ICM 1/48 Yak-9M

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Not so much to report today... I varnished the insides with Quick Shine + Oily Steel mix and put the decal on the control panel. Most of my time was spent on sculping and molding the side panels around the engine compartment. I might need to do a little more. It is a hard fit but I think it will be fine at the end. If I am not satisfied, then the best thing to do might be leaving them open. I will decide later.

 
Thanks friends! So, I worked on the engine covers more. I used the hobby files for a lot of sanding and they got really thinner but I think this is as close as one gets. I still think I might just leave one or both of them open. If I build this ICM kit again (which I might as I have another one in my stash for Stepanenko's Yak-9T), I will simply skip building the engine and cut the rips for easy fit of the covers. I think they look OK for now.



Then, I added the exhaust pipes to the engine. They need to be attached to the engine and aligned before the fuselage is put together.



Next, the pilot's seat, the IP and the back panel where the radio is located were glued to the right fuselage.



Finally, I put the engine in and tried to align it as best as I can. The exhaust pipes need to have a 90-degrees angle.



At the end surprisingly, both sides of the fuselage came together without much problems. I was concerned that the engine, the pilot's seat, or the instrument panel etc. might cause problems. I think the only engineering fiasco with this kit, other than some inaccuracies, is the engine covers. However, just like many other old ICM kits, it does need a lot of help to have a good fit.

 
Thank you friends! Last couples days I was working on mostly putty filling, sanding, and masking prior to black & white primer. I first fit the engine covers as best as I can. I did try to mask them with tape but that effort was just too time consuming and delicate that I simply used a soft silly putty to attach the covers in their place instead and then mask the landing gear holes with the same soft putty. I am ready to prime now!


Fitting of the covers


Trying the tape mask


Decided to go with the putty as temporary adhesive and mask


Working with the Vallejo plastic putty to fill the holes and gaps (Tamiya extra thin cement also helps )


After wet and dry sanding with Tamiya 100, 1500, and 3000 sponges, the same soft putty was used to mask the exhaust pipes and landing gear bases.
 

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