I'm a nostalgia builder, too, and I congratulate you on sticking with this kit.  A lot of guys today just avoid them, but it's always great to see someone show that even a kit like this, can be made into a decent representation of the subject, with a little work.

I've got the AMT F4U in my stash, started years ago, and stalled at the point of finishing the interior.  The cockpit is pretty bad, though under a closed canopy, with a pilot, you can't see it.  But the seat looks like something out of "Star Trek".

I think AMT's cars were of better quality, consistently, than their airplanes.

Yeah, it's a fair bit like Ollie's. I was gonna break out the Ju88 here soon, but then I went into the group builds section of the forums. I have discovered that I cant be trusted in that particular part of the forums. 

This little ol' dept. store sounds like an Ollies. (My favotite store by the way) I picked up the AMT Ju88 just to try some things...scratch-building and new paints and paint scheme I want to try on a Hasegawa Ju 87 tank killer. One of my funnest builds ever!! It turned into a nightfighting, tankkilling, monster. (with a Norden bomb sight)

Lol! Yes, new tools and techniques are best tried out on an old junker build, and not your current project. Don't ask how I learned that lesson... But it is amazing how much time you will save over hand tools once you learn how to operate that Dremel!

Just a little mini update: I will be resuming work on the Tempest tomorrow. Most of the major fit work is done other than the trailing edge of the left wing not lining up with the wing root. Wish that I had a picture of how bad it was before I did any work on that particular problem, but I'll take pics as I resolve the remaining issues and post them soon. Luckily, the break I took from this kit was because of the work on the seams and such, not because I was avoiding the headache. I will say this for the sake of any future reader...if you just got your first dremel and are excited to use it on a really bad kit to speed up progress, TRY IT OUT ON SPARE PLASTIC FIRST. I spent 20 minutes repairing an issue that took a half of a second to create because I got too excited to be bothered with testing the thing out before using it on the actual model. No matter how bad it is, you can always make it worse with that low a grit and that high an RMP. 

Ah, so that's what I've been doing. Lol

Just sharpening the ol' skillset!

What Stik says is true. If you can overcome the obstacles these old kits throw at you, then the newer ones seem elementary. 

Not that they are any less fun though. 

Personally I find making a good model out of these older kits very rewarding. I really enjoy the challenges that each kit presents. But I'm weird like that. Lol

You learn more from building a kit like this, overcoming all its challenges, than you do from a "shake and bake" kit. It will make you a better modeler in the long run. And it also makes you appreciate the "shake and bakes" for their ease of assembly when you do build them. But lastly, challenging kits make you far more reluctant to call something "unbuildable". Tame the hard ones and you'll be thinking eventually,"how can I do this?" like some model building McGyver...

M. Brindos

If that peg doesn't attach to anything in the fuse half, then yeah, get rid of it. Looks like a bit of unconnected sprue, or the ugliest ejector pin mark I've ever seen!

so test fit the part first and make sure it's not needed. I don't believe it should be there.

Oh! ... Bump. Lol

 

Thanks, Brindos. I need to get some more pics. The trailing edge of the wings didn't line up with the wing roots. Had to sand it way down on top and will have to fill in the bottom. That should finish the body work so I can paint...FINALLY!

If that peg doesn't attach to anything in the fuse half, then yeah, get rid of it. Looks like a bit of unconnected sprue, or the ugliest ejector pin mark I've ever seen!

so test fit the part first and make sure it's not needed. I don't believe it should be there.

Oh! ... Bump. Lol

I need a little help on this one, y'all. 

Pardon the terrible looking paint on here. I wanted to see how the color I picked for the landing gear looked. After I did that, I couldn't wait anymore to see what Testors "flat rubber" looks like on the plastic. I've been doing the necessary trimming and sanding on this tail wheel, and I need to know how necessary that peg off to the side is. It serves no obvious function and does not show up in the instructions. I am dying to cut it off, but I wanna be sure that it's not something that the British liked putting on the tail wheel of their fighters. Thanks in advance!

Yes, the A-20/P-70 is the older brother to the A/B-26 Invader. Definite family resemblance there. Same Douglas lineage.

Although the later AMT A-20 family molds are far newer and better than their 70s vintage aircraft molds.

stikpusher

 

 

Jay Jay

I admire your perseverance on this old kit.

