A Brief Zero Update With Some Emotions Mixed In

Finally a Zero update! I may have mentioned this before, but this kit has a mix of raised and recessed panel lines. I'm pretty sure I have stated my disdain for raised panel lines. Of course, the raised panel lines wrap around the leading edge of the wings. Ergo, when the seam line is cleaned up, so is the panel line. I took quite a bit of time sanding down and re-scribing panel lines on the leading edges. I'm not too thrilled with how some of it came out, but at some point, I just needed to move on.

Remember a few posts back when the cockpit was glued into place? It was, momentarily. After the wings were glued in place, the cockpit broke free and decided to float around. I was able to glue it back in place thru the nose, but it wasn't where it should have been. After a day or so, I started messing around and it came loose again! This time I got it where it needed to be and I hit it with lots of cement. It hasn't moved since.

There was a pretty good sized gap that needed to be filled.

The wing roots needed some filling and sanding as well.

I tried using the Sharpie technique to look for seams. It worked okay. For the next kit I will try spraying flat black on the seams to check them.

I decided to add the external fuel tank. I think I should have glued it after painting. It's too late now. On the other hand, there was a bit of a gap between the tank and wing that needed some attention.

Masking the canopy took a bit of effort. There were a few panels! After I put tape on, I activated my phone's LED and shone it thru the canopy so I could see the panels lines. It worked fairly well, I was nearly blind at the end, but the canopy was masked.

I used Silly Putty to tack the landing gear doors in place. I won't be using these doors, but it was easier than masking off the wells.

Closed up.

Some Tamiya tape and Silly Putty to close off the cockpit.

The landing gear doors I will be using.

Everything is ready to prime with Alclad II's lacquer based black primer and microfiller.

There really isn't much to see here. As it is a black primer you can't really tell much in the photos. I wasn't getting great coverage as the Sharpie and the metallic blue overspray could still be seen. Near the wing root and side of the fuselage, the coating was just powdery looking and wasn't a nice flat finish. After speaking with Mr. D at the monthly modelling club, the primer was probably drying before reaching the surface as well as a vortex of circulating primer/air flow exacerbating the problem. I also noticed a seam line that I scribed on the side of the fuselage that is not close to straight. I'll probably have to fill it, sand it and re-scribe a new line. It was starting to get a bit frustrating at this point.

And then, the sadness.

Since Alclad II is lacquer based, I was putting it though my freebie airbrush (Fengda). I was having some trouble with the needle sticking. In the past, I just needed to give the needle a little extra push to get it through. I gave it way too much extra.

The needle for the Fengda is completely hosed. I can't find a needle specific for the airbrush, even on eBay. I'll be buying a $50-$80 airbrush to handle the lacquers in the future. I have at least three other aircraft I want to do at the moment that don't require lacquers and also a special armor tribute build in mind...and a couple of water related dioramas. The Zero is going to be shelved for the time being.