I started this little kit on 20 June 2015 for the Monogram Mafia III Group Build, and have just now completed it. I'll declare this my official first completed build for 2016. This is a great little kit, and is very accurate, except, in my opinion, for the raised panel lines. No really difficult obstacles to overcome on this one. The fuselage halves fit together very well, as did the wings. Where the wings fit to the fuselage left a small gap at the front edge on the underside of the fuselage, but I left it as is, as I would've caused more damage than it was worth trying to fill the gap. It's not that noticible anyways, unless you flip it upside down. The rear seat needed quite a bit of trimming on the top of the headrest to get the canopy to fit over it, as the canopy is too thick for the scale, but it's another thing not that noticible unless you're looking for it.
This is a 30-year-old kit, and the decals showed it. But, they did ok. The jet intake "BEWARE" declas wrinkled on me a bit, even with lots of MicroSol and MicroSet, but, it's another of those unnoticible things, unless you're looking for it.
This is the first kit I've ever used Alclad II Lacquer Gloss Klear Kote and Klear Kote Flat. I must say that I was extremely impressed with both. I have always used Future floor wax (I ain't getting into calling it PFM!), and was decently satisfied with the results with it. So, accordingly, I was a bit apprehensive about using the Alclad products. But, I had always heard good things about Alclad, and I was able to get these dirt cheap from a HobbytownUSA that was going outa business, so I figured, "Why not?" The Alclad coatings turned out to be very easy to use, and gave me much better results than Future. So, I think I'll be using Alclad from now on.
Anyways, enough with the typing, and on with the photos........
Any comments, good, bad, indifferent, etc. will be greatly appreciated! It's how we get better with our modeling skills.
Gary Mason