XF5U-1 Flying Flapjack

[draken35]

As said otherwhere, I've stopped all my current builds "in progress" to begin (soon) a project that will need for long time.
More than that: those last times I had no time for our hobby: professional work, theatre and the bad health of my mother were time consuming...

Anyway, I wish to build a conventional kit in parallel with my project. I've chosen the 1/48 Flying Flapjack from Kittyhawk - I will build a what-if.

First photos: kit parts

[No.1]

Wonderful!!!

[draken35]

Very special aircraft indeed...

[Second Air Force]

We'll enjoy your build!

Too bad the U.S. scrapped the prototype without at least flying it since it was essentially ready for flight......

[draken35]

Well, to be honnest first works on that kit are a little bit disappointing...

First problem: even after having been washed with liquid soap, the parts are very "oily", that's not easy to manipulate such parts...
Second problem: the plastic is hard and breaks easily! The first part I removed from sprue broke into three elements! (photo 10)

The way the parts are fixed is also a problem:
Firstly, plastic being breakable, gaps can be created (see photos 11 & 12)
Secondly, the fixation plots cover surfaces that will receive glue later in the process (see photos 13 & 14); and as can be seen on photo 14, sometimes there are very close to elements that can be damaged in the process of removing the parts from the sprue!

There is also flash on some parts... Not big quantities, but really misplaced! (photos 15 "before" and 16 "after"; photo 17)

The clear parts are very transparent but there is also some problem:
The numerotation of the parts is different on the sprue compared to the instruction sheet;
There is a part that will have to be placed between the windshield and the rear of the canopy (photo 18). It's not indicated on the instruction sheet; there is just a drawing of the ensenble windshield/medium part (photo 19);
That medium part is not long enough and there will be an empty space between the windshield and the canopy! (photo 20)

Photo 21 shows the actual state of the build.

...Actually, really, I'm not happy...

[modellius]

Looks like you will have a lots of extra work and hi level of concentrating, keep up the good work

[draken35]

Still busy with this one...

It's important to take time and to be careful with the way to build the kit.
I've prepaired the cockpit parts (photo 22); the exhausts (23), the wheel traps (24 & 25); the elements that take place behind the pilot seat (26); the front wheels (27); the rear wheel and leg (28) - to be noted that the leg is constituted of 5 parts!; and the wheel bays (29 & 30).

It remains still some work before to begin the painting of the elements.

To be noted that, finally, there will be no problem of junction with the canopy: the medium element will take place into the windshield...

[No.1]

Not so much parts

[Second Air Force]

Good preparation on these elements!

[draken35]

Thank you!
...And there are other parts not removed from sprue actually...