FB,

on closer inspection of your pictures, there is now no doubt in my mind that what you have there is an authentic original MK BA. The build design and parts numbering is 100% MK including the nose gear bay.

At first I thought that like several Japanese designs, the wing rides higher in the fuse (often the top is at the thrust line or a tad higher) causing the nose gear to be rather short in comparison to the main gear (e.g., Aurora, Beetle, Cosmos, even Atlanta, etc.). However, the BA is actually a shallow belly pan low wing design. I think the idea was for the rear block to be carved out in a U-shape to accommodate the wheel and strut while also provide strength to the wing mounting main F2 former. Perhaps the builder missed this point. However, I believe my later BA40 kit doesn't require this but I think Yoshioka stretched the nose moment (I read the article some time ago) to allow a full retract nose gear to enter a rectangular bay. Many MK designs use the rectangular bay approach for the nose gear. The block might have also been a little shorter.

Judging from the build, it appears that the builder had experience but perhaps not much with MK kits. It looks as though there are a few "oops" repairs (I do a fair number of those when building too late) as well as a couple of "filled" mis-measurements. Given a beauty treatment and a nice finish, she'll end up impeccable!

At least there is little doubt as to what the trim scheme should look like! It's hard to finish a BA and not make her look like one. Come to think of it, you could finish her in WA - White Angel colours .

David.

$40 - gotta shake my head... I got mine last year for a 10x multiplier (that original will certainly not be built - I'll have to clone it first).