Great job Toshi. Sounds like you've got the same problem I do... "What if I added just a llLLIIITTllleee bit more.... DANG IT!" Sometimes it's hard to employee the KISS concept.

Is this the Revell kit? If so, it looks like a great kit. I wanted build something with my nephew about a year ago and had planned on getting him a real simple snap-tite or something equally easy. My sister ran out and picked this behemoth up and we're still working on it. Of course he doesn't have the patience to do all the detailing... So, I spend a lot of time cringing.  All that to say, I've got this one on my to do list. Did you have any serious fit issues with it? What we've got done has gone together pretty well, but we're only about 3/4 done.

Thanks for sharing, by the way. I think you did a great job with the weathering... Birds in the South Pacific really took a beating... Keep up the good work, Raymond

Look at you!

Nose wheel is still wrong, you need to fix it.

https://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=AwrTcYBXCS5VdZ8A9aounIlQ;_ylu=X3oDMTIyaGZkY2oxBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZAMyNmJlZGU1ZDk0MTExNzVhYWU0ZGE3ODk4YmQwMzY1OQRncG9zAzIEaXQDYmluZw--?.origin=&back=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fyhs%2Fsearch%3Fp%3Dp-61%2Bblack%2Bwidow%26fr2%3Dpiv-web%26hsimp%3Dyhs-004%26hspart%3Dmozilla%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D2&w=1200&h=819&imgurl=www.howitflies.com%2Ffiles%2Fphotos%2Fwikiexport%2Fa%2Fa6%2FP-61C-1NO_43-8353.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.howitflies.com%2FNorthrop-P-61-Black-Widow&size=138.9KB&name=Northrop+%3Cb%3EP-61+Black+Widow%3C%2Fb%3E+Photo&p=p-61+black+widow&oid=26bede5d9411175aae4da7898bd03659&fr2=piv-web&fr=&tt=Northrop+%3Cb%3EP-61+Black+Widow%3C%2Fb%3E+Photo&b=0&ni=21&no=2&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=11j3dtf6g&sigb=13nb72uvr&sigi=125e1tpf1&sigt=116t3gaot&sign=116t3gaot&.crumb=8YQL6F0IhBb&fr2=piv-web&hsimp=yhs-004&hspart=mozilla

But seriously Toshi, a really good build. I am very impressed that you went the distance, corrected your earlier problems.

She really is something to be very proud of.

To Raymond G

Thank you for taking the time out and giving my thread a read and reply.  Yes, this kit has some serious issues, as far as fit is concerned.  Many forum members recommend the GWH kit, that is much more detailed and fit is not an issue.  This is the Revell/Monogram kit.

Due to the kits age, of which I've made three of these since 1976, it has raised panel lines.  Then the issue with seams or joints lining up correctly.  There's half a tube of Testors putty on my Widow.  The cockpit glass has huge gaps up front, liquid glass and some generous amounts of putty should alleviate this issue.  

With that being said, I had fun on this build.  I've never heard of photo-etch; "What, I'm not trying to take photos of my unbuilt Widow"?  That was until the PE actually showed up.  Wow, scale modeling has come a long way since 1976.  

I purchased the eduards interior and exterior kit, I utilized several after market kits as in Eduards interior and exterior PE, two new engines with cowling (The R/M cowlings look like two completely different pieces), props, and metal landing gears.  One of the problems with my builds as a child was that the landing gears always broke, while on the subject of landing gears, yes, I'm aware that the tricycle front nose landing gear is backwards.  It's one of those it's too late issues.  I used CA to put the gears in as it was a plastic to metal fuse.  Raymond G, another first for me, utilizing CA in scale model building.

Ultimately, as a new member of this forum, I'll just say that this was such a nostalgic and therapeutic build due to my injury.  It was just fun, that's the main thing in life, one thing is for sure, the members here are truly oustanding citizens in this community.  I excitingly look forward to continue my membership with more builds.  

Toshi

To GMorrison,

Yes, I'm aware of the issue with the nose landing gear.  Unfortunately, I utilized CA with the landing gears as the gears were aftermarket metal ones.  In my previous builds of the Widow, the first thing to go were the tricycle gears, other than that, there are several more mistakes made, luckily for me, they are hidden in the Widow.  

