Thanks Andy, and it shows that this is one of their earlier kits. A bit more thought about sprue attachment points in particular, would have made a lot of difference. It certainly builds (eventually) into a nice model, but comparing it to the Fujimi kit, it is very over-engineered, the latter kit being a simple, straightforward build and, for the time (late 1970s) quite well detailed, albeit perhaps a touch basic by today's standards.
The Eduard kit, however, is more than a challenge - it's frustrating, tiresome and bl**dy irritating !!
Incidentally, the wing-tank braces are from the Fujimi kit, as are the tanks themselves. The sprue attachments were logically placed, on the
ends of the vertical arms, whereas on the Eduard kit, they are on the
edges of the arms, and the mass balance sprue attachments are on the bottoms of the horns, in each case being very difficult to remove without damaging the parts.
Anyway, after more tiresome parts clean-up, the mass balances are on, as well as the trailing aerial fairlead tube, although not yet painted, and the rear canopy open sections are in place, along with the cockpit side screens.
PIC 1. Trailing aerial tube in place. This will be painted when fully set, as will the aileron mass balances (not shown).
PICS 2 and 3. The open rear canopy sections and cockpit side screens were fitted using PVA. The port side screen may need to be removed, as some of the PVA seeped out onto the fuselage side. If it clears, I'll leave it, if not, then it'll be removed, cleaned up, and re-fixed.
The top edge of the windscreen frame needs to be re-touched, and the lower joints of the windscreen and main canopy have yet to receive a clear matt coat, to cover the bead of PVA used to seal and partially correct the joint.
Next step, once the parts have fully set and been painted or re-touched, is to fit the props and the main antenna mast which, once set, will have the antenna wires added using 'invisible' thread, and then fit the open roof panel to the cockpit canopy.
But meanwhile, whilst the parts are setting, I feel the need for a break, and some 'shake and bake' therapy, so I'm going to make a start on the Tamiya Bf109E ................