Is it just me or do other people have fitting problems with Hasegawa kits?
It seems every hasegawa kit i try to build turns into the most frustrating thing ever. I always end up trashing it. I tried to build a 1/72 A6E Intruder last month and spent 3 days trying to fit the cockpit in, cutting away pieces until I finally got fed up and threw it in the trash. Im now trying to build this BF109E and I’m already starting to have issues with the 2 side mounts that hold up the machine gun carriage in this image. Both pieces are fitted to their intended places on the engine block. Both pieces have small pins on the back that fit into holes in the engine block. All four pins are in their holes. This entire piece is completely crooked after glue up. Ugh.
THe red arc indicates where the fit is super tightwhich then bends the arm out further than it should and makes the whole thing caddywompus. Then in this next photo: I had to offset this piece so the macchine gun would fit in its mounting hole. The portside machine gun wont even sit in there straight because of a protruding section of the sidewall from the engine.
In this third pic, The #1 arrow indicates the part of the machine gun (not sure if its an ammo can or what} #2 arrow indicates the part of the engine block, I guess. Its completely in the way. It will not allow the machine gun to fall flush.
I know Im an amatuer builder but Ive recently put together an Airfix spitfire 1/72 and a few other models that I had absolutely no issues with. Hasegawa models just kill me and honestly, they make me not want to build models. I know people love them and say they are one of the best but in my experience, not so much. Maybe they are just more fiddly. How many more issues am I going to have if Im only on the 4th step… LOL. Im afraid once I get the cockpit together that it will be a nightmare to fit into the aircraft.
Sorry for the rant.
Anyone have any experience with this particular model?
Thanks guys!
Paul
Haven’t done a hasegawa kit in a while… but I’m pretty sure I remember having fit issues as well
Yeah, the more complex the kit the more potential for fit problems. It could be a bit of flash somewhere or a misaligned part. I’ve had the same frustrations with Revell of Germany’s Bf-109F. Eduard’s 109’s are much better, but the exhausts are a pain.
It just takes time, patience and dry-fitting. I find Tamiya to be the best for fit.
Hi Paulie -
Yup, some kits are a chore for precision alignment of parts, about all you can do is to dry fit as you go. That’s especially true for simulated tubular parts, like engine mounts, landing gear and control tubes.
Also the more complex kits of today, with so many more tiny bits have added difficulties, adding to the time to build. If I have problems with fitting parts, I can use a little Elmers white glue, cut with a bit of water to thin it, for temporarily placing the parts to check for proper fit.
Then I can trim or add material as needed. When good fit is assured, the white glue just gives up it’s hold easily, then quickly removed with water.
You’ll get it sorted, just part of the enjoyment of the hobby.
Patrick
This kit is as old as the hills. Wouldn’t expect a very good fit. I haven’t built this particular one though. All the Hasegawa kits I’ve built are mostly trouble free, but do have some issues with wing root gaps and the multiple inserts not fitting well, although thats the price to pay for multiple kit variants. Most of my Hasegawa kits are early 90s through early 2000s WWII and 1 48 scale jet kits.
In your last pic it looks like there is a mold seam still in the circular area that is visable. That would keep things from dropping into place. Take some more time to look over parts and clean the mold lines and flash off to where everything is smooth and keep dry fitting till things line up before you glue it tight. As molds get older, you tend to see more issues with seams and flash.
I’m still learning to apply a healthy dose of patience in my builds, and get frustrated at times as well. I just put it aside for a few days and come back with I hope is a fresh perspective and go back at it.
I tried dry fitting as much as I could but it was 7 pieces total at first and each piece fit well when I was putting 2 pieces together but trying to dry fit all of them is hard but that white thinned glue trick sounds killer. Sometimes I just think to myself “glue that s.o.b together and see what’s up” The engine block went together pretty good with a little bit of fiddling which was good.
The A-6 you tried to build is from the early 70’s. It’s one of their worst fitting kits ever.
Ill tell you what, I was really impressed with that 1/72 (spitfire) Airfix model… I never even hit it with a piece of sand paper. That’s how flawless it went together. Im really looking forward to building more Airfix models but who knows maybe they problems too…
Although I have no experience with this kit, I always have issues with wing root gaps on Has kits. I usually glue the upper wings to the fuselage joint before adding the bottom to avoid the gap issue. Otherwise, they are fairly nice. I concur with the advice of others, dry-fit before committing to glue. Try a solvent based glue, it tends to work better in melting the part in place.