Enter keywords or a search phrase below:
Well the Phantom is on a holding pattern awaiting decals from a very kind soul in the UK (nudge, nudge, wink, wink Ian) so I decided to unpack something that I have been meaning to get to for a very, very long time. First impressions are not too good. The surface detail is very soft and disappears in places and - reminds me a lot of early Italeri (ala Phantom). Fit seems to be OK'ish but I do foresee the need for some elbow grease ahead.
I started this one completely different to the usual cockpit. I was a bit perturbed by way everything goes together and I can see that the engine nacelles, wing, and engine internals are going to make for some fun. The engineering of this assembly is plain bloody daft. So after reading the instructions thoroughly and wrapping my head some potential issues I decided to deviate completely from the plan an instead of assembling the internal engine as a unit, I decided to assemble one half of the inlet onto the fuselage on both sides, and assemble the other half of the nacelle onto the wings. I opted to spray the engine intake with Alclad dark Aluminium at this stage.
I then sprayed the compressor blades in Alclad Durallium, and fitted them. Then I attached the second half of the engine and attached the wing section to the fuselage section and this worked out sort of OK.... At this stage I realised I should perhaps have assembled the engine section complete first and then attached it to the fuselage because now the fixing of the seam is going to a bit more difficult in-situ. At this point I saw the intake looked like crap and this is the way it is!!! There is nothing else to add!! Looking at Photos of the plane, the opening of the intakes are very rounded and not squared off as this is. Logic tells me that Kopro really should have made decent intake rings to be added at this stage to give that proper rounded effect but alas! So I had to create that by building up the lip with some plastic sprue and then sanding it to shape. Just a comparative shot - original and reworked together... and that's where we are at for now.
I then sprayed the compressor blades in Alclad Durallium, and fitted them. Then I attached the second half of the engine and attached the wing section to the fuselage section and this worked out sort of OK....
At this stage I realised I should perhaps have assembled the engine section complete first and then attached it to the fuselage because now the fixing of the seam is going to a bit more difficult in-situ. At this point I saw the intake looked like crap and this is the way it is!!! There is nothing else to add!! Looking at Photos of the plane, the opening of the intakes are very rounded and not squared off as this is. Logic tells me that Kopro really should have made decent intake rings to be added at this stage to give that proper rounded effect but alas! So I had to create that by building up the lip with some plastic sprue and then sanding it to shape. Just a comparative shot - original and reworked together... and that's where we are at for now.
At this stage I realised I should perhaps have assembled the engine section complete first and then attached it to the fuselage because now the fixing of the seam is going to a bit more difficult in-situ. At this point I saw the intake looked like crap and this is the way it is!!! There is nothing else to add!! Looking at Photos of the plane, the opening of the intakes are very rounded and not squared off as this is. Logic tells me that Kopro really should have made decent intake rings to be added at this stage to give that proper rounded effect but alas! So I had to create that by building up the lip with some plastic sprue and then sanding it to shape.
Just a comparative shot - original and reworked together... and that's where we are at for now.
and that's where we are at for now.
What a difference a a little spru makes. Good idea and well done.
I'm finally retired. Now time I got, money I don't.
Wow, that work really paid off in spades. That is a tremendous difference. Nice work.
On the bench:
A lot !! And I mean A LOT!!
2024 Kits on deck / in process / completed
14 / 5 / 2
Thanks Gents,
I would lie if I said I was impressed with this kit. I have always had a negative perception of East European manufacturers until Eduard came along. I think Kopro make great subjects and they have a huge amount of surface detail there (more than most I would say) but the quality is crap. I have recently heard about the new stuff Zvesda are producing and I think I need to check it out. I had an older Zvesda Su 30 some time back and it was rubbish so I have tended to avoid the brand but I think i'll check them out again.
Anyway.....I turned my attention to the stores on the Su-25 and again, not impressive. Starting with the rocket launchers. They are simple 3 piece affairs and after glueing the two haves of the main body together, it was apparent that here again I would need to expend a bit of effort to make them half acceptable.
That's it - just an empty tube! The actual pod has a baffle plate at the rear which is a bear minimum for goodness sake KOPRO!! It would be so easy to create a small round plastic bit with a few holes in it!!! So first step is to thin out the rear section and properly define the surface details and holes - lots of holes! The front housing also benefits from a visit by the finger drill.... Stay tuned......
