Republic P-43 Lancer

[NARSES2]

The front bulwark has a framework attached to its front which I assume is the engine mounting, but the stage showing the attachment of this is missing. The next stage, fitting the cockpit tub and front bulwark does show this fitted but it's not particular clear as it's partly obscured by some panels which also have their attachment stage missing.

Interestingly the kit seems to be missing this framework part ? I've had a good look for it and it's not on the sprues or the etch sheet. It's not a problem as you couldn't have seen it unless you removed some panels and I don't think it's required structurally.

Now Dora Wings do some of their kits in both a "standard" and an "advanced" boxing and I wonder if they'd intended to do this with the Lancer but then decided against it after they'd started work on the instructions ? There's some other indications that they were thinking of some extra internal detailing which are not included.

Alternatively they do a 1/48 version and it might be the instructions (or some of the illustrations at least) have been cribbed from that ? On the other hand they may just have cocked it up ?

The overall level of detail is very fine, there's some light flash and some very small parts. The upper fuselage join is also slightly offset towards the tail and what looks like a bit of flash isn't. It's actually a slightly offset joint for the tail. Bit of a curate's egg really.

Don't know about overall fit yet, but hopefully get there early next week or so.

Oh, and I've ordered the transfers, and she will be Portuguese.

[NARSES2]

Now to be fair, and give a balanced view of this kit as I've been a bit critical up to now, the fit of parts so far is excellent. Things like the trailing edges of the wings are exceptionally thin, indeed almost see through and you could shave with them.  Some of the engraved detail is very fine and some of the parts tiny. They'd of been beyond my eyesight even before its recent deterioration and won't be getting used. Oddly this doesn't bother me as I made the decision before even attempting to remove them from the sprue and as they are mainly internal or to do with the engine would hardly of been noticed anyway.

So once you get passed the instructions, and they are not a showstopper, just disappointing, the kit itself is good, touching wood. One slight disappointment is that I don't think you can pose the canopy open ? Given the cockpit detail this is a waste. Not 100% sure yet, but in their advanced kits that I've seen they offer two main canopy parts, one for closed and the other for open. This just has the windscreen, sliding part and rear part.

The more I look at this kit the more I'm convinced they've scaled down the 1/48th one. Indeed I'm half tempted to get one just to check, but will probably wait until the next show and ask if I can peek in a box 

[Wardukw]

Im glad im watching this Chris..i just really enjoy blokes building not great models but turning them in great models..mainly cause i suck at building planes.
Could ya use a razor saw to cut canopy apart or is it to small ?

[NARSES2]

Could ya use a razor saw to cut canopy apart or is it to small ?

The parts are separate it's just that I don't think it will "sit" in the open position properly, more likely it will simply rest on top of the spine. Once I've got the fuselage together I'll try it, but I'm not holding my breath.

Meanwhile I'm starting to get some paint on the internals.

[DogfighterZen]

Even though it seems to have it's issues, the kit looks interesting, i may end up buying one. What decals did your order for it, Chris?

[Wardukw]

Oh thats a bugger Chris..ive remembered some of the planes i built as a kid and the canopy is meant to slide but its like its small and sits on top instead of over the rear section.
Hell wiffy it and make it a side folding canopy like a Me 109  problem solved .

[frank2056]

The 1/48 kit sprues look different:

https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/7/5/8/1244758-49-instructions.pdf

[zenrat]

I think when I build mine the RAAF will routinely remove the sliding section and fly with open cockpits.

[NARSES2]

The 1/48 kit sprues look different:

https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/7/5/8/1244758-49-instructions.pdf

Yup the sprue's are very different, so my theory goes out of the window.

The instructions show the extra framework on the front bulwark which is missing in the 1/72 kit but present in some of that kit's instruction's illustrations. It looks as though they used the 1/48 kit's instructions as a starting point and simply not been careful enough and that has led to some confusion, at least in my mind.

On the whole it's a nice kit let down a bit by the instructions.

[NARSES2]

I think when I build mine the RAAF will routinely remove the sliding section and fly with open cockpits.

One of the 1/48 boxings includes RAAF markings

[NARSES2]

Even though it seems to have it's issues, the kit looks interesting, i may end up buying one. What decals did your order for it, Chris?

Apologies, I forgot to answer this, but they arrived this morning. Some Portuguese AF P-39 markings.

[DogfighterZen]

No worries, Chris. The P-39 markings will surely do the trick, it will end up looking very much like the P-36 that the Aeronáutica Militar used.

[NARSES2]

No worries, Chris. The P-39 markings will surely do the trick, it will end up looking very much like the P-36 that the Aeronáutica Militar used.

Yup and I'm tempted by a real world P-39 as well

[nighthunter]

I've been watching this, and of course mildly disappointed you didn't go with one of my suggestions, lol, regardless you'll make this look good, can't wait to see it completed.

[NARSES2]

I've been watching this, and of course mildly disappointed you didn't go with one of my suggestions, lol, regardless you'll make this look good, can't wait to see it completed.

Thanks for your confidence in me 

I've been painting the interior and it comes up nicely. How much will be seen is another question though 

The more I get into this, the more I realise it's a really nice, well fitting kit let down by poor instructions. I know I've perhaps been spoilt by Airfix's new generation instruction style, but these leave a bit to be desired.