F5-D One Step Back, One Ahead

Since I have Drac drying, I turned my attention back to the F5-D once again. I took a look at the mask and ... NO! It never dried. It was like the tacky glue that holds on an address label to a magazine. If you're like me and *have* to peel those labels off, you know. ;)

So now I have to invent a Plan B. I decided Plan B would be that I remove the masking goop (naturally), but leave the *template* tape. I then took another piece of Tamiya tape, put it over the exposed glass and burnished it down. Then I cut around the newly placed tape and removed the original layer of tape -- 

A quick F5-D Update

Things are progressing slowly, but forward. I got the canopy on after really having a hard time cutting out the vac form piece. It seems that for whatever reason there was almost no edges to any of the detail on the canopy.

SS Ion Cannon Finished

Well, the Ion Cannon was so easy being only 4 parts that I'm done. I thought I had taken a pic of the first thing I did which was the cliff face. everything was painted in a light gray primer and then I used Citadels Nuln Oil, Agrax Earthshade and Reikland Flesh washes and covered the cliff. I then put a little extra Nuln Oil into the deepest recesses. 

F5D Moving Forward

This time around I started working on putting some weights in the front of the plane. Not knowing if this is a tail sitter or not, I played it safe. Here's a few 1/4-20 nuts glued in with PVA glue - - 

While I was waiting I turned my attention to the smaller parts. Ooh boy did they need clean up work. The stick was almost indistinguishable from the parts runners. Thankfully after watching a few miniature painting videos, I "learned" that you can prime with a brush. To me this is A LOT easier than setting up the parts for an airbrush or rattle can for small parts - 

As last thing for tonight,  I did the seams along the wing roots, and the jet intakes. I had recently bought some Tamiya putty after not having a great time with the Vallejo Plastic Putty. I decided to give them both a test. On top of the plane I used the Tamiya Putty, and underneath I used the Vallejo Putty.  My feeling now is the Vallejo is the way to go for very thin seam lines. As you see on the right the Vallejo cleaned up right away with good results. I'll have to wait for the Tamiya Putty to dry and then start sanding tomorrow.

Looks like after I get these seams cleaned up I'll be able to close up the fuselage, install the seat and stick and then work on some of the other parts like reinforce wheel and tail hook. Thanks for looking.