I built up this kit a bit sooner that I had originally expected to be honest. It was one of the semi-regular Lidl batch of reduced price starter kits and looked like a lovely airplane (and it is to be fair). Once bought I did the usual wee search on the 'net to check peoples builds and opinions of it. Fair to say there was quite a bit of teeth gnashing going on.!
The kit was tooled way back in 1958, so very much a heritage design. Along with concerns about mould quality, etc I decided to build the model now whilst all relative expectations were in place and not experience any shortcomings with surprise at a much later date,
Probably a good move as various "quality of life" design features that are always there in modern kits were obviously not thought about way back then, like anchor pegs to help align the fuselage, properly tested undercarriage flying position options as well as some general areas where the plastic thickness/presence left the fit a challenge.
But with filler, an "oh-well" sigh and some patience I managed without going to red in the face (so no JU-88-esque rant today). The biggest patch up job was that the undercarriage covers were miles too small to cover the opening, so I just used plasticard and filler to cover the entire section - no wheels present which I decided was preferable in flight to having the wheels down. The canopy painting bands had to freehand guesstimated as well as there were no etchings to follow. And, as I expected after my Hunting Percival Jet Provost T.4 build, trying to get a nice bright red by brush was a many coat process before calling it quits.
Still, it's a nice looking plane now all done, and if the JU-88 has taught me anything, all shortcomings disappear once on the ceiling!
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