10-08-04
Hey, Blackwolf3945.
The 'Stang's exterior surface has plenty of lovely detail. It's very pretty looking.
The interior is sparse and the instrument panle is not very good. Very empty looking. I suppose I really should've gone for some aftermarket stuff, but I 'm heading to Duxford for the airshow in September and anticipate a melted credit card......
Anyways, the fuselage halves went together ok. The underneath where the vent goes (can't think of it's proper technical name..brain-freeze) is a bit rough but with sanding fits ok. The nose section directly behind the spinner is a separate piece which helps with any fancy painting, but doesn't quite line-up. It's only out by a fraction, but is noticeable. When you line up the panel lines, the top and sides of the piece are sitting jut proud of the engine cowling.
The wing-roots are a problem too. They don't fit and seem to be uneven. I solved this by cutting off the locator tabs and by lining up the "gun barrels". I glued the lower wing section in place first and then each of the top sections, dry-fitting, sanding and eventually gluing (with my trusty dychloromethane), bit by bit, each wing.
The dychloromethane is a kinda liquid glue that melts the palstic together almost immediately and is really strong once set.
Once the two sections of wings are together, you notice a gap about half a mil wide running along the wing root. Apply the Dy-methane, lift the wing in a bit and no more gap.This helps immensely when it comes to filling, filing and sanding later.
And so far, that's it.
Aword of caution...if using something like dy-methane, mind where you put your fingers. I made an ugly mess of hte 'Stangs tail, which I may doctor to look like battle damage
(any ref. pics??).
Liam