LetLetLet ~ Warplanes
Let Let Let - Warplanes => Aircraft Modeling => Topic started by: No.1 on May 01, 2011, 07:16:52 PM
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Dear friends,
it is time to start this topic as we already arranged some time ago.
My first kit will be this old Revell kit of Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu in 1/72 scale. This is old kit, stock number H-104 and I don't have any additional info about this kit. Out of production for sure and sometimes it is subject of Internet auction where it raise hot price. Sample I show you here is gift to me from my friend from Nis, we all know him as Bane Banana, he give me this kit in mid '90.
The very first step is spray of the interior in black color which will serve as base for the interior color.
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Here are some of the possible projects I'll be contemplating for the Japan-build, in no particular order.
First I'm planning on rebuilding/restoring this A6M5 and stripping it back to NMF as one of the U.S. captured Zekes, TAIC #7.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6864.jpg)
Also in the queue is the British-operated ATAIU-SEA Raiden as B1-02.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6849.jpg)
I'd like to do this Val in late-war camouflage but I'm still looking for a couple of parts to complete my idea.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6865.jpg)
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My first project is under way:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6874.jpg) :-tri
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Nice kit Srecko,and one more great restoration from Scott. :-flo
I will try to find something for this group build until finish of this month,but i not promised anything. :-roll
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Well, my "eggs" just arrived today so I can start the GB too!
I have chosen the Zero. Nice little egg, with raised panels but I will probably engrave that.
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Just now,i am watching documentary film about Hellcat vs Zero on the Pacific. :-flo
Hardly wait to see finished your egg Zero Daniel! :-flo :-jump
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First steps on that egg plane...
First, I added a kind of seatbelts made with Tamiya tape, and a flightstick. Then I made some holes for the machineguns and the exhausts...
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I glued the half fuselages together. Fitting is poor; putty and sanding will be needed...
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The egg is great! Are the propeller and landing gear parts the same as from a standard Zeke kit? They certainly look nice and in a "normal" scale from your photos.
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The egg is great! Are the propeller and landing gear parts the same as from a standard Zeke kit? They certainly look nice and in a "normal" scale from your photos.
Thank you Scott!
The propeller sound the real reproduction of the one of the Zeke; for the wheels I'm less sure but there are nice and seem to be in scale.
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Quite nice job. :-flo
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I have feeling that egg will be most cutest build here :-love And here is my work on Ki-45.
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Excellent mate!
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Engine looks good.It is so detailed for 1/72 scale. :-ok
Did you engrave rivet on the wings,or they such were in the box? :-think
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Here's a bit of the stripping procedure on my project. Notice, yet again, that there is a color that won't be stripped by oven cleaner, this time the yellow leading edges.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6875.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6879-1.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6880.jpg)
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Nice stripping, Scott!
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Nice stripping, Scott!
The green and grey came off really easily. The yellow will have to be sanded off and the flat black on the cowling is VERY stubborn. It is coming loose, but only after many applications of cleaner and much use of a stiff brush.
Oh, I spent some time trying to figure out the manufacturer of my A6M5 and finally decided it is an Arii kit. It's one of the few models in my collection that I just don't remember purchasing or building.
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Dark blue grey painted inside...
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Nice progress :-ok
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Dark blue grey painted inside...
I would use interior color similar to Khaki
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From mid war, before that dark blue or olive drab... but who knows :(
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:-flo
Found this on web
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Cockpit colors are really hard to pin down on some Japanese machines! Here is a great website with very large amounts of research work that has been done. http://www.j-aircraft.com/research/mainresearch.htm I've been using the material there for my later-war A6M and found that my airplane should have had an olive/khaki cockpit. I'd never really studied the "aotake" clear lacquer finish until I started planning this Group Build.
Incidentally, all the Japanese machines I built back in the seventies and eighties have the wrong color interiors regardless! I used a clear metallic blue that you can see in my "before" pictures and will be redoing that little error on these overhauls. It's great to move over to this subject matter--again I'm learning more warbird history!
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Excellent image... but what time is this one? Well, airframe in dark blue, equipment in olive?
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Excellent image... but what time is this one? Well, airframe in dark blue, equipment in olive?
I'm guessing Samuraj's photo is the Toryu in the Smithsonian collection? The TAIC captured two, a Ki.45 KA1b and a Type II. The Type II is the survivor at the Smithsonian and their information says it was built in 1942. I would guess the airplane was actually built in the later part of the war but didn't find anything to back that up. The olive color is quite consistent with the color chips here: http://www.jpsmodell.de/katalog/jpsijaf_e.htm and here: http://www.alternatewars.com/BBOW/Colors/Japanese_Aircraft_Colors_WWII.htm
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Re-found source of the photo
NASM/Garber
I've downloaded them some time ago, but forgot where from... this is the source
http://www.j-aircraft.com/walk/tim_hortman/timki45.htm
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Here are the major components after final stripping. I still must clean out the recessed panel lines and fix some seams and glue marks from my earlier attempt at building this kit.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6882.jpg)
Since I'm building a NMF machine I tried a bit of scrap BareMetal foil on the vertical fin just to see how it'll work.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6883.jpg)
Here's the embarrasing color I used to use for Japanese interiors......... :-red :-roll Yes, I'll be redoing this area quite surely!
