Hi Andrew, thanks for the link. I promise I will read it despite it is long article 🙂

It is true that this build is a bit off my main focus, but it is really nice and interesting piece of engineering and it is still Navy topic.

I would like to post the picture, which is my reference to what I am building. I hope it will explain the situation. This is the only picture I was able to get. I cannot say the difference in engines section or equipment, but it shows the most accurate what is in the box. I must say - there is no other picture of the airplanes which is marked as scheme 4 in the box.

All pictures show something different. I think personally that kit developers overlooked some changes on the airplane and also the most famous one is not without an error.

I admit, it is difficult topic to track all these changes, I decided to build this - at least the picture is good quality 🙂

In case you have any other reference, they would be more than welcome.

1 attached image. Click to enlarge.

Sorry to hear you had the problems you did. This is why, when I review these Ukrainian kits, I keep stressing "test fit many times before gluing once and take your time and care when you commit to glue." As you discovered, the slightest ham-handedness with these kits sets off disasters that grow like a snowball rolling downhill. And I learned my mantra the hard way, as have you. When the kit is "high-end" in CAD design and "low end" in limited-run production, the opportunity for MID (Modeler-Induced Disaster) is high high high.

Martyn, you clearly master this linited run nature kit very well, pressing on with solutions for all the challenges.

Your cockpit just looks so very real, and the exhausts are bang-on what we see out in the real world. Can not wait to see your next steps - well done @naviatik!

this is looking sweet!

Looking great and very realistic, Martin!

Yeah! It looks like a big waste of space for just one-seat fighter 😀

Decaling done!
It was not that fun as I expected. Although decals are made in top notch printing quality and the film is almost perfect in term of thickness and transparency, decals did react poorly to solutions I used (Mr. Mark Softer or Hypersol - I achieved better results with Mr. Mark Softer).
In the end, I had to pierce each rivet anyway...
As next step, I am washing it and put some less glossy coat - still not sure how much glossy it should be as finish. I would prefer something little bit more than semi-gloss.
Any suggestion is welcome.

P.S.
When putting decals I noted bad position of top step in front of fuselage. It is too much forward and it is well visible when you check photo.

5 attached images. Click to enlarge.