JohnB

Progress. The nose piece is full of BB's and white glue.

I fervently hope you will get good news Peter!!!

Back a few years ago when I first saw this kit I thought, being Kitty Hawk, it would be a winner. NOT SO! BIG disappointment to say the least. I know Peter you will certainly make a silk purse out of a sows ear here.

LOL Peter. I thought you had already figured that out.

Thanks Phil. I figured that the busier the better for this one.

Looking good Peter. That kit is a PITA to build. I did one and started another but put it on the SOD. Too much aggravation! Whenever I decide on another P-39 it'll be a Special Hobby kit. Still some issues but not nearly the SOB to build. (When I saw "Hobby Boss P-39" on the header I said to myself I was not aware they HAD a 1/32 P-39 kit LOL). I hope any info you find on my KH build will be of help.

I have to say Peter they were a royal PITA! High cuss-factor!

Thanks Peter! I'm pleased you like it.

Thanks Harv!

Test fitting the cockpit parts. The rear bulkhead and floor are from the Monogram kit. The instrument panel is from the ICM kit. The seat is from my "spares" stash. I re-scaled and printed the seat decal on clear decal paper and attached it to the painted seat. Adds a little to the "look" I think. I had a Eduard cockpit PE set which worked out okay. Still a bit more to do here but I think you get the picture.

As far as I know there was no after market cockpit for the Monogram kits. Thanks! I hope to have the interior finished and the fuselage halves joined soon.

Soon. Patience grass hopper.......

Just some trimming and the Monogram parts fit okay.

If it wasn't for the European kit manufacturers we'd be SOL as far as 1/32 is concerned.

I didn't see any 1/32 WW II a/c kits. Bummer.

After some trimming it's time for a test fit for the Mono/Pro parts. Rear bulkhead and cockpit floor/wheel well. Seems to be a workable solution to the lack of detail in the ICM kit. I expect the after market guys will come up with the properly detailed parts at some point.

In view of all that I'm somewhat disappointed in this kit. Oh well, onward and upward!

I think that is what I will do Peter. I tentatively will use the floor and rear bulkhead if I can get them to fit (shouldn't be much of a problem). I will also use a set of Mono/Pro props and some True Details wheels. I'm surprised how much better the Mono/Pro kit is in interior details. Go figure!

A little late for it but I decided to compare the innards of the ICM kit to the Monogram/Promodeler. As you can see the Monogram interior has it hands down over the ICM kit, even after some PE has been added. I'm undecided as to what I'll do but I'm considering pirating some of the Mono/Pro and using that for the interior. Ve Vill see!

I hope my build will be of help to you.

Today I started painting the interior and doing a little bit of work on the cockpit. I plan to use a Eduard PE cockpit set I've had on hand for years. It was meant for the Monogram/Promodeler kits but I think it will work okay with this one. I also will substitute some props from a Monogram/Promodeler kit which are a bit more accurate. I also have some old True Details tires that I intend to use.

Looks really good in the box so we will see.

That sucks big time. I hope you can find a source that will work out okay.