XF5F-1, “roll-out day”

Started by Kyle Koppos · 18 ≡ · ↻ 1 year ago
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    Kyle Koppos said 1 year, 7 months ago:

    I chose to finish my shelf queen Minicraft Grumman XF5F-1. Out of box the kit is a hodgepodge of initial and modified version of the short-nosed “Skyrocket,” and if one wants to make an accurate model of the first version adjustments need to be made.

    This is already started, so this is where I am at. I have also found all the aftermarket besides Lone Star I could.

    2 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    Kyle Koppos said 1 year, 7 months ago:

    First, initial version had different gear doors than the OOB. Later short nosed modified to have single forward opening gear door and smaller side opening doors to cover wheel.

    This needs to be changed, but there are no photos of gear bay. This is my best educated guesswork, so take it with salt. Kit doors were glued to pods and then new ones cut out. Over wheels were open to air— no smaller gear doors at first

    4 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    Kyle Koppos said 1 year, 7 months ago:

    I chose to do initial version, because Minicraft modeled this kit to have “single” exhaust on nacelle side while later short-nosed had “ejector” exhausts, and this seemed more annoying to fix. Now… i am unsure. Alas.

    More details need to be changed. No guns, fill holes. Props weird, shave off “extra” cuffs. Engines suck, weird short pushrods— replaced with Metallic Details aftermarket. Time consuming to build two (days) but worth it.

    3 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    John vd Biggelaar said 1 year, 7 months ago:

    Great entry and an amazing start, Kyle @kopperhed
    Never saw this aircraft before, very unusual and interesting as well.
    Work on the engines is amazing, great details.

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    Kyle Koppos said 1 year, 7 months ago:

    Eduard PE set mostly corrects inaccuracies in cockpit, but “fixes” others that didn’t need to be. Fortunately there are cockpit photos so this makes it easy. Added rear cockpit details with styrene.

    Eduard instrument panel fixes all the details wrong with kit IP, very nice.

    7 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    Andrew H said 1 year, 7 months ago:

    Great work so far Kyle! What this kit lacked in detail and accuracy it generally made up for in fit. I still recall how well the wing halves went together. Looking forward to see what comes of this in your hands.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 1 year, 7 months ago:

    Superb job so far, my friend @kopperhed! Did not know the kit having so many inaccuracies.
    Looking forward to this amazing build!

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    John vd Biggelaar said 1 year, 7 months ago:

    Really nice work on the cockpit, Kyle @kopperhed
    A big improvement covering all the inaccuracies

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    Kyle Koppos said 1 year, 7 months ago:

    Engines painted, seatbelts added, and brakelines done.

    3 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    Eric Berg said 1 year, 7 months ago:

    Terrific. You are going all out on this kit and bringing it up to snuff several notches. I like those engines. Looking good, Kyle @kopperhed

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    George R Blair Jr said 1 year, 7 months ago:

    This should look great when you are done, Kyle (@kopperhed). I always thought this was a really elegant-looking plane. I built this model several years ago in the markings of the Blackhawks from DC Comics. It was a fun build. Looking forward to your build.

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    Kyle Koppos said 1 year, 7 months ago:

    Thanks for the words of encouragement.

    “Roll out” Xf5F had these small vents on the lower cowling. I find scratch building vents infuriating, so i just scribed them in a “closed” position.

    2 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 1 year, 7 months ago:

    Great approach, my friend @kopperhed!
    All looking superb!

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    John vd Biggelaar said 1 year, 7 months ago:

    Nice progressing, Kyle @kopperhed

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    Kyle Koppos said 1 year, 7 months ago:

    The design of this kit, not just the aircraft itself, allows for some truly strange sub-assemblies and even more surreal painting and making methods.

    Any kit could have designed the engine nacelles as part of the wings, but Minicraft did not. One could just as easily completely finish the wings before they ever touch any other part of the kit. Certainly unique.

    7 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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