Peterpools

PW Right with Mike and Martin ... going to be an epic project and build.

Oliver Looking mighty good and the scene is wonderfully detailed. I do agree with Kirk that the dio feels cramped and as if all the details are being squeezed together to fit the narrow base, with no breathing room for the eye to wander and explore.

Hi Chris, Thank you for the very kind words on the build to this point. Having already built the Tamiya P-47D Bubble Jug I keep mentally comparing the two kits and when my MIniArt kit crosses the finish line, I know I'll have a few things to say in comparing them. At this point in the build, is the kit been worth all the frustrations I've been dealing with, fiddly small parts and the instructions: in all honesty - no. It's very well detailed, beyond Tamiya's kit but a lot can't be seen and struggling with some part orientation and fit, for me just isn't worth the extra work. This is supposed to be the Basic kit and I would have thought much of these tiny detail parts would have been molded in place like the Kotare Spitfire and not then needed to be dealt with individually. The value of these small detail parts does add up but should have been reserved for the Advanced kit - just my two cents worth. I'm almost through installing the wings and MiniArts approach is much different then Tamiya and a lot of the other newer kits when it comes to the wing spar and alignment. Next update, I'll give my opinion on that stage of the build. .

Thanks Rob, it's the little things that slow down a build and make it a non-enjoyable experience. The just improving the instructions would be a huge plus. Working on the wing - fillet seams. Oh what fun.

Carl Completely agree and just so lucky I found the joystick. I did send an email to MiniArt and received a nice response in about five days' time. I'm sure if I didn't find it, they would have sent a replacement. Just a shame the instructions are vague in a few critical spots but for their first aircraft venture, it's an amazing kit.

Thanks Kev, completely agree. Highly detailed kit for sure ... just so fiddly with so many ultra small pieces. Can't wait to finish up the big P&W, the detail does look amazing.

🤞

Gus Nice progress and I'm a mazed as you with the level of detail in 3D molded kits. MRP paints do have an order/smell to them, pretty much equal to Tamiya Lacquer paints and a lot less them My Color. If you use a paint booth and let is run a while after the paint session is over, I don't think there will be an objectional odor. Better test to be sure.

Thanks John Starting to move along at a good clip, now that the major portion of building all the sub-assemblies are done and I'm getting use to how MiniArt does things. I'm sure I'll reach a point in a few days of being ready for the mask set and won't be able to prime until it arrives. Might have to start my next build in the meantime.

Thanks Mike Finally made enough progress for an update. Some of the detailed parts are so small, I spend more time trying to find them then actually gluing them in place.

CLOSING UP THE FUSELAGE AND PROGRESS Incredible, while cleaning up the bench, I found the ‘lost joy stick’ and I must have searched and looked in that exact spot two or three times. With Lady Luck riding as my copilot, I finished up the front office assembly. The ‘tub’s’ four sides and the floor fit together using a slot and tab method, none of which fit, requiring careful filing and tweaking to get the components to mesh together. The IP is attached to the top of the rudder casting, a bit fiddly and a very weak joint. Glued up and ready to go, the front office does look good, requiring a bit too much work in getting the parts to fit. Some fuselage assembly issues: The Supercharger Exhaust part orientation in the instructions seemed vague and I just couldn’t figure out how the part should be installed. After the fuselage was glued up, I knew I had it wrong. I found the proper orientation shown all the way in the step 29 & 30 drawings and with the aid of a few excellent online photographs, I finally understood how the exhaust gate should look and be installed. The fuselage was already completely glued up … what to do? Carefully, with a razor saw, I cut the bottom rear of the fuselage apart, cut out the supercharger exhaust part, glued the fuselage back together, reinforced the seam with Flexy 5K CA Black and when dry glued worked the part in place: starting on the inside and the end of the exhaust gate terminated on the outside and all looked good now. I wish the instructions would have been a lot clearer when you actually install the supercharger waste gate. The tailwheel assembly was built up in Step 5 right after the cockpit assembly. Turns out there are actually two tailwheels provided (excellent) booted and non-booted. But the tailwheel isn’t installed until step 17 (looking ahead), why do the assembly at step 5, which seems way out of sequence? The booted tailwheel assembly so far is another case of frustration, just way too many “this is where it goes arrows”, all of little help. Winging it and looking at photos, I finally understood how the assembly is to be installed. Last bit of negativity: The intercooler exhaust doors. Geez, when installed in the open position, there is nothing to block off looking straight into the inside of the fuselage. I luckily noticed this before gluing the fuselage halves together and added Evergreen sheet to close off the opening. On the plus side: detailing is exquisite, super fine panel lines and rivets almost to scale. Of course, I have my work cut out for me replacing the ones I lost in sanding and fitting. Glass also is awesome – just wish the kit included a mask set. Of course, no matter how careful I tried to be, I managed to break off the fuselage antenna and three of the eight MG’s. I ordered new MG’s and drilled out the MG ports as best I could. Should never have followed the instructions and left them off until the end – live and learn. As soon as my Eduard mask set arrives, the Jug will be off to the paint shop and priming. Major assemblies are done and ready to be glued together More assemblies done and the R2400 is underway - incredible detail and fidelity Four piece cowl is underway along with the gear doors Everything is ready for priming once the Eduard mask set arrives

