XP-55 Ascender, Modelsvit Kit & XP-56 Black Bullet, Czech Model Kit.

Started by Walt · 63 · 1 year ago · Ascender, Black Bullet, Curtiss-Wright, Czech Model, Experimental. Northrop, modelsvit, XP-55, XP-56
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    Walt said 1 year, 9 months ago:

    Thanks Andrew, @pb_legend, I didn't think about internal canopy masking. Without the internal structure I would never have thought to use them that way. I have built a Mosquito kit and a Me-410 kit that had interal framework that you could paint. Thanks for letting me know though, I should have figured it out on my own sometimes I just get into a zone and don't think. That happened on my P-61 build with the landing gear.

    I am finding the decals in this kit to be exceptional, they just seem to react perfectly to the application process and snuggle down beautifully.

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    Tom Cleaver said 1 year, 9 months ago:

    This is looking great Walt @luftwaffe-birdman. It really is one of the nicest limited-run kits I have done.

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    Walt said 1 year, 9 months ago:

    I have been putting decals on over the past few days. The decals in this kit perform flawlessly and it is really amazing that the kit comes with a full set of stencils for the aircraft. I don't particularly like stencils but I also know they add to the overall finish and unlike modern jets, there really aren't that many...but still quite a few. They went on beautifully once all are on I will give it another clear coat so I can begin the wash.

    5 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 1 year, 9 months ago:

    Looking great, my friend @luftwaffe-birdman!

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    John vd Biggelaar said 1 year, 9 months ago:

    Those decals did indeed lay down very nice, following the panel lines perfectly, Walt @luftwaffe-birdman

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    George R Blair Jr said 1 year, 9 months ago:

    Decals look great, Walt @luftwaffe-birdman, and really add to the overall appearance of the plane. I always worry about adding the stencils. I seems like if something is going to silver underneath, it is the stencils. Yours went on well.

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    Walt said 1 year, 9 months ago:

    I clear coated the decals on the XP-55 and the XP-56 I worked on the exhaust which was represented only by tear drop shaped indentations in the side of the fuselage. I drilled them out and put in a piece of aluminum tubing to represent the exhaust. I am pretty happy with the results.

    4 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    John vd Biggelaar said 1 year, 9 months ago:

    Great addition, Walt @luftwaffe-birdman
    This looks much more realistic.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 1 year, 9 months ago:

    These exhausts look really wonderful, my friend @luftwaffe-birdman!

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    Walt said 1 year, 9 months ago:

    I didn't take any in progress pictures, but glued the fuselage together, with only minor issues. I cleaned up the seam lines and assembled the wings. There are ducts on the wing tips that I blocked off so that you can't see through them. The fit of the wings was pretty good, and only minimal cleanup was necessary with only a touch of putty on the duct of the starboard wing.

    The wings are butt joined to the fuselage, but using a file to level both surfaces the seam is pretty nice. The plastic in this kit reacts particularly well to Tamiya Extra Thin Cement. The wing joined nicely and secured well in just a few minutes. The shape of the wing isn't exactly the same as mating surface but I worked on getting the top surface matched up best. The minor discrepancies on the bottom won't be noticed by most.

    5 attached images. Click to enlarge.

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    Spiros Pendedekas said 1 year, 9 months ago:

    Great job, my friend @luftwaffe-birdman!

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    Andrew H said 1 year, 9 months ago:

    It's really coming together nicely Walt!

    In other related news, Modelsvit has announced a forthcoming XP-54, which might contribute well to your forthcoming display of unusual prototype aircraft.

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    Walt said 1 year, 9 months ago:

    Andrew, @pd_legend, thanks for that information. I really wanted to build one of those but was not going to invest in the Collect-Aire Kit even if I could find one. I will most definitely be looking at that when it comes out. I am amazed that the companies in the Ukraine are able to keep movine forward considering the instability and conflict in their country.

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    Andrew H said 1 year, 9 months ago:

    Walt, coincidently they also announced an XP-56, but that shouldnt stop you (as it wont stop me) from building/finishing the Czech kit. 🙂 they are likely a year or two in the future anyhow.

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    Eric Berg said 1 year, 9 months ago:

    @luftwaffe-birdman: Metal tubing for the Black Bullet exhausts makes a world of difference, doesn't it Walt? I really enjoy building Czech Model kits but that Modelsvit Ascender blows the former away. X-planes can be a lot of fun .