I'll see what I can do!
The first step for me is pull apart everything and scrape any locating lugs so that the components are no longer a snap fit. I find this reduces the risk of snapping or distorting pieces during test fitting and detailing. Once that's done I give the whole thing a sand with wet 1200 grit paper and lots of detergent. The aim is not so much to remove the paint, but to reduce the panel lines. I also take a file to the overscale fabric effect that F-Toys is so wedded to. I don't know what it is about that. Its like perfect opposite of the guy that used to do the panel lines for Matchbox. We really need to get those two crazy kids together!
So anyway, quite a bit of sanding. Keeping an eye on the depth of the panel lines as I go. Mostly I want them to be uniform. The final depth I'll try to control as I do the priming later.
The cowling need a bit of work. The cowl flaps and panel lines are unrealistically deep and would look better if rescribed. The width and depth of the cowling is just a tiny bit small too and looks slightly awkward when fitted into place, so some Tamiya white was spread on and sanded to shape. I started scraping and sanding all the struts to a third of their thickness too. The wing struts are slightly see-through when they get down to the correct size.
Using dental burrs I thinned down the cockpit opening and interior walls. These look a bit too thick straight out of the box.
Then while I was on the balcony squirting a couple of other projects with matt varnish and priming the Chaika as well, I gave the first a quick coat of grey for a first look.
Still lots to do, but its looking more like a normal kit now.
