Back at It - FineMolds 1/48 Shisei Kikka

After a pause to take care of the holidays and some life events I am back at it. This time I am working on completing a FineMolds 1/48 Shisei Kikka - Japan's answer to the Me262. I started this kit a couple of years ago. When I opened the box I was thoroughly impressed by the "Fine" molding job and excellent panel lines. However, the fit was far from perfect and results in large seams that I have to sand down so I became discouraged with the kit and put it away for a rainy day. Well it is not raining, but I have decided to try again.

I start with the cockpit as usual. FineMolds has done an excellent job here. Just need to add a seatbelt.

The instrument panel is recessed but the decals settle down nicely. 

One innovation from FineMolds is the nose weight they include, in the form of a nut and bolt,

that fits onto the top of the nose wheel bay. 

Some nice side panel detail is included in the cockpit area. Some highlighting brings out the 

detail.

The "office" fits nicely into the fuselage. 

I wish I could say the same for the fit of the fuselage halves. It didn't seem to matter how many

times I tried, I just couldn't get the fuselage to line up without some rather tremendous seams.