Latest offering 1/48 Smer Fiat G55

Well, i think youve made a silk purse out of a sows ear, on italy most beautifull fighter of WW2. The Smer kit is undoubtably wrotten but it looks like a G55 and the paint scheme is great. I think your being a bit hard on yourself.

Nice work.

...Guy

I give you high marks for attempting to build a Smer kit alone. Overall not bad at all, although you suggestion to not hold back on comments indicates to me that you're asking for advice. I would make the encouraging suggestion that weathering in general is most convincing in small amounts. It's good that you tried out several different methods to achieve your weathering goals, this indicates you're not afraid to experiement. We don't learn to make the omelette unless we're ready to break a few eggs. Overall I'd have to say your weathering was a general success, but on your next project, I would suggest to scale down the application of the salt (perhaps try a finer grind of salt, and place only in a few "key" areas, such as along walkways, etc.), and apply the weathering pastels with a finer brush/Q-Tip to specific areas, such as just along panel lines, then wipe off all excess before sealing the model. The trick to successful weathering is to have the appearance that the plane is used, but in flyable-but-not-neglected condition. You're very much on the right track, however. But above all helpful suggestions, this is art and your personal satisfaction is more important than anyone else's, so don't be hesitant to follow your own taste.

I agree that you should get high marks for completing such a dog kit.  I've never built a Smer kit so kudos to you.

I am partial to Italian fighters, I have a giant stash of them and look forward to the day of actually building models of some of the most beautiful planes of WWII.  Please don't stop building Italian fighters because of a bad kit.  There are plenty of Macchi's and Fiats made by Hasegawa, Pacific Coast Models, Special Hobby, Classic Airframes, and others that are spectacular models.  Although the Tauro Folgore is a junk box, I know, I have one.  Still, head on over to Stormo and take a look.  If you're tired of the Luftwaffe and USAAF stuff, the overlooked Italian WWII aircraft are the only way to go.   

It does'nt look bad at all considering what you started with. I also used this same exact kit to try and bone up on my building skills. This kit lends itself to scratch building due to the complete lack of any detail. I boxed in the gear bays polished the canopy and gave it a coat of Future so you can see through it. I also scratch build new gun barrels and and cut of this pitifull intake filled it in and scratch build a more accuate one. Then I build a radiator and installed it in the hole in the fuselage. Just for fun I sanded down all of the raised poorly done detail and rescribed it. In the end it still does not look great but I believe I did improve on alot of my building skills which was my intention all along. The best part of it all is the kit is not even 1/48 scale so it will never look right in the display case with your other builds. The kit is actually 1/50 scale.

                                                                               Soulcrusher

I have never built a Smer kit, but have read about them.  Top marks for building this one!  I like the camo, looks the business.  I would agree with Mark on the weathering.  Less is always better and the salt treatment looks great on the fuse, but a little off on the wings.  If the wing root area were also heavily weathered, it might blend together better.  Except for the mixed-up national markings, decals look very good.  Overall, I give an enthusiastic thumbs-up on this one!