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Cuajete
It appears this will be a greater challenge than the XP-77. I'll be there to try and support you 😛
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Patryk S. Author
Welcome Cuajete! Looking foward to your emotional support😜

Patryk S. Author
Seam clean up and rescribing of lost panel lines done. The kit doesn't need much filler for the fuselage - mostly where the sprue connection points were. After more picture analysis I finally decided that I will use the small spine on the kit as a deeper dive in the picture of the wreck and available publication did rule out the medium spine. One problem is that several resources state that it was either an A,C or F model with the propability of beeing either an A or F (which was a modified A model). The F's were then rebuilt to C standard. Did paint the intakes internally and glued them to the fuselage - the fit is good - I didn't need any filler, just a thicker layer of tamiya extra thin did the job. Here the first intake after sanding smooth and rescribing. The panel lines are very delicate on this kit with several dissapearing or non existent, particulary in the verical and horizontal stabilisers area. Did also add all of the smaler cooling intakes.
Now I need to scratch build the "sugar scoop" exhaust protection.
Here I must correct my earlier statement. The C model from HB has a different sprue with the fuselage halves, bigger intakes and other details to build a late C model including the sugar scoop which is unfortunately moldel together with the fuselage halves and the long spine.

Patryk S. Author
More progress. Did scratch build the IR deflector usig reference photos which are not that many and the deflector from the AFV 1:48 U-2C kit for creating one in 72nd scale. Also prepped the horizontal and vertical stabilisers. Both require rescribing - the horizontal on the lover side and the vertical on the left side as a big part of them are missing - proof that the kit was hastily put into production - why? Next - painting the inner IR deflector and attachment of the stabilisers.