Planet Models Resin XF5U-1 1/48 up next

[JohnB]

I've had this one in my stash for quite some time. Since I'm not getting any younger I guess it's time to build it. I anticipate it to be fairly straight forward (fingers crossed). I've seen several built up (1/48 and 1/32) and they make a really impressive model. Right now I'm just perusing everything and getting set to do some preliminary cleanup and then start on the cockpit. Looks to be crisply molded with no bad "uh oh's". 🙂

[denders]

Cool, John! I built the Kitty Hawk kit (I think it was the Kitty Hawk kit) right after we moved in 2019. It definitely looks different.

[JohnB]

12 hours ago, denders said:

Cool, John! I built the Kitty Hawk kit (I think it was the Kitty Hawk kit) right after we moved in 2019. It definitely looks different.

It's different for sure! I think it will build up to be a neat model. 🙂

[BlrwestSiR]

Nice subject choice there John. I did the 1/32 version a few years ago. It was my first full resin build. 

 

I ran into a couple challenges. The biggest was the landing gear. On mine, it's so fragile that it won't stand on its own. It's collapsed twice, once shortly after completion and the second time right after I fixed it. It's now on a stand. 

The other one was figuring out a way to fill the seams in the engine intakes as there are large bullet fairings in the way. I ended up gluing the leading edge together, filled the seams and then inserted the bullet fairings in from the trailing edge. You do have to pry apart the rear edge to make this work. Some folks have cut a hike through the airbrake wells to do the same thing. 

 

Carl

[belugawhaleman]

Cool! Looking forward to this one.

[JohnB]

Got the cockpit done and the engine nacelles cleaned up and put together. I think my next move is to glue the upper and lower fuselage halves together then test fitting should show any spots that need cleaning up.

[KevinM]

Neat little subject John looking Good!

[JohnB]

3 hours ago, BlrwestSiR said:

Nice subject choice there John. I did the 1/32 version a few years ago. It was my first full resin build. 

 

I ran into a couple challenges. The biggest was the landing gear. On mine, it's so fragile that it won't stand on its own. It's collapsed twice, once shortly after completion and the second time right after I fixed it. It's now on a stand. 

The other one was figuring out a way to fill the seams in the engine intakes as there are large bullet fairings in the way. I ended up gluing the leading edge together, filled the seams and then inserted the bullet fairings in from the trailing edge. You do have to pry apart the rear edge to make this work. Some folks have cut a hike through the airbrake wells to do the same thing. 

 

Carl

Lots of work to get that done! This kit has pot metal landing gear struts plus the engine fronts fit into the nacelles before attaching the nacelles to the wings. Makes that part easier. 🙂

[JohnB]

3 minutes ago, KevinM said:

Neat little subject John looking Good!

Thanks Kevin. So far so good! 🙂

[JohnB]

Upper and lower fuselage halves plus engine nacelles now in place. Thank goodness for Zap a Gap and Zip Kicker! Still LOTS of puttying and seam filling to do. I'm disappointed in the fit as it appeared when test fitting things would fit better. Oh well, out with the putty and sanding sticks. 🙄