1/72 Hasegawa Tracker

[ToddS]

Never having built an Hasegawa kit I wasn't sure what to expect! Ok, the directions are more or less straight fwd, except for being in a language I cant read, and the kit parts are well identified.
I made some good progress this weekend. I have to say that I am a bit surprised by the fit of some of the parts! As the photos show the fuse. half's fit horribly! Nice fit in the back with a "gap" in the front. Took some doing but think it will be all good with a little filler or thick CA. The wing half's fit nicely and the wing assy. to fuse. joint is going to be great.. Looking forward to getting it ready for primer.









Thanks for looking and all comments welcome

[ToddS]

Ok Guys, my bad.....
Cleaned up photobucket and moved photos from the post. Here they are again.. Sorry

[Hillbilly]

Great start Boy,you are right that is a nasty seam line I would like to see how you tackle it.

[ToddS]

Hey Steve, Thanks

Workin on that today!! Filled it with Perfect Plastic Putty last night.. Got most of it taken care of except along the top where the resin part is "supposed" to fit. That is going to take some time. Decided to attach the wing! That will give me a little more outline and area to work with. Most of the fit of the wing is great except for one corner, which I will tackle at the same time as the top seam. I will have pics to post later.
Have to admit, this is turning into a learning project and the result may not be what I had hoped for, BUT, it is the journey and learning that matter and learn I shall

[Les]

That does look like a pretty big gap on the fuselage; but from what I can tell the rest of parts do seem to fit nicely. I look forward to seeing your fix on that; seams are something I am still learning to tackle.

[ToddS]

Work progressing on the Tracker.. The seam filling is going ok except for the to fwd top portion. For the most of it, sand it down, prime, and add Mr. Surfacer if/where needed.. The wing fit is almost all good but for the one corner. Will fix that at the same time as the top seam work continues.

Wing joint that will be worked into the fwd seam fill.

Just another look at the only bad fit point of the wing. Yes, could push it shut but that then created problems on the back side. Checked for square and level and all looked right! Got me.....

just some light sanding needed and ready to prime.

[ToddS]

quite a bit accomplished yesterday!! Gonna try for more today, gotta get stuff done first..




the instructions show to add weight in the nose. a 9MM FMJ fits perfectly in the space provided. went with 119 grains! Hoping its enough.....


wing to body seam about done, I hope. will no more when primed. Now on to the back side of the engine nacelles..


gonna try to maybe get the canopy on today!! all masked and ready..

[panzerman]

Got that Tracker looking good Brother. Seems like a lot of putty work for a Hasagawa kit.....The mold must be getting old. I like seeing the aircrew in the cockpit. ...cool.
Bill.

[ToddS]

Thanks Panzerman, I appreciate it.

I know its been a while for and update, so, here goes.

Last weekend I managed to mask and prime the areas that will be yellow and orange in white. Used Vallejo, the first bit of using it came out spitting. Turned up the air and thinned it a bit and that fixed the problem. When the primer had dried the model looked horid! The seam lines stuck out like my bum wrist. (more on that in a bit) Today, I spent the afternoon basically refilling the joint lines and getting it all sanded and shaped back. Gonna let the plastic putty dry good before masking and priming again. I will admit, learning lots from this kit. I need to try and finish this in the next couple weeks. Tore up my wrist a while back, read that as years, and it gets cut on the end of Feb. Will be in a cast 6-10 weeks. Anyway, thanks for looking and the comments.




All masked and ready to hit the booth for primer



Let the patch work begin









Getting there, re-scribing some lines and cutting back the primer and almost ready for re-masking




I had intended to paint in pieces then finish assemble the model. Test fit the stab halves and there was a gap. debated about just leaving it but no, gonna try and do it right. I will just mask off the stab and paint it later. The set on the dihedral came out right tho