- Thread starter
- #41
JKim
Senior Master Sergeant
The clear parts comes into two sets: open and closed. Not unusual. However, Tamiya takes an extra step and provides fuselage components specific open or closed canopy configurations. I've chosen to have the canopy open on mine. Posing the canopy is not an option with the rear fuselage component for open canopy in place. See the cut-out below the rear canopy piece? That is to accommodate the open canopy without unrealistically bulging it out. The rear fuselage piece for the closed canopy lacks the cutout.
Another nice touch from Tamiya is the inclusion of canopy masks. I was skeptical about these since you are required to cut them out manually. They many not be as convenient as the masks from Eduard or Montex but they are less onerous than doing the masking all by yourself. Each mask is very small on this 1/48 scale kit and the rounded corners are difficult to cut. I ignored the rounded corners when cutting the masks out and used scissors to snip tiny triangles off the corners... close enough.
This Tamiya kit is REALLY good but not perfect. I found the trailing edges of the prop to be unacceptably thick and chose to thin them down.
The build was going so smoothly, I was forgetting to document what I was doing. The wings have been glued into place by this point. The fit is simply fantastic with no putty required. The landing light insert was painted and glued into place.
The clear cover for the landing light is molded with part of the surrounding wing and not just the clear portion. This is much better... by masking the clear portion, you can avoid a potentially visible glue joint.
The gun cowling piece is glued into place. Again, the fit is great. Tamiya provides a mask for the landing light, which has been stuck on.
The front and rear radiator mesh covers are glued into place.
The tail stabs are attached.
We are quickly approaching the painting stage. Before I put on the canopy pieces, I'll take some final pictures of the view into the cockpit.
Another nice touch from Tamiya is the inclusion of canopy masks. I was skeptical about these since you are required to cut them out manually. They many not be as convenient as the masks from Eduard or Montex but they are less onerous than doing the masking all by yourself. Each mask is very small on this 1/48 scale kit and the rounded corners are difficult to cut. I ignored the rounded corners when cutting the masks out and used scissors to snip tiny triangles off the corners... close enough.
This Tamiya kit is REALLY good but not perfect. I found the trailing edges of the prop to be unacceptably thick and chose to thin them down.
The build was going so smoothly, I was forgetting to document what I was doing. The wings have been glued into place by this point. The fit is simply fantastic with no putty required. The landing light insert was painted and glued into place.
The clear cover for the landing light is molded with part of the surrounding wing and not just the clear portion. This is much better... by masking the clear portion, you can avoid a potentially visible glue joint.
The gun cowling piece is glued into place. Again, the fit is great. Tamiya provides a mask for the landing light, which has been stuck on.
The front and rear radiator mesh covers are glued into place.
The tail stabs are attached.
We are quickly approaching the painting stage. Before I put on the canopy pieces, I'll take some final pictures of the view into the cockpit.
. I've never actually used those Tamiya self-serve masks but good to see they're not too much trouble.![:-\"](/forum/images/smilies/eusa_whistle.gif "Whistle :-\\"")
