A lot of progress over the last few days. The tape has come off, and I think it looks OK. A few scuff marks and smudges from not handling it carefully enough, but who’s going to see that at 30 ft or more? I’ve also got the coupler epoxied in with JB Weld.
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When I put the nose on I briefly took to carrying it around the house and posing in front of the mirror with it. I feel powerful already! My girlfriend thinks I’m insane.
I also masked off and soaped up the fins as instructed. The order of instructions seems a bit wonky to me, I’d think that letting them be completely submerged for a while, letting them dry, and then masking off the tabs for painting would be preferable.
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I did wipe them off after this, they are mostly dry now and the last bit of moisture is evaporating off them as I type.
Looking at the rest of the instruction though, more weirdness!
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What exactly is the point of the “M” decal, the leading edge cuffs?
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Are they a scale detail? If so, why stick them on first and paint over? Am I intended to put masking tape over the decals before I paint? Is it an artifact of an old revision that hasn’t been removed? Is it to prevent damage from bug strikes or something? I haven’t the foggiest.