Mitsubishi Xf-2a

[ysi_maniac]

  :oThat is really TOO MUCH for my body 

[Eddie M.]

Nev, I've always admired your work but are you aware that this kit's current state of progress already represents a quantum leap for you?  I mean, seriously, I cannot imagine those wheels, bays, etc. being done any better by anyone.  Love the added touches you've provided in the sub-assemblies and your detail wash is really something to strive for.  Wow.   

I agree. Very detailed work. That is something I wish I had the patience for. Outstanding work!!
   Eddie

[nev]

Thankyou gents, coming from 3 Masters like yourself those comments are greatly appreciated 

Update:  cockpit finished!  Its actually a kinda boring cockpit.  So plain and black.......and being so new they're not at all weathered either



Pilot figure added (obscuring most of the cockpit detail  )



He's a bit of a Tight Fit (aaaaaaaagadoo-doo-doo) in there



Remember how I said the kit was so well engineered that even a coat of primer causes 2 parts to not fit?  Well, without the cockpit in there, the 2 fuselage halves literally click together.  With the cockpit in there, this is the result (and this is after 2 hours sanding, scraping, fettling and gouging to improve the fit!).  I forsee much clamping and filling and sanding

[Dork the kit slayer]

Nev old mate...comming on a real treat. White and red scheme???......................your a brave man. Mine always end up "Radish pink"

Something you may like to consider,the oxy hose on pilots look very real world if you use a piece of bass string off a guitar.

[John Howling Mouse]

Pilot has the trim-tabs set in neutral, I see?

Wow.  That's a very admirable 'pit.

[nev]

Cooking with gas now.  Couple of coats of white primer - needs touching up in a few areas still, then more primer, then the appliance white. 

The fin and a lot of smaller bits like ariels aren't glued on yet because of the complicated decal arrangement....

[B777LR]

And so the longest lasting build ever to see light on whiff.com came to see the primer....

Looking nice

[John Howling Mouse]

Wow, is that ever CLEAN, Nev.  Whatever you did to get that nose glued up sure worked! 

This must make your pulse race as you apply the scheme.

Can't wait, can't wait...   

[nev]

Right, started decalling, but its proving......

1) First off, the decal that joins to the canopy isn't right.  There's a little nobbly bit on the spine that should be in the black trim - but is covered by the decal.  This means that there is some black showing through the red.

2) Also the stripe down the spine around the rudder base isn't flush to the fin, leaving a white strip that will need touching up.

3) AND when I applied the red decal to the canopy and masked it off to apply the black (learning from (1)), the masking tape lifted off the decal....

4) Oh, and the 2 decals that make up the spine are different widths....

 

So I'm going to have to try and mix up a match for the red decal - and we all know how hard it is to get good coverage with red/orange paint









Having said that, and applying my mantra of "A fuzzy digicam picture hides many a modelling sin", it's looking quite pretty isn't it?

[John Howling Mouse]

Yes, it's positively outstanding, Nev!  Realizing that you're faced with some unfortunate challenges, you have to keep in mind that the final outcome will always have more total aesthetic value than the sum of its parts.  I sure am looking forward to this one in "operational" mode.   

[kitnut617]

Whoa! lovely job    this makes me want to break out the two F-2's I have (why does that always happen, I see a really nice job on a model, I just have to get the ones I have out  )

[BlackOps]

Outsatanding work Nev!  

[nev]

OK, the finish line is in sight now.  A mix of 1 part red, 1 part orange and 1 part dayglo orange is pretty close to the decal colour, unfortunately the first mix I applied was too red and the more orange colour is so "thin" that the red base coat is showing through.......

Having said that, its certainly close enough for touch ups, and it even tones down the black showing through the decal round the canopy.



All the way through this build I've thought to myself "wow, I can't believe I've not knocked that pitot probe off"  So of course I dropped the model last week, bent off the probe, snapped a wingtip rail and lost a flap     THe last 2 aren't a problem, but getting that probe in and faired in with filler was a real beyatch of a job.  Not enjoying the thought of doing that part again (and then covering it with white again).  Probly leave it till last



Underneath



Thankfully all the "extras" are all done and ready to be stuck on - only a few days to completion!

[Ian the Kiwi Herder]

You are so brave to take-on that much white and retain your sanity !!

Ian

[nev]

Halfords White Primer and Appliance White are your friends!