Postcard from the edge

[kitbasher]

Great work, Lee.

[PR19_Kit]

Still, I can fix the backstory.

EXACTLY! 

That looks REALOLY good Lee, the gallons of P38 and hours of sanding paid off handsomely. 

[The Wooksta!]

I till have a lot more on the starboard wing, not to mention the roots when the wings finally go on.  Think there's half a tub of P38 left.

[The Wooksta!]

Managed to scrape up enough enthusiasm to do something about the starboard wing.  Dug out the channel for the undercarriage brace in the spar, glued in the outer spar then taped up the wing and glued the two halves together.

The first lot of P38 got slathered into the engine mounts and sanded back, the the lower wing got glued in place.

I'd already done the surgery to remove the leading edge and fitted son plastic card strips inside for strength.  So the next lot of P38 got slathered into the gaps.  A quick brew whilst it all cured so out with the sanding blocks and the heavy duty files. 

Once it was sanded to my satisfaction, I gave it a coat of primer and later a thick coat of filler primer.

I'll be giving it another sanding tomorrow, but I have noted a few areas that need further filling and I know the wingtips need reshaping.  Still, it's another milestone.  Quite a bit of work rescribing next.

[loupgarou]

Try not to fall OVER the edge with this build, Lee. 

[The Wooksta!]

Fuselage given a coat of filler primer and some sanding is in order later.  Also resprayed the port wing.

[The Wooksta!]

Photos of the dry fitted beastie at the club th'neet.  Again, widespread apathy.

You cannot view this attachment.

You cannot view this attachment.

[The Wooksta!]

Spent some time last night filling some small holes and dents in the fuselage.  Sanded it all back earlier. I also sanded back the turret base at the nose as it flares out too much and makes the turret I'm using look tiny.

Also added some shims to bring it forward about 2mm. I'll skim it with P38 tomorrow to blend it in better. Finally, added some thin strips of plastic card at the rear fuselage between it and the elevators as I need to build up the top of the fuselage there before blending it all back.  Once I've got all the final construction work done, I can think about drilling out the windows. 

The gondola underneath could be tricky, given the crude transparency that Contrail provided, and whilst the Revell canopy will fit I think I'll need some P38 to blend it all in better, like the Planet one.  I'm minded to use the spare canopy from that instead.

Haven't ignored the wings, as I've scribed in the control surfaces on the starboard one.  Both need a lot more filler and sanding to tidy them up.

[The Wooksta!]

The back end of the fuselage is all done, but before I can fix the front, the canopy needs to go on.  But of course, it's not that simple.  The portholes need opening out first.  I have a template but it's hampered by the accuracy or the lack of in the Contrail plans. 

I did look at using the Planet 390 canopy but the Revell one is a vastly better fit.  Once the canopy is on, filled and sanded back, the fuselage is largely done.  The nose gondola will need sorting out and then the Trappoklappe door.

The turrets have been given a coat of primer.

This is really coming together now.

[NARSES2]

This is really coming together now.

   Looking forward to it

[The Wooksta!]

Made a start on the gondola and cut out the front.  The clear one fits inside and lo, the nose glazing is totally the wing size...
Today is going to see the portholes sorted out.

[The Wooksta!]

Well, it was...

Actually, I've scribed in the trim tabs on the wings and filled some errant holes and scratches.  I'll make a start on scribing the gear doors later.

It turns out that the portholes I'd scribed in on the port side are too low down, so they've been filled. The door is fine, as I'd used the chopped Revell fuselage as a scribing tool after some minor modifications.

[The Wooksta!]

Port side portholes are now in place. The starboard ones are going to be a pain.

[The Wooksta!]

The Starboard portholes are done, but I've stupidly lined them up too low - at least a mm lower than the port side - but I think unless you measure it, you'd never know. The sheer size and the dark scheme planned should hide it.

All I've done since is fix the Trappoklappe door, which I'd nicked when cutting it down.  That's now primed and ready to go on.

TBH, the resin one is getting more attention at the minute, but both should be ready for Telford.  However, space constraints will mean only one can go.

[PR19_Kit]

You can't see both sides at the same time anyway..................