Clunkmeister

Rob, I feel,Ike a dirty politician caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

Now THIS is the funniest thing I’ve seen all week.

No it’s gone. It just was hitting up on it.

Busted! I guess it’s true when they say “the internet is forever” And my past comes back to haunt me. I deny any knowledge of that dastardly and blatantly hurtful lie!

Hey Gus, one question, what’s a “jet”?

Thanks Phil. For once I had some bench time to actually produce something. Feels nice, actually

So this afternoon was a productive afternoon. The P-47 is ready for paint, and I worked on the P.11. everything, and I mean everything lines up. Except one compressed air bottle on the inner cockpit wall under the floor that interfered with the floor fit. I obviously got the location wrong, but I pulled it off and will figure out where it belongs. I fit the panel and the headrest, and taped the sides together around it to get the alignment right. The very top of the headrest has a very slight spot where a Sprue attachment point still shows, (my bad), so I’ll prep that better tomorrow and close up the fuselage for good. So far, I’m loving this build. I’m going to also give the seatbelts a slight wash. I used the kit PE belts, and I truly, truly detest PE belts. These look semi OK, though, so for a kit review, I give them high marks compared to some of the junk we see in kits.

It looks one solid color, but it’s not. This is pretty accurate as far as coloration goes. I’ll do some more picking out around the gun mounts, then mount the panel. I already applied a fairly heavy wash to the floor plates, and since I want to keep it fairly correct, I’m not about to go overboard on color just to get it to look “cute”

Absolutely zero problems so far. Not a shake the box kit, but if a top shelf fully detailed 30s finger could be, this is it.

In my opinion, the F is a he best of the Hasegawa 109s. Superb so far!!

Such is the world of building test shots, Jeroen. As usual, you da man for the job. I can think of no more qualified for this duty. Looking great as usual!!

Hubert you stole my thunder. Haha. We think so much alike my friend, it’s almost uncanny. You and stirred the embers for racers that were glowing deep within and the P.11 prototype demonstrator is our classic Golden Age aviation done right. I’ll be doing a Rumanian bird as well, and one in NMF too.

Absolutely Carl. It’s all over faded old silver on the interior, then pick out the details. Martin, the kit is that decent, it even makes me look good.

Honestly folks, so far, this has been one of the most effortless builds I’ve ever had the opportunity to build. Everything just fits. Perfectly. As in a “click fit”. That’s quite an accomplishment with a 1930s aircraft design. Don’t get me wrong, this by no means a beginners kit. And you’ll need to have a good visor and plenty of lighting, because many of the parts are extremely small . But take your time and it’ll all click into place. If it doesn’t, you did something wrong. So far, kudos and two thumbs up to IBG for designing this kit.

The proper use of PE allows you to get results in a scale like thickness, results like you can’t ever achieve with IM styrene or even resin. After ths drys a bit, I’ll mount the few bits of PE left, the other frame, then give it a shot of Alclad aluminum all over. Detail picking out after that.

I have started cutting plastic 2-3mm away from the part, and the sanding and trimming it down. No more cavities!

Cockpit coming right along. If you’re not opening the gun doors, all the lower PE under the floor can be left off to simplify construction, but building it on this is seriously quick and easy.

Everyone is asking about the dreaded engine, which was the downfall of many a resin build. This one is utter sweetness with honey and tulip fragrance from your favorite girl. This an exact drop fit. No glue, no swearing, no muss, no fuss. Notice how all the exhaust pipes go into the collector, which is the front of the cowl, and then all the struts supporting the whole thing against the inner cone. This was the downfall of the resin kit. Each of those exhaust pipes is supplied as a vague elbow, your job, figure out where it all rides. A jig is best...

Still more PE bending tonight, folks. Lots more pics tomorrow, but I can say that even though there is a boatload of PE, it all fits perfectly, and if you take your time, measure three times and cur once, it will fall together like a jigsaw puzzle. This is the nicest building kit I’ve worked on in a long, long time.

Cough cough. A radial powered space capsule. COOL!!!

I’m just going to put this here. This is one of the things that the resin kit had issues with.

Some have asked me how the fit appears to be on this kit, so I thought I’d take a quick opportunity to show you. This is simple friction fit with tape to keep the sides together. many question? If the rest of the kit is as good as this appears to be, IBG will sell me at least a half dozen more. Y’all notice how we see group builds of massed I-16s at shows? This could be the next step up from that pleasant little build.

Someone say T-28? which way did he go, which way did he go..... uh boy uh boy un boy uh boy.....

Phil, there’s plenty of it, but only in areas where it would be the best medium to use. The design and construction of a typical 1930s cockpit lends itself well to PE improving things and keeping detail a scale size. Just think “T-6, or Harvard”. Metal cladding over metal exterior panels. Lots of tubes, gussets, braces, etc. a detail junkie’s best friend.

It actually builds quite easily, and I’m one who detests PE. But, I’d do just about anything for a good P.11, and this one seems like a GREAT P.11.