Some big mistakes I did while building this kit:
- Scribed the panel lines too deep, and without a proper ruler (freehand)
- My first attempt painting with lacquer paints left a lot of webby residue – I didn’t thin the paint properly
- I didn’t spray a layer of clear lacquer before using the ProModeller weathering wash
- I didn’t seal exposed seam lines properly, especially near the cockpit and on the fuselage / fuel tanks
Well, since my Harrier II kit from Hasegawa contained two Harrier kits, I guess I’ll have a second chance at building this.
About the same time I completed my P-51D Mustang, I also “completed” my F9F-8 Cougar. This was another “practise” model kit so I’m pretty ok with the results. Although the model is off balance and the nose always gets lifted up, it was a real learning experience doing this kit. It’s wasn’t the highest quality kit, but i had a good time.
Some of the mistakes I made with this model:
- Bad color mixing meant that many parts of the model were of a different tone that the other parts
- Again, the canopy is fogged up, probably due the wrong type of glue
- The yellow markings are all decals, and I broke many of them trying to fit the contours of the plane
- I forgot to put a ballast in the nose, so the balance is way off
What I like about Hasegawa models kits though is the decals. They are really easy to use and not so easy to break, as compared to decals by Tamiya or Italeri.