Thank you for the visual entry, it is most appreciated and will be used in future builds.  I would also like to thank you for following my threads since the beginning of this adventure.  It means so much to me, especially when I can get assistance in the assembly process.  

Someday maybe I'll be brave enough to saw the gear off and tap some brass type rod to sturdy the connection, and realign the tricycle front landing gear.  The key words are someday and maybe!  LOL!

Toshi

Really super job! It may be a little old but the Monogram kit can still make a pretty darn good model as you've proved here.

Thanks for the heads up Toshi. I'll look into the other kit when the time comes. I've learned with Revell, they are really hit or miss with their kits... Mostly miss. Lots of fit issues. Of course that can be taken a couple of ways... A challenge or a demon. It's a matter of you get what you pay for I suspect. Thanks again, Raymond

To Gamera,

Thank you.  Yes, super old is definitely the words I too would use.  Mrs. Toshi said that if that's the case, I'm a match for the age of the Widow.  LOL!  Miraculously, nothing has changed as far as directions and where parts are concerned, since what I can recall back in the '70's.  Thank you for the read and reply.

Toshi

To RaymondG,

Your welcome!  Take a look at www.scalespot.com, that's a GWH build, it's awesome.  I took some tips off of that build like adding copper wires and the like ie: PE.  

You are correct in that this is a challenge or a demon of a build.  As for myself, with the support of this forum, I went into the challenge aspect, had lots of fun, and now I am a proud member of this community.  Rabidly, I tried my best to finish this build.  I would love to do another, but there are so many choices available now, not like the old days.  I'm still set on purchasing a Tamiya P-51.  I think it's the kit that comes with PE, due to the high end nature of this scale model, financially I shall be patient for now until I save enough money.  Now on to the next one, Revell/Monogram P-40 "Tiger Shark" in 1/48 scale.  This project will test my ability to be able to successfully air brush the camouflage on the aircraft.  This is a first for me.

Toshi

I'm also working on the Revell/Monogram P-40. We can share notes Toshi.  :)  

To M.Brindos,

I'd be honored to share notes in regards to the P-40 break.

Thank you,

Toshi

To my fellow forum members

Many forum members has pointed out that my nose gear was glued on backwards.  I thought I couldn't fix this as the landing gear is metal and the Widow is plastic.  So I utilized CA to install all the landing gears.  I fixed it and now it's turned in the correct position.

For the Revell's P-40 you really need to take a look at Bvallot's thread. The guy has worked magic with what truly is a nightmare kit. I built it last year as part of a group build. You're gonna need some styrene sheets, melted sprue, and at the very least a true details pit. The cockpit that comes with it is... I'll call it laughable sense this is a family site. Also, make sure you take some fine grain sandpaper and rub the Revell 1964 off the bottom! However, if you take your time, spend a little extra money on it, not a lot but a little, it does turn into a very beautiful bird. It's all about the effort. Raymond

I've been following his thread. Its full of all sorts of great tips. I'm building mine straight OOB though.

Bvallot's thread is a gold mine for the the P-40 build and I also recommend reading it.

I really like this build, I've probably built a half dozen of this kit or so over the years.  

One thing I would like to mention, for future reference, is that the spoilers on the top surface of the wings were this plane's ailerons.  I noticed on this build that the spoilers on both sides are in the up position, on the real plane this does not happen IIRC.  Either one side or the other could be up, or both sides could be down, but both sides would not be raised together.  

Still, great job slogging through the fit issues on this one!  I've got one in my stash now, as a matter of fact, your build makes me want to go pull it out and open it up again!

To F-8Fanatic,

Ah, I had no idea in regards to the spoilers.  Thank you for the information.  I hope you do start on your build, I'm definitely anxious to see how you utilize your expertise in this.  I'm shure it will be a awesome build.  Thank you for the read and reply.

Toshi

Nice work on a challenging kit.  I have an original 1974 boxing which I'm considering having a crack at soon.   It's my understanding it was a much easier build when the mold was new, especially the canopies which have apparenty shrunk over time.      

To lawdog114,

Thank you for the kind words as well as the read and reply.  I greatly appreciate it.  I had no idea that the earlier models had a better fit and finish.  Thank you for the heads up!

Toshi