That's it - just an empty tube! The actual pod has a baffle plate at the rear which is a bear minimum for goodness sake KOPRO!! It would be so easy to create a small round plastic bit with a few holes in it!!! So first step is to thin out the rear section and properly define the surface details and holes - lots of holes!
The front housing also benefits from a visit by the finger drill.... Stay tuned......
The front housing also benefits from a visit by the finger drill....
Stay tuned......
It seems in a situation like this your skill set and technique overcomes and shines through these type of kits. This is what a true modeler is about. Good luck sir, it's looking very good!
Toshi
On The Bench: Revell 1/48 B-25 Mitchell
Married to the most caring, loving, understanding, and beautiful wife in the world. Mrs. Toshi
Wow, just WOW. Your work here is simply awesome. It looks like you are showing us a kit part and a resin part, but it's all you. Nice work as it really makes a HUGE difference in your kit.
With regard to the Zvezda kits, they are filled with a minutia of small bits and detail that most kits don't offer and this increases the complexity of the build by a huge amount. If you don't mind moving very slowly with the kit then it won't fight you. If you want to get things to progress a bit more rapidly then you may find the kit frustrating and it will fight you. I think the only reason that my 109 has been a pleasure to build is how much time and how slowly I've moved with it. I easily have 100 hours is it so far, about 4 times what I spent to this point on other kits. I believe they are very high quality and are well made and fit is great but they just don't lend themselves to being pushed in assembly. Hope this helps.
Keep up the awesome work.
BK
Talk about skills and patience, wow. Your accuracy in using the drills is amzing.
JJ, you are definitely cleaning this one up and fixing it up properly. Very well done so far! I had always wondered how this kit compared to the Monogram 1/48 Su-25. Now I know, thanks to your photos. Keep up the great work and keep posting your progress pictures!
F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!
U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!
N is for NO SURVIVORS...
- Plankton
LSM
The work you are doing seems painstaking and is making an enormous difference, the aircraft looks immensely better already!
Groot
"Firing flares while dumping fuel may ruin your day" SH-60B NATOPS
Thanks Guys, Baffle plates on the rocket pods done...
Due to too many other distractions, this one has languished long enough. So it hits the bench again. Going a bit better now the problems on big parts are so much easier to fix. The kit seat isn't terrible but I completed the cockpit with a Quick Boost bang seat...
I've been wanting to see this one come back. YEAH !! I love this plane and I am glad to see you back at it.
Thanks Brandon and the other kind comments. Well Iv'e stitched the body up and finished the fuselage join repair.
Nice to see that you have resumed work on this! It's coming together and taking shape quite nicely now.
Man this one's gonna be a killer in your capable hands. I can't wait for the rest.
Well SNAP !! You've made me want to look again for a 1/48 kit. I've always loved this bird and I just have to add one to the stash. Too bad there are not many out there.
Your build is looking really good all closed up.
Again thank you fellas. Got the canopy on the base colour as well.
BrandonK Well SNAP !! You've made me want to look again for a 1/48 kit. I've always loved this bird and I just have to add one to the stash. Too bad there are not many out there. Your build is looking really good all closed up. BK
Revell re issued the Monogram Frogfoot a few years back, but it is OOP currently. I bet you coupld pick pne up online somewhere. It's a very nice kit that just needs a few tweaks like this one.
And yes, this one is really taking shape nicely.
Gloss coat on (never using anything else but Alclad Gloss again, this stuff rocks.) and started decaling - man this is going to take a lot of patience and is soooo slow going. Just luck that I haven't destroyed any yet but there have been a few very close calls...
One side complete without any lost decals - wonders never cease!
Wow! That is amazing!
Nice work, love those digital camo decals.
"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen
As Gamera said, those digital cammo look very very nice.
Cant wait too see it finished.
Well thank goodness the digital decals are almost done, some small areas of damage that needs repairs but on the whole it went OK.
The digital camo looks great! Really cool!
-Andy
Thank you for kind comments, well the marathon decal session is over and the wash is done, getting to the end just need to fis a few of the decals luckily there is quite a few spare bits left....
That is just fantastic! Amazing!!!! WOW!
Thanks for kind comments guys, just a little up date - all the under wing stores are done....
Splendid job on the digital scheme!
No bucks, no Buck Rogers
Wow, the digital camo looks great and that's some nice looking ordinance to complement it!
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.