This is Eduard's 1/48th "Weekend Edition" boxing of their 1-16 Type 24. "Weekend" means no frills like photo etch, an extensive decal sheet, canopy masks, etc. Without all those niceties to worry about, you can build one in a weekend. At least that's the theory. I was off on this one by something like 54 weekends.
I got to the decaling stage and, despite a heavy layer of gloss, they silvered like crazy. Had Eduard included more than one set of markings, I could have trashed the ones I tried to apply and slapped on another set. But they didn't (see paragraph one), so out of frustration, I set the almost finished kit aside and didn't revisit it again for over a year. When I pulled it from among the shelf queens, I decided I had two options: buy a set of aftermarket decals or try to paint around the silvered areas. The decals on the fuselage were a single decal and the clear areas between the letters are what silvered so badly. I couldn't see spending money on a sheet of decals for one set of markings so opted to touch them up as best as I could.
Luckily, I had used Aeromaster enamels instead of my usual Tamiya acrylics so I think that made the touching up a bit easier not having to worry so much about the paint thinning ratio. With a very low pressure, I managed to do a credible job in dulling the slivering but this is one kit that will never see a contest table.
Oh, and what was almost the final nail in this kit's coffin before I smashed it into a wall...I broke the canopy as I was masking it. The last thing I had to do and I screwed it up! The canopy was much thinner than the typical clear plastic one and I applied just a little too much pressure and snapped it in half (expletives deleted.) After retaining my composure, I searched for an aftermarket piece but couldn't find one. Finally, a couple days later, I glued it together with Tamiya Extra Thin, polished it out, hand painted it, and attached it. Can't think of any other kit I was so happy to write off as finished.
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