This is actually a P-39D. The Eduard kit contains all the parts needed to build most P-39 variants. This model represents an aircraft used to monitor ground forces during the Louisiana War Maneuvers, 1941. This is not one of Eduard's finest, it fought me a lot.
How does it compare to Monogram's? I think that Tamiya used Monogram's for their kit so it must rate pretty high.
I have several Monograms and I think one Eduard. And 49 Revell's.
A very fine job in any case!
I had always had problems getting coverage of bright colors and did not achieve that until my 1/32 F3F, which I painted with acrylic paints (first experience) and got suitable results only after applying multiple coats.
Thank you everyone and agree with you Karl @rochie Wayne, MMIflyer This is a 2017 Eduard release and you would think it would fall together but these are the issues I had starting with Page 1 of a 17 page build
Locating holes for some of the parts in the cockpit weren't so much holes as indents so I drilled out slightly.
The trim tab mounts to the side of the left console in real time but Eduard just has you glue it to the top
On the fragile oleo scissors, Eduard very kindly put the sprue attachment points inside the curved gluing areas. These are flush mounted to the struts so to a bit to clean up
Nose strut received the same treatment. The tiny gear door had two tiny dimples to attach to two tiny holes in the strut leg; difficult to attach after paint so I glued it on now. Scissors again would be a problem after paint so I attached them as well. I bevelled the area that attached near the wheel to give it some glue area and had to pinch the scissors together a bit to match a picture I found. They were too wide as is
The pedal attachment divots benefit a slight drilling for a more secure fit
The attachment of the Instrument Panel to the floor is vague so look for some detail photos
Fitting the area behind the seat is a right pain in the keester. Almost everything is a butt join on different levels.
The next step is attaching a nose wheel well rear bulkhead to the cockpit floor and a butt join. The bulk head attachment area was bevelled so sand, glue, and constant checking
The last of the cockpit assembly was completed, again butt joints. It took both hands and all three of my thumbs to get it line up after two attempts. I tried including Part C58 in the process but everything else kept moving around. I finally let the wheel well set up and installed C58. It bent like a banana and I thought it would break but it snapped into place. This is the propeller drive shaft
Glued the innards to the right side. Again, vague locating points. The two ledges shown in the instructions are nowhere near that pronounced. There no locating points on the fuselage so this was fun. Surprisingly, I got a great fit and only a tiny amount of goop was needed for the seams
As this is a "Weekend" kit, no nose weight included so I added two screws and a bunch of smooshed .177 pellets above the nose wheel well and left the upper cowl panel open in case I needed more after painting....I didn't
"Experts" say the wing trailing edges need thinning. I left as is
A test fit of the left side showed that the wing was a bit higher than the wing root so I did something I've never done before, I glued the top wing half to the fuselage; the fit is fantastic. There will be a gap on the leading edge but easier to deal with than putting a lot of mud on the wing root and losing detail.
Eduard was kind enough to add one locating pin per wing, bless their hearts.
The canopy is too narrow behind the door opening. I contacted Eduard and asked if this was an issue and they hadn't heard anything. A check of other builds show it was hit or miss. Eduard kindly offered a replacement at no cost but I had everything masked off so carried on. I had just ordered one of their P-39 Overtrees and as soon as I got it, I taped the fuselage together and test fit the canopy....much better
Short story longer, the nose gear retraction struts and main wheel inner gear doors were a pain, no attachment points; round parts to attach to flat surfaces
Monogram is a lot easier. Regarding your issue with bright paint coverage. A solution I found a few years ago and used on this model's tail
I hope this dissertation doesn't put you off the Eduard kit. I will definitely be building the Overtrees kit, probably after I finish my next build
Well, the Monogram kit only lets you open only the Right side door while the Eduard has both doors capable of opening. The ancient Revell kit has only the Left side door opening. Unlike most single seat aircraft the P-39 generally used the Right side for entering and leaving, so you take your choice. I am sure that having both doors capable of opening must complicate the assembly process.
Painting a base coat over the bright color areas was not something that occurred to me. Fortunately the F3F kit is silver gray plastic and it tended not to show through easily, unlike that horrible blue-white that Revell used for some kits.
Gluing the upper wing to the fuselage is a very clever idea, although getting the dihedral just right must have been a challenge.
Does the Eduard kit give you two different types of exhaust stacks, such as the Monogram?
I don't suppose you have tried matching up the Eduard and Monogram to see how close they are?
I posted this somewhere here, Eduard provides all the parts to build most versions of the P-39. Imma doing an Italian P-39Q with the Overtrees. That leaves me with 4 of 9 options on the decal sheet, Eagle Strike Venomous Vipers IP4801
There is a glitch in the Matrix however and was caught by a modeller on another site
"That is a pretty handy cross-reference you have there, just one little error on the Airacobra Mk I. The nose machine guns for a P-39D and Airacobra Mk I were the same, two .50 cal machine guns.
For real in the weeds on the Mk I as rolled out at Bell and prior to shipment to the UK, the exhausts were not similar to part A11 or the RAF fitted A12 fishtail exhausts that they shared with RAF Allison Mustangs. The six exhausts looked like, well it is hard to describe, six pills with the rear ends cut off."
I don't have any Monogram P-39s left. The doors on the Eduard kit take a lot of work to get in the closed position. The only photo I could find of this kite has the pilot posing beside the open left door
