This is my latest
and last creation for this year. Hobby Boss labels it an "easy
kit" but aside from a single piece wing and a spartan cockpit,
there really isn't anything that would set this kit aside from any other plastic
injection model kit. The main parts are packed in a sort of a tray with a
conventional sprue tree hidden beneath. There are more parts altogether
than in a typical Hasegawa kit of similar size. One gets a choice of 2 different
types of drop tanks and decals for a single Chinese or a Soviet airplane. Also
it's really cheap. I bought this one for less than 6 Euros from a local
dealer. With this price and ease of assembly one could build himself a squadron
of these planes, including UTI twoseaters which share the same parts with this
kit.
A modeler who
builds this kit will need skill and patience as there are some glitches and fit
issues; namely the wing to fuselage fit and fuselage halves. Those areas needed
puttying. Also there are problems with the canopy which lacks defined frame
lines on the windshield area. Therefore I painted those freehand!
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images below to see larger images
As I really
hate boring bare metal and am really fed up with Korean war MiGs I decided
to make something unique. A Czechoslowak AF acrobat from 1950s. I
scrounged some decals from my friend and went to work. Weathering was kept
modest as this plane was probably well cared for.
Also let me use this
opportunity to point out how great this site really is. It doesn't just allow you
to admire the work of other modelers and display yours, but can also help building
friendships and bring together people who in normal circumstances would
never had met.
It was through this
site that I, a modeler from Slovenia, got to know a modeler from Mexico,
Fernando I. Moreno Villa. We kept in touch via e-mail and began exchanging
knowledge and tips. It was nice but it was also just virtual. However, this
autumn (while he and his wife were honeymooning in Europe) we arranged a
meeting in person in one of Europe's prettiest jewels; Venezzia.
It was a story worth of Ian Fleming but since Fernando will be posting his stuff
here pretty soon, I'll let him to finish the story:-)
Thank you Steve
Bamford!
Josip
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images below to see larger images
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