Moments of Zen

[DogfighterZen]

That looks good! As I start building more jets I'll have to try to get up to your standard.

Thank you, Master Wombat! 
I'm sure it won't take long for you to catch up and surpass my mediocre modelling skills. 
Right, all set for a relaxing morning at the bench. The wife's off for a group walk with her friends, Bob the Dog is chillin on the couch and i'm ready for some airbrushing... 

  

[NARSES2]

Right, all set for a relaxing morning at the bench. The wife's off for a group walk with her friends, Bob the Dog is chillin on the couch and i'm ready for some airbrushing... 

  

Bob not joining the wife on the walk ? 

[NARSES2]

Thanks for putting up with my rambles! 
Although i don't say much most of the time, i still come around to keep up with everyone blog's and builds, it always give's me motivation to keep on going with my builds.

That's what we are here for   

[DogfighterZen]

So, it seems that 2023 will be another one with just a couple of finished builds for me...
The Kinetic old tool Viper fought me hard and finally won with a cracked canopy...
Back into the box it goes till the day i remember to test fit a Tamiya  Viper's canopy to see if it fits.



I started sanding the mold line on the center of the canopy and after a while there was a tiny bit at the front edge that just didn't go away. When i started looking closer, i noticed it was cracked but then i managed to crack it even more...
This build was going to be a "burner" as i was taking it as a lesson for the rest of the Kinetic old tool Vipers i have in the stash and indeed, it served that purpose although it was a bit frustrating to get this far and have this happen...
Still, i'm not phased, i just won't waste time with stuff that i'm not having fun with.
There's lots more stuff to do so this means, i will have to stop for a bit and decide what to do next... time for a cup of coffee and a smoke to have a look at the stash on Scalemates...

[NARSES2]

Still, i'm not phased, i just won't waste time with stuff that i'm not having fun with.

Absolutely the correct attitude in my view     

[PR19_Kit]

It's about time someone invented some canopy glue that didn't craze the clarity. We've needed it for DECADES!

[kerick]

You could try touching some super thin liquid glue to the edge and see if it goes up far enough up the make the crack at least less visible.

[zenrat]

Glue it with styrene cement, sand it, paint it and make the thing a drone.

[DogfighterZen]

Still, i'm not phased, i just won't waste time with stuff that i'm not having fun with.

Absolutely the correct attitude in my view     

I was having fun up to the moment i saw the cracked canopy, then it just stopped making sense.

It's about time someone invented some canopy glue that didn't craze the clarity. We've needed it for DECADES!

AMEN to THAT! How i wish there was such a glue... but i'm afraid this type of stuff will remain impossible to totally fix once broken...

You could try touching some super thin liquid glue to the edge and see if it goes up far enough up the make the crack at least less visible.

I'm not sure about that, won't the crack be even more visible after the glue dries? I think that this might be one of those situations when a dip in future or clear or something similar could do some good but still, won't fix it 100%...
Like i said, i have spare canopies in the stash that i can use or could even just ignore the crack and use that one anyway but i think i should just take the hint and realize it's not meant to be right now.
With my luck, i'd probably get the kit decaled and varnished to have it completely break in two during final assembly...

Glue it with styrene cement, sand it, paint it and make the thing a drone.

Nope, sorry, Fred. Not happening... i'm not much into drones, i like the monkeys in the cockpits.

Regardless, i've already moved on and decided to do a 180º and start a totally different build while going through my stash.
6 kits came out of the storage boxes and back in went the Wingman Kfir C.10 which has to be rethought.
I considered several options, real world builds, what ifs, fiction, both planes and choppers... the 6 kits were the Hasegawa ASF-X Shinden II Ace combat fighter, the Wingman Models 1/48 real world PoAF Alpha jet, Hobbyboss 1/72 real world A-7P, Italeri 1/72 RAH-66 Comanche, Omega Models 1/72 Chengdu J-7 FS-2 resin kit and finally, the classic Matchbox 1/72 Fiat G.91Y.

