SPA Modeler

Much less active evening than planned, most of the time dry fitting and adding & brush painting some details in the cockpit.
The Eduard kit is much less unforgiving than the Airfix, you really need to be careful when finally deciding to glue parts together. Some internal parts are very difficult even to dryfit, you would need a couple of more hands to keep all the pieces together.
But oh boy, this is a beautiful kit, the details, very nice!

I also added a few plastic bits to a little bit strenghten the alignment of the front part of the fuselage.
Especially during the dry-fitting excersises with the fuselage halves, these are practical "assisting hands".



And again some tiny add-ons in the cockpit and some touch ups of the radio & battery equipment. Yesterdays struggle had caused that paint had melted away under cement, so with a cocktail stick and Mr Color Flat Black the problem was fixed.

Couple of major steps still to do, the seat and the belts + weathering.
Perhaps tomorrow



- Kari

So badly fitting internal parts and a fuselage you have to use plastic tabs to help fit together...

That hardly seems the wonderous modern super kit certain people on the internet who're into Engineering have bigged it up to be. Personally if I build another P-51 I'm definitely going with the Tamiya kit.

That being said, the detail looks superb and you've nailed the painting. I'm sure when you've finished this it'll look awesome.

speedgraflex wrote:Such beautiful color coats, Kari. Truly impressive. You bring out the best in the Eduard details. The equipment looks lightly used, and parts are finished smooth or given texture by the various techniques you are employing. I was slightly upset by the instrument panel decal alignment issues, I have to admit, mainly in sympathy with you since I know how careful you are, but your positive attitude and decision to push forward rather than become disenchanted really make me happy! All the best!

Many thanks Bruce! Indeed, still some weeks ago that IP panel issue could have killed the build for good, but "lessons learned", will not happen this time or this early in the project!

Stuart wrote: So badly fitting internal parts and a fuselage you have to use plastic tabs to help fit together...

That hardly seems the wonderous modern super kit certain people on the internet who're into Engineering have bigged it up to be. Personally if I build another P-51 I'm definitely going with the Tamiya kit.

That being said, the detail looks superb and you've nailed the painting. I'm sure when you've finished this it'll look awesome.

Many thanks Stuart!

The internal parts actually fit tremendously well. BUT! The crucial parts need to be perfectly aligned, it's just a must and no paint remainings on the contact surfaces either. Otherwise things go south.
The Eduard kit is very demanding, on the border to if it is actually a relaxing build.. At least for me.

Well, I bite my teeth together and continue--

I am sure the Tamiya kit is sort of a combination of the Airfix and Eduard kit. Entertaining to build but absolutely super "engineering" and excellent visible details (not hidden deep inside the fuselages as with a few other P-51s )

- Kari

Great progress on the Eduard kit! I was kinda hoping that we'd see the Airfix and Eduard kits being built side-by-side! But it looks like each kit needs its own type of specific attention!

Thanks John, that would have for sure been very interesting to do!
But you are right, they are pretty different to build and requires different approach (also mentally ! ).

- Kari

No guts, no glory!

Hahhah!

- Kari

jkim wrote:Great progress on the Eduard kit! I was kinda hoping that we'd see the Airfix and Eduard kits being built side-by-side! But it looks like each kit needs its own type of specific attention!

Each looks to require its’ own versions of trail and error/attention to detail.

Well done.