Looks awesome! I started this kit for Bish's SW GB last year but like a dummy I had to try to light the thing and made a mess out of things.

I started this thread back on 10/06. Today is 10/15. That's the amount of time it took for me to order an A-Wing Starfighter and have it delivered -- all the way from Osaka, Japan! Wow! Talk about customer service. Inside the box was a thank you note from the store manager and a tiny toy motorcycle thank you gift. This is sgoing to be an interesting build. I'm really looking forward to this. Way outside my comfort zone for sure. Stay tuned...

It is a nice kit and goes together well. If you have built a Bandai kit before prepare to get hooked. It is snap fit, but that is not a bad thing. I look forward to seeing yours done and what you think about it. Also, if you have a hobby lobby close by, they do have a limited selection of these Bandai kits.

Thanks, NucMedTech. This A-Wing is a first for me and I'm pretty excited about the build. I've been studying the very nicely printed instruction sheet because this isn't a routine P-51 Mustang kit so the build is going to take some thought. If I'm successful with my plan for this kit, I also have an interesting idea for an X-Wing fighter that should be fun.

Yeah, it should assemble without much in the way of problems. I noticed that mine was broken down in such a way with different colour of plastic that you could get away without painting it and still have a decent looking model. Not that I would of course... 

Well, I can resist anything except temptation! I cracked the seal on the A-Wing kit and started assembly with the cockpit. No instrument panel yet. That'll come after I paint the cockpit and the pilot. Talk about precise. The four pieces of the cockpit push/friction fit together very tightly. These new kits designed and molded by computer don't have any slop at all. Wow!

A-Wing Update: As has been noted, these kits do kinda fall together. What takes time (as usual) is masking and painting. The box art color scheme is pretty dull and ugly. But we're modelers AND artists! Here's three pictures of some bits and the fuselage. Yes, that's natural metal finish. Alclad Aluminum over Alclad grey primer. Not real shiny but that's OK, doesn't need to be. I'll clear coat these parts with Tamiya gloss clear before I do any more assembly. This is gonna be really neat.

As the Rebellion's 'hot-rod' fighter she looks good in the NM finish! 

Thanks, Gamera. Gonna do a little more painting tomorrow followed by some assembly. I'll have some more pictures then too.

Just a quick update. Assembled the Gun Tower and the display stand. Didn't use much glue. I wanted to see how the "push to fit" method worked. As the photo shows a couple of spots need glue and clamping. Headed for the paint bench in the morning.

Fotofrank, this looks like a cool project, I am watching you progres. Looking good!

Thanks, Bakster. Stay tuned...

Nice work there on the base and stand. 

The build is moving along quickly on the A-Wing. Did some painting and clear-coating over the last couple of days. Did some more painting on the fuselage and I'll start pulling off the masking later today. Then I'll clear-coat the fuselage. Other various bits and pieces have been painted. The tail surfaces are painted Alclad Aluminum like the fuselage. Some kind of barrel-like fixtures are Dark Aluminum. The jet exhaust is MM Steel and will be darkend a little with Tamiya Smoke later. There's some detail work to be done but I think the A-Wing will be finished in about a week. Whew...

You're putting invasion stripes on her!?!

AWESOME!!! 

Gamera

You're putting invasion stripes on her!?!

 

AWESOME!!! 

 

The shape just lends itself to that motif...

Yes indeed! Plus invasion stripes just look cool on anything! 

Well it's done and on the shelf. The finished model is awesome! The overall finish is Alclad Aluminum, even under the blue. I wanted the metal finish to show thru the paint and look a little worn. The two engine barrels are Alclad Dark Aluminum for contrast. The Invasion Stripes are Model Master Insignia White and Flat Black enamel. The blue is Model Master Blue Angels Blue. I tried to spray the blue light enough so the Alclad underneath would show through some. The national insignia are from Techmod. I used the indignia with the red surround for contrast. The dark blue just disappeared on the invasion stripes. The other decals are just randon scraps from the scrap bin. Everything is sealed with Alclad Semi Matte Finish. When I saw this kit I immediately thought "Crazy Horse" and 352 FG. I had to do it. If you've seen the box art, you know an OOB build would be pretty dull. Comments, criticism, or suggestions gladly accepted. Enjoy...

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I'm going to look for an X-Wing and a Snowspeeder to do a couple of similar ideas...

That turned out great and how fun!  I have to try one of these.

keavdog

That turned out great and how fun!  I have to try one of these.

 

I'm trying things and doing stuff I would have never considered fifty years ago!

That's pretty cool Frank!  There's a guy on youtube that did the X-wing in British markings and a TIE Fighter in Luftwaffe markings.

Thanks, lewbud. I'm going to try a build like that with an X-Wing and, I think, a Snowspeeder as well.

Perfect job on the NM and the blue antiglare panel looks just right. Great job!!! Love what you've done here- if only we had a few starfighters on D-Day!!! 

Thanks, Gamera. Gonna pick up an X-Wing tomorrow I hope. I watched a video last night by a fellow across the Pond who build an RAF X-Wing that is pretty cool. I like the freedom this gives me to just do. Mine won't be RAF but it'll be different for sure...

That looks really cool fotofrank and nice touch with the markings. Way to think outside of the box.