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6888.jpg)
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Goes well. :-flo
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We all used this color for the cockpit (I used it for the landing gear bay too) back in old days :-ok
Very nice work with BMF, this is new for me, I have never seen Zero in NMF :-red
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I have never seen Zero in NMF
Just ask :-flo
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:-love :-love :-love
Thanks....
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;)
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Here's the version I'll be doing. It looked like this after being shipped to the U.S. and later was repainted with hinomaru markings as in No.1's picture.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/wings-taic7.jpg)
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I change interior with two thin coats of interior brown paint and connected elements.
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Nice! :-ok
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Good progression!
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Thank you :))
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Little more progress on small parts
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Nice progress, mate!
For myself, I have sanded the raised panels of the kit and engraved new ones with the Trumpeter tool and, as guide, an old Dymo tape... Then, a little bit of cyano will correct my "excess of optimism" :))
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Your is so cute, maybe best of the show :))
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Your is so cute, maybe best of the show :))
Egg planes are really funny... Now I'm wondering if I make rivets or not... It's a big job to do...
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It is sweet work,even at this stage!Nice work. :-clap :-clap :-clap
As regards the rivet,it would not be wrong apply them if you have the time and nerves. ;)
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Nice looking builds! :-ok
Pitty I can't join now with all the projects and things around and in my head, but A6M3 is ready, just if I manage it and join just in time, somewhere May 29th ;)...
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OK, I will not make rivets, due to the form of the fuselage: too hard for what must remain a bit of fun.
So, I have sanded the cyano and the fuselage. I've glued the wings. Now it will be the time of putty... Lot of putty, to correct the fuselage and to fill the gaps between wings and fuselage
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Very nice work by you both - I like the egg!
The Ki-45 is very cool, but I admit to having a soft spot for the Ki-46 "Dinah." I was fortunate recently to visit RAF Cosford Museum to see the sole remaining example.
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Ki-46 is probably best shaped WW2 machine
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I shall post some pictures I took of the Ki-46 when I get home if you are interested.
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I shall post some pictures I took of the Ki-46 when I get home if you are interested.
Of course, we'd love photos, Paul!
I must agree that the Ki-46 is a beautiful design. I'm trying to think of a better shape from WWII but can't, though the Italians had some sleek machines.
You guys are making great progress. :-ok I'm not, but I promise to work on my Zero sometime this weekend. :-roll I filled some sink holes in the fuselage and cleaned up the glue joints on the wings but haven't had time for much more now that gardening/lawn care season is upon us. Right now we're going to do some 1/1 scale aviating and do an oil change afterward. It's annual inspection time.......
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The cockpit has now been repainted in the interior green color rather than my awful metallic blue. I studied a number of references and paint chips and decided that a faded olive drab seemed to match the color used by the Mitsubishi factory when this machine was built. After reassembling the cocpit to the fuselage the major components were mated and a bit of filler applied. This is a pretty nice fitting kit so not too much is really needed.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6916.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6919.jpg)
Now I'll get some primer on it and then start planning how to achieve the NMF I want to represent.
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I like your interior green, Scott. Nice result!
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Really nice instruments mate :-ok
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:-ok
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Really nice instruments mate :-ok
I did the instrument panel in the "first-build" stage of this model in the 1970s. Some of the side panels need some touching up but I left the main instruments alone. I was looking at some web threads showing modern Zero kits from Hasegawa and Tamiya and mine is a bit crude by comparison. The shape and surface detail are fine, though, and it'll make into a nice display model for my display case. I'm truly enjoying this "recycling" program of my old builds.
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The egg received Vallejo putty (wings/fuselage) and Tamiya putty diluted with acetone...
And I've also forgotten the rescribe the panels of the cowling. Done now...
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Great! :-ok
When we can expect paint job? :-think
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Paint job would start this week...
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Will you paint Mirage and Zero at the same time?
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Will you paint Mirage and Zero at the same time?
Surely for the primer; but for the other paints I don't think so because my priority remains the DH2 (will work on this last one tomorrow)
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This kit is for sure good as relaxing project ;)
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This kit is for sure good as relaxing project ;)
I confirm, mate ;-)
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@Daniel: It's interesting that you mentioned you'd have to correct the fuselage shape - it would sure require quite a correction to make it right :)) Joke aside, this will surely look nice, as the work in progress shows :-ok
@Scott: this refurbishing looks promising, and original cockpit details are prominent enough :-ok
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Well yes Profa, correction were needed, but with putty. For fun I could have made the rivets, but too hard work just for fun...
Anyway, sanding is made. Now the parts are ready for painting.
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I gived also a little bath to the canopy: I put it into Klir (Future is also good, Scott). Then I removed it.
Why to do that?
