Thank you so much, Mike!
It's about time to start "sewing" them up! 
Russian fighter project
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Gary Brantley
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Re: Russian fighter project
It's about time to start "sewing" them up! -
Stikpusher
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Re: Russian fighter project
Yes, the ICM cockpits are a bit fiddly, but once you have them sandwiched in place between the fuselage halves the go well. The engineering is pretty sweet for the most part other Yaks.
"Surely I have made my meaning plain? I intend to avenge myself upon you, Admiral. I have deprived your ship of power, and when I swing 'round, I intend to deprive you of your life."
FLSM
FLSM
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Gary Brantley
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Re: Russian fighter project
Heck, I might just give that ICM a try too!Stikpusher wrote: ↑Tue Nov 26, 2024 10:17 am Yes, the ICM cockpits are a bit fiddly, but once you have them sandwiched in place between the fuselage halves the go well. The engineering is pretty sweet for the most part other Yaks.
Thanks for the encouragement, Carlos! -
Duke Maddog
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Re: Russian fighter project
Brilliant work Gary, it's great to see you building again!
The Duke
Virtuoso of Miniatures
"Do you know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I get and beat you with 'till you understand who's in ruttin' command!"
-Jayne Cobb, Firefly Episode 2 "The Train Job"
We are modelers - the same in spirit, in hunger to insanely buy newly released kits, hustlers in hiding our stash from our better halves and experts in using garbage as replacements for after-market parts.
Virtuoso of Miniatures
"Do you know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I get and beat you with 'till you understand who's in ruttin' command!"
-Jayne Cobb, Firefly Episode 2 "The Train Job"
We are modelers - the same in spirit, in hunger to insanely buy newly released kits, hustlers in hiding our stash from our better halves and experts in using garbage as replacements for after-market parts.
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jeaton01
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Re: Russian fighter project
Nice progress, Gary.
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Gary Brantley
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Re: Russian fighter project
Thank you very much for the warm comments, Mark!Duke Maddog wrote: ↑Sat Nov 30, 2024 10:25 pm Brilliant work Gary, it's great to see you building again!
I sure appreciate them, and yes, it's about time I had something to show! I'm getting back to them as soon as our Thanksgiving company heads home. Thank, John!
The pace of the progress is pretty glacial, but slowly, but surely, things are taking shape! 
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tempestjohnny
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Re: Russian fighter project
Umm. I guess I missed this. Great start on these Gary. Now you need a Shturmovik Il-2 to go with them
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Gary Brantley
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Re: Russian fighter project
I hope I can do them justice, Remco!
Keeping my fingers crossed anyway! Thanks, Johnny!tempestjohnny wrote: ↑Tue Dec 03, 2024 6:06 am Umm. I guess I missed this. Great start on these Gary. Now you need a Shturmovik Il-2 to go with them
Ya know, I've picked up and examined the Revell Il-2 kit several times but didn't buy one...yet! -
Gary Brantley
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Re: Russian fighter project
Just a bit of an update; both fuselages are together and seams have been addressed. Ya know, I've had issues with getting nice, tight fuselage seams for the last many builds. 
I believe I've struggled with each one lately and these two were no exceptions. I used to have no trouble applying liquid cement along seams, wait a bit and then squeeze them together, oozing out the melted styrene. Now, that almost never happens. 
Maybe I'm squeezing them too soon? Or perhaps the liquid cement isn't strong enough. I don't know, but I even tried some MEK and that was only a little better.
I won't know just how gnarly the seams will look until I get some paint over them. I usually thin some Humbrol Silver 11 down and brush it along the seam. That shows all the gaps and edges and then I'll tackle the problem spots. It's about time for attaching the wings and I need to get out their canopies to see how they're going to fit.
Here are a few photos showing some progress:
There's a sizeable gap on the turtledeck, behind the seat of the MiG-3; I had a much better fit there when dry-fitting (repeadtedly!), when the glue got going hot and heavy, the gap appeared. You'll also note the tailwheel hanging down on the MiG-3. The instructions called for sandwiching between the two fuselage halves resulting in a very dangerously exposed appendage that I will almost certainly break before much longer. Ironically, I thought of a good alternative method of attaching that tailwheel later in the build using a short section of tubing, just minutes after glueing it together! 
Oh well, that's modeling by old folks, I guess! 
I believe I've struggled with each one lately and these two were no exceptions. I used to have no trouble applying liquid cement along seams, wait a bit and then squeeze them together, oozing out the melted styrene. Now, that almost never happens. Maybe I'm squeezing them too soon? Or perhaps the liquid cement isn't strong enough. I don't know, but I even tried some MEK and that was only a little better. I won't know just how gnarly the seams will look until I get some paint over them. I usually thin some Humbrol Silver 11 down and brush it along the seam. That shows all the gaps and edges and then I'll tackle the problem spots. It's about time for attaching the wings and I need to get out their canopies to see how they're going to fit.
Here are a few photos showing some progress:
There's a sizeable gap on the turtledeck, behind the seat of the MiG-3; I had a much better fit there when dry-fitting (repeadtedly!), when the glue got going hot and heavy, the gap appeared.
You'll also note the tailwheel hanging down on the MiG-3. The instructions called for sandwiching between the two fuselage halves resulting in a very dangerously exposed appendage that I will almost certainly break before much longer. Ironically, I thought of a good alternative method of attaching that tailwheel later in the build using a short section of tubing, just minutes after glueing it together! Oh well, that's modeling by old folks, I guess!