I have decided to get my real world PoAF aircraft built as it's been a long time wish so, i really like the SLUFF and want a few of them on my shelves but, considering that i really want to build a 1/48 A-7P from the Hasegawa A-7E/D kit in the future, the fact that the HB kit has severe shape issues with the front area including the canopy, i quickly decided to scratch that one from the list.
The PoAF Alpha Jet kit is quite a build and i just have to decide which of the schemes i want on that kit so it'll probably come to the bench soon... but not just yet...
The Shinden II is very cool but i still have to go through the several options i have in mind... besides, it's a hard to find and expensive kit for me here in Portugal so, i really wanna do something i truly like with it so, i'll think about it a bit longer.
The Chengdu J-7... what was i thinking? Probably should put less tobacco in it...     
Besides being a full resin kit, with lots of small and delicate parts, PE and Vac-formed canopy and the fact that i've never built something like this, i'm not really that interested in the type at the moment so, easy choice there.
So, i'm left with the Comanche and the Fiat...
The Comanche is one of my all time favorite whirly birds and i have at least one slightly different version in mind. I also have two 1/48 Italeri and Revell(same kit) kits in the stash so, the 1/72 one being available and cheap, it's perfect for whiffs and i can use it for test builds without worrying about finding another one for the stash.
I was thinking of a simpler build for now so an inflight Comanche, with open weapons bays and stub wings on, like portrayed on the kit's box art. Simple scheme, maybe with a Have Glass V metallic paint, F-16/35-type modern scheme instead of totally black.
But then, there's still the Fiat... Simple, small kit, detail in cockpit is only rough shapes of tub, seat and panels, canopy needs extra framing under the main section to eliminate gaps, PSR, raised panel lines... Still, "Should be fairly straight forward build." i thought... Will be nothing other than PoAF... I have several decal options... Could even get this done before the year's end...
Right! That is just what i need right now!
The Fiat is the chosen one... Build thread in the appropriate WIP section to follow... 

[NARSES2]

You got there in the end   

As for canopy glue. Has anybody tried using the dental glue that you apply and then once you are happy with the fit zap it with UV light to Harden it ?

[DogfighterZen]

Never tried them... Those UV curing glues are interesting, I'll have to give them a go sometime soon.

Meanwhile, last night I was looking at an online modelling shop here in Portugal and came across one kit that's been on my list for a while so I bought it. It's the Revell (same as MPM/Special Hobby) 1/72 P-70 Nighthawk. I had my eye on a Special Hobby A-20G but from what I could gather online, the SH does not have all the sprues with parts for different variants but the Revell box has them all. And besides that, it was 5€ cheaper with postage.
That's me done with regards to piston engined bombers cause that's as far as I'll go, in terms of size.

[DogfighterZen]

Monthly update... 

Dear blog, today i was naughty(again) and bought more plastic toys...
Won a couple of ebay auctions today and i'm pleased with the outcome.
One which i've been hunting for a long time, was the 1997 Italeri 1/48 UH-1N Twin Huey Gunship for 31,50€, and the other one was for a 2002 Revell 1/48 F-15E with an Eduard PE cockpit set. for 45€. Both prices include tracked shipping from Germany.
Considering that these were the cheapest of each kit that i could find (selling within the EU, to avoid Customs fees which would almost double the total) and that the rest i could find are all selling for over twice as much as what i paid for them, i guess i came out with a fair deal. 

The Huey is complete but has some damage to the left fuselage half. The door/windshield frame joint is snapped but it's an easy fix so no worries there. I wanted this specific kit to be able to convert it into a UH-1Y Venom gunship, with some scratchbuilt details like the modified doghouse and exhausts, flare dispensers, etc. which will be done with guidance from the kittyhawk Viper kit.
Stuff like the 4 blade rotors that will be donated by the old Italeri AH-1Z Viper kit. Add some Eduard PE for the interior, the sensor turret and FMV sensors from Flying Leathernecks resin parts and i have all i need for the conversion.
I have no clue if the Kittyhawk molds of the 1/48 UH-1Y will ever be used and sold again or some other brand will produce such a kit in 1/48, and i will buy one for sure if someone does but, if i get the urge to build one before that happens, at least i'll have a good base to begin with.

The Revell F-15E and PE set are still sealed... So, i know that GWH 1/48 F-15s are the best right now but they're also very expensive and i think that the few Academy 1/48 Eagles i already have are good enough for me...
Still, the BAM models F-15SG conversion set i recently bought is designed to be used with the Revell kit... not that it would be hard to adapt it to the Academy kit but, after reading the available reviews and build threads online and weighting the pros and cons of each kit again, i decided to buy the Revell kit too because it seems that it is an easier build in some important areas and the level of detail is as good or better in some aspects compared to the Academy kits. The fact that the Revell kit needs new weapons and pylons is of no concern because pylons are in the BAM SG set and i have more than enough missiles to build a 20 AMRAAM truck if i want to... and i guess that, with 7 F-15 kits in the stash, i have enough for a C, E, EX or SG, SE, and i can even do a better build of my F-15CSE and do the same or similar to a twin seater...



Anyway, that's all for the future... Meanwhile, i've been slowly getting all the seam/gap work done on the Big Butt Gina and i should be able to get it ready for paint by the end of the coming week... knocking on wood as i write... 
Also been thinking of what's next on the bench and i'm not sure because the recent stash additions are all very tempting...

[NARSES2]

Progress is always good to see/read about    It sometimes even shames me into getting some things done 

[Joe C-P]

It's about time someone invented some canopy glue that didn't craze the clarity. We've needed it for DECADES!

Try watch cement, it is meant for attaching the clear cover to watches.  I haven't yet, so I cannot say for certain if it works.
I have successfully used thin white glue.

[Steel Penguin]

i use the standard child safe / school use  white PVA glue and apply sparingly with a cocktail stick,  its worked well so far.