Saeqeh goes to Dreamland!

[DogfighterZen]

Ok, so this is stupid... but i'm gonna do it anyway...
Nothing i have on the bench right now can really go ahead until i have some bits i'm waiting for and i still want to build something else.
With a little luck, i i believe i can finish this before the end of the GB, which is in less than 24 hours so, here i go...
What if the US invaded Iran, succeeded to overthrow the current regime and brought back one single HESA Saeqeh, the Iranian twin tailed F-5?
A few years ago i bought a couple of Hobbyboss 1/72 F-5 for 10€ because of the price and then i instantly thought of the Saeqeh, as i'd recently bought the AFV Club 1/48 kit of that aircraft.
So here are the obligatory pics of the start of the build, let's see how far i can go with this...
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With nothing done yet, it's almost 10:30 am so, i've got around 37 hours to go so this should be interesting...

[Old Wombat]

Mad dogs & Englishmen ... &, apparently, Portuguese, too! 

[RAFF-35]

You have my utmost admiration for attempting a build in less than 48 hours 

[NARSES2]

Mad dogs & Englishmen ... &, apparently, Portuguese, too! 

Well we have been allies since 1373   

[DogfighterZen]

Gentleman, i hope i don't disappoint anyone, i'm trying my best...
Ok, i've changed the name of the topic for the last time as i did everything in a bit of a rush at first but, it's final.
That will be explained when i get to the backstory...
First photo dump and so far i've got just minor details to show as i'm now just putting the finishing touches on the instrument panel to assemble everything and close the fuselage.

I began the build by separating the cockpit bits and painting them in Tamiya's XF-19. While waiting for the paint to dry, i painted and glued these lights so i wouldn't forget them as they'd be hard to put in place from the outside...
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Added the HUD supports from scrap styrene bits and that's about all the detailing i'll do on this cockpit...
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Then i moved on to address the main part of this build and to close up the slot for the single tail, i grabbed the first bit of scrap styrene i saw that could fit and simply sanded the excess off of some other kit's sprue number plate. Good thing i have the weird habit of cutting these bits off sprues after i take the parts off. I save these plates and round or weirdly shaped bits of sprue for exactly this type of use...
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After glued in place, i followed up with a smear of sprue goo to seal things properly to look as if it's a new panel with no attachment points visible...
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At the moment i'm waiting for Microsol to do it's thing on the kit's instrument panel decals and i may just dab a few spots of paint on them before i assemble the pit. Pics of this will come later today...

[RAFF-35]

I can't believe how much detail you're adding!! I'm filled with anxiety over you getting this done in time 😂

[kerick]

I've wondered how a guy could build one of these. I'm looking forward to see how you do it.

[DogfighterZen]

Well, It's now obvious that i failed but it wasn't for lack of trying... Let's just say that the build isn't being as pleasant as i remembered from when i built it over 10 years ago...
On one hand, i think that the main issue i had was my fault but OTOH, if it hadn't been for 3 rounds of PSR on the fuselage, i would've certainly been able to finish this before the end of the deadline.

With that said, this is where i got, just finishing sanding the intakes, which are also causing minor issues but i knew about and was ready for these...
Got the landing gear bits sprayed but, as you can see, i still have a lot to do...

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I think that i lost over 6 hours total just from waiting for sprue goo to cure on the gaps i had to deal with...
The fault was probably mine cause when i dry-fitted the fuselage, it fit almost perfectly with no gaps and i must have spread the top fuselage half when i installed the cockpit tub in there.
I probably pushed it up too much and it widened the top fuselage, creating considerable steps/gaps on both sides just below the cockpit area...
Oh well, at least the pilot doesn't look like he has to stretch his neck to see outside of the cockpit like would've been if i left it lower.

Anyway, i'm just finishing the intakes and then i just have to put the wings on and a few smaller bits around the airframe and it's on to the paint shop.

Chris, sorry but i really tried to finish it... Can you please move this to the current projects section? TIA

It will be finished, if not tomorrow, then on Tuesday, for sure. I'll put up the rest of the pics i've taken during the build so far.

 

[Weaver]

Damned solid try anyway!

I don't know of an F-5 kit that doesn't have intake issues TBH.

[Old Wombat]

Good try! 

Hope to see her finished in the Aircraft forum soon! 

[Gondor]

May i remind you @DogfighterZen of my modelling rule number 3: Everything will fit, until you apply glue.

[zenrat]

Good try mate.
 

[DogfighterZen]

Alastair, that rule sure applied on this one... but i admit my guilt. I was rushing and should've taken the time to make sure everything was fitting properly before i glued it. It was just a mistake that could've been avoided but it is what it is... 

Thanks for the support, Fred! 
Sorry to have failed you, mate but i will do my best to compensate with the finished product.
It'll take a bit longer but i think it'll be worth it.

Going to rescribe the few panel lines lost with the sanding, reshape the nose and modify the LERXs now so, if all goes well, i should have something more to show later today.

 

[zenrat]

You didn't fail me.  You did very well given the time constraint.

It's the nature of the 1WGB to rush.  There's a few misaligned joints on my M16 Truck which I would have noticed if I hadn't been in such a hurry.

[NARSES2]

Bloody well done, a great effort 

Moved as per request.