i am still interested but havent got the kit. yet. we shall see what the coming months bring. hopefully i can get the komet and a few other things i would love to have.
joe
This sonds way cool, I will have to send the wife and kid out of the house for the day though
Jon,
Extratech has released the S&H Walter engine with PE bits: here’s a link:
http://www.extratech.cz/?page=products
Type ‘Walter’ in the search field at the top on the right and it will come up. Good luck!
Worgoose, welcome in this mad enterprise! I’ve added your name to the list of mad people on the first page! Any idea which kit you’ll go for??
Look what the UPS man brought me today.[:)] It’s actually the Upgarded kit with PE and resin. Looks like more “Mad” fun.
Now I just have to wait 2 1/2 months until MKD![:)]
Good for you, Dan… Is the kit looking good!
Here’s quick a review of the 1/72 scale MPM Mitsubishi J8M1 kit.
21 styrene parts. Molded in light gray on one tree.
8 resin parts.
6 Eduard Photo Etched parts with a photo film gauges
1 Vacuform canopy
1 decal sheet
9-page Instructions manual
The molding of the styrene parts looks good with fine recessed panel lines but only fair detail for this scale. The styrene appears to be of hard variety and has quite a bit of flash, especially the smaller parts. The attachment points to the trees are large and heavy. The styrene also has a lot of “micro pits” giving it a rough texture.
The resin parts seem to be of good quality. They will need a normal amount of clean up but should work well. I’m glad it’s included and replaces some of the styrene parts, which would take a lot of clean up.
The Photo etched set is standard Eduard quality. You have a choice of using the resin gauge panel or the PE set.
The vacuform canopy looks OK, not great.
The decals look OK, not too thick, but will see how they go on.
The Instructions are the “follow the picture” and seem clear enough. Comes with a separate sheet for the upgrade parts.
I don’t think the kit with the upgrade parts will be too difficult to build. Most the build time will be use cleaning up the styrene parts. It will be interesting to see how the “hard” styrene bonds using Tenax and/or Testors liquid cement. I think a quick trip over the surface of the styrene with some fine sandpaper and a coat of Alclad II gray primer and Microfiller will take care of the pitting issue.
This is a picture of the aircraft I intend to build for Mad Komet Day including a base and scratch built stand, will see if I can pull it off in 24 hours.
Cool, Dan, real cool! Can’t wait to see how you fare!
I would like to jump in on this too. I was going to wait to see how Mad Allied Day went before committing to another MAD build but what the heck. The anticipation is enough alone to get me hooked.
Question though, I already have a komet so I want to do something different. Is there any difference between the komet and the shusui? (other than National insignia thank you). Otherwise a 263 would be cool if I can find one.
i spent a few moments this morning looking at the instructions
4 the academy kit & checking out the parts on the sprues. also
found a back issue of FSM w/ an article on detailing an Me163…
will i b cheating if i build the tractor in advance ?
frosty[:)]
A very brief history of the development of the Mitsubishi J8M1 Shusui, AKA Sword Stroke, Swinging Sword or fresh water in autumn depending on which translation you look at.
Japan was to receive a Me. 163 Komet and blueprint from Germany to help Japan build a rocket powered aircraft to combat the American B-29’s. The sub carrying the aircraft and blueprints was sunk on it’s way to Japan. Using only the instruction manual Japan was able to build a hand full of J8A1 Shusui before the end of the war. So while very similar there is some differences between the two aircraft.
Razor, welcome aboard! I think Dan covered pretty much the basics. The Shusui was developped from the ‘general look’ of the Komet, with local influences. Externally, the canopy looks very different, but there are many little other differences that make the two rather different and difficult to convert from one to the other! Hence the separate kits for the two aircraft… The Me-263 would be rather different. It’s the final development of the family, in a way (although MiG developped another prototype out of the Komet family too).
Frosty, the tractor is an add-on, and as it’s not a feature in all Komet kits, I’d think we can consider as a kit on its own, to be built whenever you feel like it!
Ok DJ sign me up … I am going to have to get a diary for all these GBs !!!
I will be building a ME 163S from Pavla
Great news, Jeff! Great news! You’re in!
Hey guys, guess what I found at the local LHS today! Woohoo! Thought I’d have a hard time finding this on the net, never dreamed of finding it in the store. I’m sooo excited… wait a minute, how long do I have to wait to build it? Aauuugh[banghead]!
I don’t want to insult anyone, the MKD badge is great but as someone who does a fair amount of Graphics work… the diamond pattern background on the badge that is a result of scanning publications is one of my biggest pet peaves. May I suggest changing the background to something like this?
If you’re happy with it the way it is I understand and will seek pshyciatric help for my problem.
Dave
Dave, very nice find on the kit Dave and the badge looks good too. I like the little touch of color.
Thanks for adding me to the list dj. I just picked up the Acadmey kit, wow what a little gem. \The only problem is holding off until build day.
worgoose
Dave, great idea! This was my second ever badge!! I’m no PC expert, far fro it. Your mods makes it way more interesting. Thanks. Worgoose, glad you got your kit. Razor, great find! Now use the Force to resist the temptation!
Sorry guys, Sorry Djmodels, sorry to everyone else whose participating. I have no time for this 1 day excursion, even at the rate I build at. I don’t have a komet kit, I haven’t started on the scratch, and I haven’t built models in almost 3 weeks. Once again, Sorry.