I'm sure that in your capable hands this one will come out nicely. odd that AMT makes nice car models but usualy their aircraft leaves something to be desired. I have an old 1/48 AMT A-26 that's still in the stash for the same reasons.

 

 

 

 

AMT did the B-26 Marauder, not the A-26 Invader. The AMT kit is supposed to be pretty good externally, from what I have read. It is has not been really seen since those days of Jimmy Carter and "Have a nice day" and is a real collectors item. It is a later variant compared to the Monogram Marauder from what I have read. They pop up every now and then on ebay, but are pretty hard to find nowadays. You have a real rarity there Jay Jay. 

 

stikpusher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMT did the B-26 Marauder, not the A-26 Invader. The AMT kit is supposed to be pretty good externally, from what I have read. It is has not been really seen since those days of Jimmy Carter and "Have a nice day" and is a real collectors item. It is a later variant compared to the Monogram Marauder from what I have read. They pop up every now and then on ebay, but are pretty hard to find nowadays. You have a real rarity there Jay Jay. 

 

Lol. I did the revell P-51D when I was in high school. Loved that kit. Hands down my favorite fighter ever. I too have built different variations of the P-40 6 or 7 times (as well as an Apache 2 or 3 times). Lol. My dad had been looking for the F6F-5 for like 6 months when we went to the store where I got these old AMT kits. Found that and a Grumman Goose for him. First two kits I touched were those two. Now that I think about it, I've never done a navy/marine corps plane except for the blue angels F-18 I did after seeing them at an air show when I was 9 or so. Probably my favorite build was the P-38J. Did that at the same time I was working on the P-51D. 

I grew up in West Seattle so I guess I'm not an expert on small towns lol. I did spend a lot of my chore money on saving up for Monogram kits though and I never got to build them all lol. So far however I've re-collected the P-51D, SBD Dauntless, F4U-4 Corsair, P-40B (for the 7th time lol), and then the Revell Spitfire Mk II, and the PT trainer because I'd never done that one before.

Still waiting for the F6F-5 and the Helldiver to pop up for me.  ;)

Lots of very fond memories and now I'm giving them all a second chance to build them up like I always wanted to as kid. Its been fun building all of these other kits while trying out new ideas for those Monovell builds to come. Although... I have built that P-40 plenty of times. This time I'm keeping it!

I remember finding Testors kits on occasion and I loved those as well. Until the last couple of years when I learned that they were all molds from other companies and Testors never made any of their own. But I still loved those kits. I'd tear into the Gee Bee racer in a heartbeat lol.

Anyways... Yeah. You need any help, we're all hear to share and learn. NEVER be afraid to ask for help. Not here. This is what we do!  :D

I totally get that. With the exception of, I think, 1 Academy kit, all my builds until  my Tamiya Flak 88 (built 4 years ago) were Revell/Monogram/Revell-Monogram because of coming up in small towns. Walmart was the only place to get kits. 

Thanks for the tip. As I've said before, this is my second kit bothering with seams. I need all the pro tips I can get on seams and weathering. 

Thanks again for the encouragement. Just trying to figure out things out as I go makes me wonder sometimes. Other modelers (that I'm not related to) Thinkin I'm doin alright helps a lot. 

Don't worry. I totally get it too. I'm only 41 lol. Most of my nostalgia comes from Monogram kits that I did in the 80's. But these older kits can still be a lot of fun, and sometimes frustration lol.

All I was trying to convey is just have fun with it.

And a tip for future use; You can fill gaps with stretched sprue and bit of card stock. In some cases, such as wide gaps, it works a lot better than putty because it adds extra strength and stability to the area. (I noticed those wide gaps on the bottom where the wings attach to the fuselage and thought this info would be handy fo rthe next time you have that issue)

Not that you seem to be needing it on this build however. You've obviously go this well in hand.  :)

Thank you very much, Brindos. I'm definitely on board with the repops too. I'm only 30 (well 31 in a few weeks), so I don't get the nostalgia. I have heard about some of these kits for ages though as I've been building since I was probably 7 and "helping" my dad with his builds since I was 3. So, beyond just loving pretty much everything related to the air war in Europe, I have an appreciation for the old companies.

