Got my next project in, late this afternoon. Having a couple hours break from not building anything, I’m ready to get back to it!!!
If initial looks are an indicator of things to come, this is gonna be GREAT!!! Everything is neatly packed in self sealing bags (ala Eduard PE sets), one sprue per bag, except for the smaller sprue (x2 in one bag).
This thing is loaded with everything you need!!!
Pre-cut masks for all that glass, PE fret, instructions appear to be clear enough!
Color decal guide for two versions.
Parts are nice n’ crisp, no flash! Only snag is all the ejector pin marks (as fine as they are) all over the interior parts(gear bays, cockpit). Also looks like there will be a very tough to clean up seam in the cockpit.
I predict this thread will eventually be 229 posts long…
Looks like a solid kit. Nice to see those pre-cut masks. I thought it was pretty cool that Tamiya included a mask with the Storch, until I realized it was just a sheet of Tamiya tape with a template printed on it…
Been spending a lot of time looking for refs…search for an hour…work for 20 minutes…on and on and on!!! Finally, the fuse is ready to be closed up at this point. So far, there is a little disappointment in the pit details. There’s quite a bit lacking, that could have been done, quite easily.
Here’s that nasty seam running the length of the fuse on both sides. (looks like the gearbays will be similar[:(])
I used regular old printer paper to cover the panels with the seam and panels with ejector pin marks, Tamiya tape to cover the gaps on the ribbing.
I bit of scratched detail for the rudder controls.(stretched sprue, tape, and wire)
The PE seat harnesses included in the kit are not real good, I used the buckles from them and some strips of Tamiya tape. The side console has no throttle controls, I used bits of aluminum for those.
The instructions would have you put only two ammo cans behind the navigators station, but the kit includes 6, with no mention of where they go, refs told me where to put them, and I had to steal a few from other kits to have enough. Other scratched details include the wing spar(prominent item not included in the kit), hand crank(attached to spar)for the camera door, oxygen mask canisters, first aid kit, a couple misc. bits and pieces on the fuse walls, and flare canisters on the right side fuse wall(brass rod)
Very nice scratch work fermis!! If anyone can make this thing shine you can! Is that a molded seem line on the pit wall or is it from joining two pieces?
I made a boo-boo, well, not so much MY fault! The ammo mags around the rear are not right for this version, would be alright if the gun positions were single guns, but these are doubled. I whipped up a couple ammo crates for the rear guns.
The IP is smooth across the back…no good, with all that glass up front! I used bits of stretched sprue for the instrument casings and wired em up.
Damn dude, you are the man!!! I;ve got some cool refs of this aircraft with a single MG131 firing directly down through the bottom of that rear position. Seems it was used for an auto firing system using magnetics to pick up the target and queue the gun to fire. You did a great job covering a very very nasty looking seam[Y]
Word of warning. I read in a review of the kit that adding the rudder pedals when the instructions recommends is a death sentence for them. They stick out and are very easy to break until the glazing goes on. Reviewer recommends leaving them off until the very end.
Not much of an update. I attached all the clear parts, except those that will be posed open, and masked. The precut masks are mostly OK, only a couple had to be cut down a bit or added to. I can tell already, they are gonna be a pain to remove without bringing the whole clear part along with em. Super sticky! I taped off the openings from the inside, also used liquid mask to seal up the edges. This will help keep all that unwanted sanding dust from tainting the greenhouse.
The rear gun position is somewhat of a PITA. You definitely have to glue the shroud piece to the circular clear piece before trying to install it(as per instructions). However, the way the thing is designed, there is only one way to position the “turret”. Could be modified easily enough though.
