Mitsubishi F-1 50th Anniversary [P.Model]

[theOshkoshModeler]

Hello all!

While waiting on my order from Orlik to arrive (curse international shipping...) I decided to start tackling a recently purchased kit from P.Model.
The kit depicts a Mitsubishi F-1 of the 3rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, JASDF (reg. 00-8235) colored in a special semi-centennial livery:

The F-1 in standard service camouflage and AA missiles is sold seperately.

The 1:50 scale kit is great quality despite being designed using 20-year-old computer software (as is the case with most P.Model kits).
The kit comes as a 13 page PDF with the following:
-6 pages of instructions to be printed in color
-6 pages of parts
-1 extra page with optional recessed tabs and spare wheel parts

The kit can be assembled in several different configurations:
-Opaque (no cockpit) or transparent (visible cockpit) canopy
-In-flight (gears up) or landed (gears down)
-Open/closed airbrakes behind the main gear (as shown in the above photo)

I will be assembling this kit (have I said kit enough yet?) at the original scale before sizing it up to 1:33 to build and hang from my ceiling.
I think I'll go with landing configuration, open airbrakes (would the airbrakes have been open during landing approach?) and transparent canopy.

[rmks2000]

I'll be following this thread closely as I have printed this one several years ago but never got around to building it. I have quite a few P Model kits but yet to build one.

[theOshkoshModeler]

Originally Posted by rmks2000

I'll be following this thread closely as I have printed this one several years ago but never got around to building it. I have quite a few P Model kits but yet to build one.

Thanks for joining me on this one Bob!

My shipment is at least 20 days out by sea (Poczta Polska Ekonomiczna loves to make Americans wait for their stuff) so I'll be working on the F-1 for a while.
Expect some initial progress soon.

[theOshkoshModeler]

The instructions suggest to start with assembling the canopy but I thought it best to begin with the nose cone.
Using the gray(inches) side of my A3 cutting board to help the black stand out, parts A1-A3 with their respective (optional) recessed tabs on the last page are cut, shaped, and glued to form the nose cone (along with a small nut for a ~2g counterweight).

[ANDREA673JW]

I love this.I think PM kit are a bit difficult for me. You chose a beautiful color scheme.

[theOshkoshModeler]

Originally Posted by ANDREA673JW

I love this.I think PM kit are a bit difficult for me. You chose a beautiful color scheme.

Thanks! I personally think the shade of deep blue my Epson ET-2850 prints makes it look even better than as shown in the product photo.

Some more progress this afternoon; the next segments of the forward fuselage features the addition of the port side opening for the JM61A1 Vulcan cannon.
Parts A14-A18 create the next two fuselage segments; the two segments cut out on parts A17 and A18 are where the nose gear well will be mounted later. Parts A27-A29 create the opening for the Vulcan barrel.

I had difficulty with the opening, it came out really rough (although not that noticeable until zoomed in) and is going to need some retouching later.

The glue tabs aren't really necessary (in hindsight) since the parts they're attached to do not need them at all and the resulting parts end up four layers thick.
Note to myself to omit the tabs for the Vulcan opening on the 1:33 build.