When I came across this kit last year, I was a little bit more than excited as there aren't many offering of the F86s in 32nd scale in the market and I was looking forward to doing one finally.
The first thing that hit me when I started the kit was looking for the parts that do not exists.Then I realised that Glenn could have either change the instructions immediately or to retool the label on the corner of the tree. The E and G were swopped over. But this stingy fellow can not only take criticism but attacked people who meant good on social media. Something of a regret I have about social media these days that everyone is trying to take the shortest route out to come up on top of each other for no prizes in the due courses ends. Everyone raves about this kit without even trying to build one. Wow this wow that. That is not even a review. A review is when you take time, like Florymodels and the IPMS USA guys, to build one and fine out whats going on inside the wow looks.
First IRKING point, ejection pins that is D shaped allowing overflowing plastics to ooze into after filling up the molds. This is a cop out method using low pressure single sscrew extruders and soft plastics with little or no silica in the resin. So, when I came across this type of thing, I know deep shit AKA Trumpy Tomcat or Su27 is coming again! Down memory lane again, but with Freddie the Nightmare on Elm Street! The problem of small time brains using cheap machines with cheap mild steel molds to make their kits. Obsessed with making money instead of building a brand and then make money, aka, HK brainchild with no pride in their work. Slam Bang, no thank you ma'am.....and left no pay nor tips behind type of attitude towards doing business.
The shit continues everywhere.
It hurts most when its on parts that you can visibly see. I mean, if you want to be a thief, at least try to do it so that your criminal activities are at least faintly disguised, right? to do it on the intake ducts is a no brainer. It could have been machined on reverse and leave the pin columns, excuse me, not just pin holes, on the reverse side to be hidden from view. This type of Superman Wearing Underwear on the Outside syndrome should not be even happening in this day and age of EDM mold making technology. What hurts you even more is that for SGD$179.90, I am paying for $4.00 of materials and box for this kind of crap. Its like buying an iPhone for crying out loud. Pay US$599 for something they made for like peanuts level $23 bucks is a crime. Ok,ok, I am exaggerating. Trying my best not to hyper ventilate. The Taiwanese club Military Modelling Techniques Research and Resource Centre renamed it Shittyhawk, its there for a reason, unfortunately, I should have prior notice earlier.
Making the best of the worst. I shaded the cushions in black, brown, red, then highlighted it in orange to show depth. Then the brass belts were added and shaded as well. Then I made the floorboard a little dirty just to make it a little busy,
Then I struggle for about 4 hours till 3am trying to get the two halves to fit. Ee reminded me if I chickened out using Evergreen strips I am postponing my troubles till later when I put in the canopy.....sure. Sobering thought!
I do not understand why do we have to have 9 parts to make up a wheel well? Then I guessed its for economic reasons. So that the tool base can be less than 4 inches and is a lot more cheaper to make flat panels than to buy an extra inch of steel to make a box AKA Tamiya style. After cutting the wing apart, I manage to put the wings in, but there is a hole in the wells for the side panels of the fuselage to slot into. But the wing root doe not match. The Taiwanese were right, its SHITTYHAWK.
The very best out of a bad situation.
With the halves together I realised why the tub has a gaping hole in the middle, they were tyring to save parts design and engineering by allowing the external walls of the intake duct to form the centre portion of the gun bay well. And making something like 50 parts of the engine is great for the kit. But the model cannot be assembled with the engine outside on display because it was designed as a structural part of the model. This is a real BRAIN IN THE DRAIN BRAINDRAIN.
Top halves joint is shitty at best.
This is the great Kamali, so to speak. 1.5mm gaping hold is something I cannot take it lying or sitting down! Not in today's world of CAD CAM. Who engineered this? Fred Flintstone?
Having 8 parts joining together does not make sense. Nothing fits.
Guns protruding out of the gun bay. But the other one, cannot be located as it was short molded.
A better picture to show the missing gun in front and also the great fitting SABREDOG. Its a sabre that will cut you and hurt you, making you shag like a dog while you try to make it on your own on this kit. That's in the label F86K - K for Killer, SABREDOG - cantonese, I chop you to piece, you dog.....斩到你一段段，你呢只狗。SHITTY HAWK.