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Plasmo > Tips and Tricks > How to build a plastic model (4) - Construction of fuselage and wingsHow to build a plastic model (4)
Construction of fuselage and wings
Difficulty: 
In the previous section of the tutorial, we assembled the cabin and attached it into one half of the fuselage. Now, we can continue with gluing both halves of the fuselage together. Apply glue in reasonable quantity to the areas where the parts will touch each other. Put the two halves together and fix them with masking tape or with clothespins. This solution is definitely better than holding the fuselage in your hands and waiting impatiently. You can simply put the model aside and let the glue dry really well. This way, you will reduce the likelihood of emerging gaps between the parts. You can remove the tape and clothespins after drying.
In spite of the fact that I assembled the fuselage as best as I could, there are still thin gaps between the parts. If this happens, you can use model putty. Apply putty in small quantities, preferably with a toothpick or a skewer. Once again, wait until the putty hardens, and then you can sand the surface. It is a good choice to use coarse grit sandpaper (250) for grinding first, and fine grit sandpaper (2000) for polishing afterwards. Gradually, sand down all places of the fuselage where the putty was applied.
How to make engravings
Plastic model kits are not always perfect, but we can improve them a little. One possibility is to make your own riveting and engraving with razor blade saw and wheel for engraving. This section is intended for advanced modelers, so if you're a complete beginner, you can easily skip this paragraph. You can usually get accurate plans of aircrafts on the Internet, but also in hobby magazines for plastic modelers.
I also covered some engravings when I was filling gaps with putty, therefore I re-cut the engravings again with razor blade saw. We can also use the saw for cutting plastic parts, for example cutting off the cockpit canopy to individual pieces. In this case, I decided to make cabin opened, however that does not mean that you have to do it the same way. Once again, I repeat that if you are a beginner, I do not recommend to make any modifications at all. Just leave the cockpit in the same shape as it is described in the instructions.
Assembling wings
First, paint the lower parts with the black color. It has its purpose, because this particular model doesn't have any floor under the cockpit, so we could see the unsightly gray plastic after attaching the wings. Gluing wings together is similar to the process of gluing the fuselage. Again, you can apply putty to the gaps between individual parts. With this model, there is no problem with the correct geometry of the wings, because the right and the left wing are joined together into one piece. If you attach each wing separately then you must pay attention to the proper angle between wings and fuselage.
Assembling vertical and horizontal stabilizers
In this step, mistakes are usually made. Attaching stabilizers is rather simple, but you must pay attention to the correct geometry of the aircraft. We look both from the front and from behind, and we place stabilizers into the right positions. In most cases, they should have a shape of inverted letter T. Follow the instructions and get to know the proper geometry of your aircraft before gluing the wings and the stabilizers.
What comes next
In the next part of the tutorial, we will assemble landing gear and the propeller, we will attach the rest of the remaining small parts, and we will start painting our model.
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