[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.