ccoyle

I don't even like touching up pre-cut gunports, so I can't imagine having to cut out an entire three-decker's worth. 😬

The Big Reveal! Well, just like that, she's done. A bunch of little details rounded out the construction: tail wheel (complex and over-engineered), arresting hook (which I chose to display stowed, since the plane is not landing on a carrier, obviously, but which makes the hook pretty much invisible on the finished model), propeller, radio mast and aerial, and pitot tube. The kit includes parts for a drop tank, but I prefer to display my models configured 'clean', and the tank includes two petal structures (yuck!). The propeller was a bit of a headache, consisting of a separate hub and three blades. The hub, which is actually an A6M2 hub and not an A6M5 version (hopefully no one will notice the slight difference in shape), was not drilled for a shaft. I did not have any wire or rod that fit snugly in the pre-drilled engine, so I had to glue a piece of wire rod into the hub and then wrap it with some paper and CA to get the proper diameter. The three holes in the hub for the blades were also not all the same depth, so I had to cut down the shafts on two of the blades. Here are the completed pics -- hope you enjoy!

After a break of a few days, it was back to work on the main gear. Here's a shot to give you an idea of just how much work that entailed: Not surprisingly, the work required several sessions, but it's now done.

Another very realistic-looking masterpiece, Greg!

Filling and sanding works wonders!

Hi, Derek. That sort of introduction strongly suggests that your model is an example of a mass-produced decor model. For more information, click here. Cheers!

A charming result and imaginative display!

I built Corel's Flying Fish. The list of problems with that kit could fill several large volumes. 😑

Welcome aboard!

Handsomely done!

Good luck on your project!

Started working on the struts -- fourteen pieces each so far.

Nice!

Slick!

Looks great as-is, but I'm sure you'd make it look great with rigging, too.

Well, good! Because these Halinski kits can make a modeler go insane!

Very nice, Clare!

Tracks are definitely the "bogie"-man of armored models!

Thank you! Pre-molded canopies are certainly convenient, but I don't think I've ever had one yet that didn't pose its own unique challenges, and this one was no different, so I'm happy with this result. Next it was on to the ailerons, and naturally with this being a Halinski kit, each one had to consist of no less than thirteen separate parts. 😑 In the end, though, I was completely dissatisfied with how the control horns turned out, so I ended up replacing them with much simplified scratch components, which knocked the parts count down to only twelve per side. As seems to be my habit, I also ended up with the gap between the wing and aileron being much more noticeable on one side than the other, which you can't really see from this angle. What can I say? And lastly for this session, I also added the brass 20 mm cannon barrels and their shrouds. I believe the landing gear are next if I follow the numbered sequence.

Moin, Herbert! Welcome to MSW! Please note that our site guidelines require posts to be made in English (I can read German, but not all of our members are so blessed!). Good luck on your project! This looks like the Amati 1/35 scale kit?

Canopy is on.

Hi, Dan, and welcome to MSW! Some observations (and you're probably not going to like the first one): "Established kit" is a very generous description of any Mini Mamoli product. I think most of our members would agree with me when I suggest that these are terrible beginner kits -- poor materials, poor instructions, poor representations of the real-life subjects, and scales that are difficult to work in for wooden ship subjects. To be frank, I'd recommend setting this kit aside and starting over with something that is much more likely to result in success. You'd enjoy the hobby far more by going that route, IMO. I can't for the life of me imagine why the kit would have you attach shrouds to the inboard side of the bulwark. That doesn't mimic actual practice at all. A modeler is never obligated to rigidly follow instructions. Thinking the various tasks through in advance may suggest to you better ways to get a task completed. Modelers use a variety of tools to work in tight spaces, including various styles of tweezers (including some with curved tips), hemostats, and assorted rigging tools that can often be home-made on the cheap. Yes, attaching rigging to eyebolts before gluing the eyebolts in is one way of doing things, but it's a terrible way for doing shrouds -- because that method exists only in the minds of Mini Mamoli kit designers, not in actual practice. Anyways, just something to think about.

Fingers crossed!

Got the frames cut out and glued to the vacuformed canopy. Afterwards I noticed that there is a slight defect on the aft starboard side that didn't allow the lowest frame on that side to sit level. It remains to be seen how that will affect fitting the canopy to the fuselage later. I will let the glue fully cure before cutting the canopy free from its blank. Since I invested in an upgraded cockpit interior, I'm leaning toward displaying this model with the canopy open.

It looks to me like you don't have the stem seated all the way back. The contours of the stem and longitudinal profile should come together without a gap.