Share Posted June 25, 2021 Looks good to me too. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted September 22, 2021 Author Share Posted September 22, 2021 Hi gents, Very slow progress on this one (as I promised). Nothing special done but I just wanted 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 (I think that Johnny 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: 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted October 1, 2021 Author Share Posted October 1, 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 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StevenBills Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 Very nice. Built one of these a few years ago, and I seem to remember it being a pretty decent kit. Great job so far! SB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spadgent Posted October 1, 2021 Share Posted October 1, 2021 Hey!!! Glad to see this back on track. I wish I had seen the canopy fix before I did the one on the bench. Very nice solution. 🙌 Johnny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted October 2, 2021 Share Posted October 2, 2021 Looking good, impatient to see the paint now. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted October 2, 2021 Author Share Posted October 2, 2021 Hi gents, White primer and complementary pre-shading done 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted October 9, 2021 Author Share Posted October 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. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted October 11, 2021 Author Share Posted October 11, 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. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Biggles87 Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 Looks good to me. Whenever I have tried to do ‘subtle’ I’ve just ended up losing the pre-shading, so now I just stick to post-shading and washes. John 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Spadgent Posted October 11, 2021 Share Posted October 11, 2021 Looking grand I was going to mention that it’s a shame you lost a lot of that lovely pre shade but re reading I see it’s all part of the plan. Top stuff. 🙌👏👏👏 Johnny 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted October 13, 2021 Author Share Posted October 13, 2021 (edited) OD finished. My phone camera and the dining room light bulb just can't capture the subtle differences and tonal variations that well, but they are there, trust me. 😀 Oh well, pics below. Edited October 13, 2021 by Nikola Topalov 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted October 16, 2021 Author Share Posted October 16, 2021 And a few more where the effect of complementary pre-shading can be seen slightly better: Best, Nikola 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted October 17, 2021 Author Share Posted October 17, 2021 The hardest part for me now 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. In reality, the red is more subtle but it's very hard to get it right with phone camera and regular room lighting conditions so you guys can see it properly. I'll keep trying to take better shots without all the fancy setup. Best, Nikola 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted October 18, 2021 Author Share Posted October 18, 2021 This is I think as close to reality as I could get with phone camera. I guess we'll have to wait until proper photos in the end. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikola Topalov Posted October 30, 2021 Author Share Posted October 30, 2021 (edited) I know that I might be boring you but as this is a very slow progress I am posting every little step. Invasion fuselage stripes done. Next are the wing and horizontal stabilizer white stripes. Then the clear coat and on to the decals. Yay! Ah, yes, and the red checkers on the yellow... Edited October 30, 2021 by Nikola Topalov 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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