Spent last night getting acquainted with the Monogram kit and re-remembering all the reasons I would put it back on the shelf for the past 20 years. Demons exorcised, this bird is ready to be built! Parts removed from sprues, test fittings commenced and no fear in my heart!!!
;)
First a little stock taking and some key problems addressed right off the bat.
1. Kit was missing rear canopy (Monogram packed the box with _2_ windscreens). I now have 2 sets of vacuum formed canopies!
2. Kit is, uncharacteristically for Monogram, heavily covered in mold release oils. Parts are cleaned and I'm undeterred by the mold swirls throughout the kit.
3. Upon opening box I discovered that the leading edge of starboard wing had a half inch crack through it as well as numerous sink marks on the fuse. (Ambroid and Mr. Surfacer to the rescue!) Problem solved.
4. Raised panel lines. Like most folks I've avoided my older kits with raised panel lines out of a reflexive urge to dismiss them as inferior and intimidated by the thought of rescribing something this big, however...
... after re-reading the splendid "Reading the Seams" article on this site and studying dozens of A-26 photos, I am undaunted. Hoping to use an airbrush technique I've been practicing to exploit the raised panels to my advantage.
Oi!
Cracked wing? No problem. (taking extra pains to mask off around areas being sanded to protect raised panel lines as much as possible.)
Just gotta love vintage Monogram. Here's a little reminder that Mattel owned Monogram for quite a while. On the upside, the fit is surprisingly good and much of the kit is well engineered.
This bird is gonna fly!
Geronimo!!!
Fred
oh the site can be a bit hard to navigate, click the order button and that will take you to the complete list with most decal sheets being available in both 1/72 and 1/48 with a few also in 1/32.
