So here it is in all of its finished glory!
Still turned out a lot rougher than I expected, but after its all done up and finished, I think it actually looks the part of a very over-used Soviet aircraft. Looking and photos and thinking about the circumstances in the winter of 42-43, this kind of abuse was normal!
One thing I am still not crazy about, the gun and exhaust smoke stains came out looking mroe like oil stains. I'm not sure what I did differently this time, since I used the same method I have on previous builds with great effect. Other than that, I'm pretty happy with it.
By the way, the decal sheet has this as a "winter 42-43" bird. The writing on the side says "Yaroslavskiy Komsomolets" or "All Union Leninist Youth Organization of Yaroslav." I have no idea how good the translation is, I just like the way it looked.
Even after five models, this one still had some major firsts for me including first scratchbuilt seat belts, first attempt at heavy weathering, first real use of accrylics, first time making an antenna wire (not bad huh?) and as seen below, first use of MIG pigments.
I do really like the way the bottom turned out. A lot of streaking with Tamiya Smoke along with splotches of brown paint and MIG pigments to give the effect of a mud runway. In spite of the landing gear, I still intend to hang this one up, just in an angle that suggests takeoff. Especially since now I'm doing a P-39 to hang along with it as a "fighter escort."
Overall, if Murphy had built a model, he would have had less problems than I did. But I blame myself for almost all of them. The kit itself is very good, with lots of detail and for the most part, good fit. Yamato, I know you said you were eyeing it, and it is a good one!
Thanks everybody for the help and encouraging words along the way! I look forward to seeing the rest of you do your builds! Now as I set this aside, I look at it and think back to the desperate days in southern Russia that winter...
"No time to chat, another mission to fly!"
Thanks