Hopeless Diamond

1
November 19, 2025
The kit arrived in a letter, so it got damaged in the way...
2
November 19, 2025
3
November 19, 2025
It is still fixable!
4
November 19, 2025
Super glue, thin cement and a heat gun to fix it.
5
November 19, 2025
The scale of the model might be a bit misleading. The left one is the Diamond seat, the right one Academy's 1/72 F-18C Hornet seat.
6
November 19, 2025
Luckily not many parts, so it progresses nicely.
7
November 19, 2025
Exhaust got some thin styrene sheets to hide the part gap.
8
November 19, 2025
Aluminium foil seatbelts.
9
November 19, 2025
Dry-fitting.
10
November 19, 2025
I think cockpit is ready.
11
November 19, 2025
12
November 26, 2025
Lots of sanding for getting the clear parts fit and still I managed to get big gaps.
13
November 26, 2025
Fixing gaps will be a lot of work...
14
November 27, 2025
15
November 30, 2025
Gaps fixed in canopy
16
November 30, 2025
I wanted to try tint the canopy. First time trying it and it didn't went perfectly.
17
November 30, 2025
Cockpit in place. Added black styrene strips to block the gaps.
18
November 30, 2025
Fuselage halves now joined!
19
November 30, 2025
Added panel lines to the underside to highlight the control surfaces.
20
November 30, 2025
Front antennas added.
21
December 1, 2025
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December 2, 2025
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December 2, 2025
Painting done
24
December 2, 2025
Decals in place.
25
December 3, 2025
Weathering ongoing. I'm trying basic watercolors for the panel lines.
26
December 4, 2025
Landing gear in place
27
December 5, 2025
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December 5, 2025
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Size comparison
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December 5, 2025
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December 5, 2025

Comments

29 19 November, 21:23

Robert Podkoński
Keep up the good job, S M!

1 20 November, 06:44

S M Author
Thanks, Podkon! 😄

20 November, 17:41

KyMustang
Looking good. Great fix on the shipping damage.

26 November, 01:17

S M Author
Thanks, KyMustang!

26 November, 20:11

Robert Podkoński
I can see you have the same issues with transparent windscreen...

1 26 November, 20:26

Skyhiker
Following

27 November, 00:01

S M Author
Yes Podkon I also had difficulties with the windscreen. I guess it looked nice in the designer's CAD-model, but not so well when injection-molded. I'm trying to avoid sanding windscreens so that i wouldn't nee to sand rest of the frames away and try polishing it.

2 27 November, 22:51

Robert Podkoński
I will keep my fingers crossed, S M!

1 28 November, 06:50

S M Author
The model is now ready!

5 December, 18:12

Robert Podkoński
Congrats, S M! Great job! (I managed to fog the windscreen from the inside... but I will leave it as it is 😉 )

1 5 December, 18:13

S M Author
Thanks Podkon! My windscreen isn't perfect either because my tinting paint is uneven. It's like the pilot had a very phlegmy cough XD

1 5 December, 18:18

Skyhiker
Congratulations nice one.

1 5 December, 18:23

Robert Podkoński
@S M - to be sincere, my attempts to tint the windscreen had even worse effect... I removed the paint, but...