Awesome .. way to go Hubert. 🏆

I think Scott is right .. his boots don't look right.

Pretty much bought what was on my 2023 to buy list as it wasn't very large at all: Revell Hurricane Kotare Spitfire AM FW 190 Trumpeter Devastator with AirScale Detail set I also bought a number of 1/48 scale kits, almost all weren't on my list; mostly Eduard, Tamiya and Magic factory Corsair set plus the MiniArt Jug 2024; 32nd scale: DBMK Sea Fury 48th scale: Will continue to purchase select 48th scale kits, mainly WWII from Eduard, Tamiya, Airfix, Arma and a few others. Trying to purchase kits that include masks and some AM so I don't have to hunt all over the world looking for what I need for the build.

Brad Sad state of affairs ... unfortunately just not much we can do about it.

Rob Brilliant decal work - those CF decals surely look like a bear to do but your system won the day.

John Walkways and decaling looks simply flawless. Yup, the T28 isn't giving up the ghost and sure is fighting you all the way.

Gus Awesome progress on the Viggen. The detail just keeps getting better and better and looking mighty good. I'm assuming you are going to be using Mr Paint - MRP Lacquer. It's been my go-to paint for years and it is amazing. I also use MRP Primer, gray or black. Paints and primers are pre thinned and I shoot them straight from the bottle with absolutely no thinning. Results: smooth as silk and strong as steel. You're going to love the paints. I use Self Leveling Thinners when changing colors during a session and regular lacquer thinner to clean the air after painting is done for the day. I always wear a respirator and use my spray booth.

Jeff Surely it does.

Jeff I think the answer is greed .. just a perfect excuse to raise prices. Still the question remains, why has SLT vanished from stocks and is nearly impossible to find?

Carl Nice paint work and weathering on the seat. And absolutely amazed you found the PE piece knocked off. When I lose small parts, especially PE, they are history. Right with you, the detail is amazing, instructions and color callouts look spot on and play a big part in making a complicated or any kit for that matter a fun and enjoyable build.

John Nice find and project. Detailing and weathering looks good and the 109 seems to sure have seen a tough service life.

Carl Good question. As an example, that comes to mind, when Tamiya started selling their lacquer LP paint range, they weren't available in the US for a good few years, and no one would ship them to the states. I have no idea why. Now they are everywhere their acrylic range of paints are sold. Just seems strange that a product SLT, that has been so readily available for years is now out of stock almost everywhere for months. Next thing you know there will be a nice size price increase when it becomes available again, due to supply shortages, shipping costs or maybe regulations required the labeling to be redone. Seem the same is with everything these days. Peter

Carl Way to go. Unfortunately, Tamiya thinner with retarder isn't available here in the state, same with their white cap glue that comes in the same shape bottle as Extra thin. Tamiya thinner yellow cap in a 250ml bottle (largest size) is about $11 while SLT 400 ml is about $12.50 - quite a difference in price. I normally buy most supplies in doubles ... wish I had the room to store a supply like yours. Buying for me from at least two suppliers to fill my original order adds anywhere from $16-$20 per order and getting worse.

Thanks Paul I bought two 400 ml bottle from them a week ago and if it wasn't for the storm we just had, was scheduled to be delivered today, now tomorrow. Just seems so much of everything is either back ordered or out of stock. I' guess it's just the world we live in now.