I appreciate the feedback. I get...not really discouraged...I guess reluctant would be the word because I'm new to this part of modeling. As far as the pilot goes, I actually bought my first set of detail brushes for this pilot/kit because the cockpit was too plain to display with no pilot. Lol. I'm fairly pleased with it. 

I called my dad today to talk about some model related things, and when I brought up old models and repops, he told me that the first plane he did was a Lindbergh. Funny that you'd bring that up this evening. Great looking Stuka, btw.

So, beyond the pressure I put on myself to do these incredible machines justice, I feel the need to make sure that my finished product lives up to the reputation of the original manufacturer. Lol. 

First I have to give you a virtual high five over the interwebs, lol. 2nd Time Around LLC has been repopping these older kits out for nostalgia and I'm all on board with that.

I like what you've done with that Tempest so far. You're on the right track and it's looking good for your efforts. I think you did a dang decent job of that pilot fig!

Now, one thing to remember is that yes, the molds are OOOOOLLLLLLD, and they are showing their age terribly. But the kits are still worth your efforts. Just keep at her till YOU are happy with the results.

I really enjoyed building this old Lindberg Ju-87B that 2nd Time Around repopped as a double kit with the Me-262. The 262 has some fit issues that will take some will to shape it up, bu the Stuka turned out great and the fit was fantastic for an old kit.

So keep at it! I LOVE seeing these older kit built up these days! If I can find more of these old kits you bet your bonnet, sunny boy, I'll be adding it to my collection lol!

I'm looking forward to seeing more progress.  :)

Jay Jay

I admire your perseverance on this old kit.

I'm sure that in your capable hands this one will come out nicely. odd that AMT makes nice car models but usualy their aircraft leaves something to be desired. I have an old 1/48 AMT A-26 that's still in the stash for the same reasons.

 

AMT did the B-26 Marauder, not the A-26 Invader. The AMT kit is supposed to be pretty good externally, from what I have read. It is has not been really seen since those days of Jimmy Carter and "Have a nice day" and is a real collectors item. It is a later variant compared to the Monogram Marauder from what I have read. They pop up every now and then on ebay, but are pretty hard to find nowadays. You have a real rarity there Jay Jay. 

Nice work there on one of my favorite fighters/ground attack planes. 

This is actually my first AMT build. I have heard that about their planes before, but the odd thing is the Ju-88 I've got had hardly any issues when I dry fit it a week or so ago (had to check to be sure after the way this one is going together). I'm assuming that since it's a repop of the old AMT molds that the molds are just on their last leg. I'm not too worried though. If it turns out looking like anything that remotely resembles a Hawker Tempest, I'll have something to be really proud of after all this. 

I admire your perseverance on this old kit.

I'm sure that in your capable hands this one will come out nicely. odd that AMT makes nice car models but usualy their aircraft leaves something to be desired. I have an old 1/48 AMT A-26 that's still in the stash for the same reasons.

Thanks, y'all. I haven't really examined the decals closely, but I haven't noticed anything that looked wrong with them. I'll have to take a closer look at them. 

DDonSS3

You're doing a good job on that old kit. IIRC, it was one of AMT's first 1/48 scale kits and came out back in the early to mid-70s. 

 

Yup, that kit must have come out in the mid 1970's from when I remember seeing it. They (AMT) also did a Birdcage Corsair, P-36, Ju-88, Meteor Mk.I w/V-1, Beechcraft Staggerwing, Lockheed Vega, and a B-26. All in 1/48. The interiors and decals are weak, but externally they were not horrible compared to all the other kits out from everybody else (except Monogram) at the same time. 

You're doing just fine on this build. I hope that Round 2 (who actually makes the kits now and uses the old AMT boxing and label for us older modelers with nostalgia tastes) makes better decals than the transluscent original AMT decals. If not, I know there are a few sets of AM Tempest decals out there. 

Looks like the wing thickness is more accurate than the Eduard kit.  Keep going, i's going to look good when you are done.

Thanks for that. my next build is going to be the Ju-88 I got at the same time. Must be from the same series because the box design is identical (except for the picture of course). The good news is that I opened it and did a test fit when I saw how many problems the Tempest has and it's not nearly as bad. 

You're doing a good job on that old kit. IIRC, it was one of AMT's first 1/48 scale kits and came out back in the early to mid-70s. 

Thanks, Toshi. It's been a frustrating build, at times, but I'm enjoying it still.