SPA Modeler

Fuselage is assembled. Now It's putty time. Used Apoxie sculpt for the more problematic areas.













This probably wont be enough weight... Fortunately there is plenty more room around the nose gear well.

That front fuselage and intake join is where this kit kills me. It's WAY too much work to do.

Yea it's a pain, but it's a lot more manageable if you separate the intake part from the molded in fuselage section and attach/fill/sand the fuselage section before you install the intake.

I finally got the turkey's beak attached

Before that though, I took additional measures to prevent building a tail sitter (Mr Michaels and the AMS Shop would be happy with that, but that's a different story).

Not sure of having enough weight in the radome, I took advantage of the large unused space between the radome and nose wheel well forward bulkhead (about 20mm in fact). I did this buy designing what I have dubbed the "bb box". This box slides into the forward fuselage after being filled with bb's and 5 minute epoxy. This should put my weight and balance worries to bed.

The radome fits pretty well if care is taken to remove any plastic that should not be there but still needs help from an Infini 220 grit soft sanding stick.

When this project starts wearing me down, I watch this tribute video and I am ready to go again... It's just a shame HD video was not invented a few decades earlier...
https://youtu.be/dh96WoT9Eqk?si=0RWMAYLSk8bAiRx5&t=5

That's a clever idea with the BB box, Chris! This bird is really taking shape now. You are handling all those problem areas with aplomb. I've had this kit forever (well, since the late '80s!) and have "played" with it several times. Each time I would test fit the major assemblies and give a lil' shudder. You the man on this one!

Thank you Gary. I would by lying if I said this kit was not a pain in the donkey, but when it was both one of your first models and of your favorite Jet, you're kind of stuck with it. Here is a double whammy: I also built the MPC (Airfix) 1/72 F-14A back in the day (used to run around the yard with it fighting bad guys) so I have a few of those in the stash as well. Still love the box art on that MPC kit!

Your kitty is coming along nicely, and looking better and better with each update

Thank you my friend.

Stikpusher wrote: ↑Thu Jan 30, 2025 8:14 pm Your kitty is coming along nicely, and looking better and better with each update

I think he wants to pet your kitty.