Ok, first the complaining: the Anigrand kit's warpage and lack of detail was astounding. The fuselage halves were impossible to get properly lined up, even after repeated soaking in boiling water. The landing gear was just a vague representation with a "just stick it on there somewhere" attitude. The gear doors of the B-43 were apparently almost 1 foot thick if the scale representation is to be believed. The main wheels were out-of-round and blobby. The wings have an odd, slightly crescent-shaped curve that the real thing did not have. And the tail is about an inch too short. All that being said, if you want a B-43, it;s about the only game in town. So, I finally finished, having done the best I can. I replaced the bug-eyed canopies of the XB-43 with a modified, vac-formed one from a Mosquito, butted up against a turret from a Hasegawa B-26 Marauder (modified to look like a remote-controlled turret). I lengthened the vertical tail, and replaced the wheels with aftermarket resin wheels from an A-26. I added package guns from the Marauder, as well as the bombardier's seat and nose gun from the same source. The underwing fuel tanks are from a Hobbyboss F-84G. Decals were a mix from the FCM sheets for Brazilian P-47s and (A)B-26s. The markings represent a B-43B operational in 1947 in Northern Italy with the 2/5GAv.
Despite all the whining above, I enjoyed it and I'm pretty happy with how it came out. I would certainly do a few things differently if I were to do it again, but I AM DONE! Enjoy!
Untitled by
cacree, on Flickr
Untitled by
cacree, on Flickr
Untitled by
cacree, on Flickr
Untitled by
cacree, on Flickr
Untitled by
cacree, on Flickr
Untitled by
cacree, on Flickr
B43 by
cacree, on Flickr