1) the canopy is more clear
2) the eventuals marks made by sanding, etc, disappear
3) you can use cyano without any risk that fume will cause any damage thanks to the protection gived by Klir.
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:-clap :-clap
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Great progress!!!!!!
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"White day" today: primer airbrushed...
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:-ok Nice mate :-clap On my side is still far from paint but kit is in good final assembly steps.
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Nice mate! :-clap
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Good progress!
Here's the first part of my next Japanese project. More later......
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6940.jpg)
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My last work today: preparing the tortoise... errrr.... the canopy with masking tape
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:))
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May be I'm cheating a little bit for it's already built, but I wanted to share some more J-modeling with you guys after being away so much time. This japanese DC-3, or L2D2 "Tabby" was built some 8 years ago. And then people wonders about how fast time goes by...
http://themodelingunderdog.blogspot.com/2008/06/dc-3-with-twist-part-1.html
http://themodelingunderdog.blogspot.com/2008/06/dc-3-with-twist-part-2.html
http://themodelingunderdog.blogspot.com/2008/06/dc-3-with-twist-part-3-and-grand-finale.html
I have an AZ Model Nakajima Type 91-I in Kwangsi markings waiting to be built. May be I'll start it before the GB is closed, but it has so many tiny, minuscule PE parts that I'm sure I'll still have it on the workbench next year :-wise
Hope you like this unusual Douglas, and keep up the good work!
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We're traveling right now but I brought my "Japan Project #2" along on the trip. Tonight I assembled the major components together for a test-fit.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6942.jpg)
Here is the beginning stage of the cowling/engine/propeller mods that I'm making to the kit.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6944.jpg)
Perhaps another update tomorrow evening from another location!
Scott
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Interesting link Javier ;) Japan Project-2 sound promising mate :)
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+1 with No.1
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Here we are...
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:-love :-love :-love :-love
Nice!
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The Zero-egg is looking great!
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:-ok
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Thank you mates!
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Nice work, and this cockpit tub gives a right meaning to the word in this case :))
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Yesterday when airbrushin yellow on my Mirage, I forgot to spray also that color on the propeller of the Zero (for the tiny band that will be on that color)...
Done today. I airbrushed all the propeller, but of course brown will cover that...
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Small but very precise
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Very little, but needed, masking phase...
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Painting of the cockpit. I did not researched absolute, athentic colors but just to make an attractive cockpit...
I replaced the instrument panels decal of the kit by one I had in my stock.
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:-ok
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And here is the propeller, finished. I'm happy I must say...
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Great work mate :)
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Thank you mate!
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I like it too! :-clap :-flo
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Slow progress on my side... sorry :-red
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Slow, but nice!
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Well,you working slowly,but it looks nice! :-clap
It is most important that it goes in right direction. ;)
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First stage of painting for the engine, with Vallejo colors:
First, Oily Steel with a drop of Glossy Black. Then, Oily Steel + Old Gold.
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Well,you have today "engine day". :-ok
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As well my also have attached engines :)) We have 'engine day' :))
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Yea,you are right No.1! :-flo :))
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Well,you have today "engine day". :-ok
I'd better add this little update just to show that I'm still participating..... :-roll
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7134.jpg)
On the left is the cowling I modified while we were traveling along with the engine for the Val. On the right is the cowling and un-restored engine for the A6M5. I'm planning on working on "engine day" a bit more after the sun goes down tonight--too many outdoor projects going on right now! Next is to make a mold of the nice spinner in the photo, both for this project and later use.
Sorry about the photo quality! :-red
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Believe me or not,today i was thinking at school about you and your modeling projects. :-flo
I'm glad to see that you are participate in "engine day". :)) ;)
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So we have group builds but also "thematic days"...
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So we have group builds but also "thematic days"...
Good to see when forum work as one soul :)
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To finish my engine saga, here is a photo of the engines for the Zero and Val nearing completion. The D3A2 engine is on the left:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7140.jpg)
And the spinner mold being poured. This will come in handy for several of the Japanese aircraft in my line-up:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7139.jpg)
Rather a neat coincidence that we were all working on powerplants at nearly the same time!
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Good engine... :-clap
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Engine is finished with a wash of Citadel Brown ink. That ink serves also for the weathering...
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My second project is an old 1/48 Fujimi D3A1 reboxed as a Testors kit here in the States. The interior is very basic so I have started scratchbuilding some details. There is a resin upgrade available, but I'm still the "frugal modeler" with lots of styrene sheet, tubing, and strip lying about. Here's a picture of the pilot's cockpit area at the early stage of the process. Much is still required and the gunner/radio operator compartment hasn't yet been started.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7163001.jpg)
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Great!! :-tri :-tri :-clap :-clap :-clap
I love enrichment!!! :-love
Looks good!!! :-clap :-clap
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styrene sheet, tubing, and strip
... T shape, L shape, H shape, channel shape... and where to get this? A decade ago the best manufacturer was from Germany, outstanding range of profiles and I simply can not find it any more, even can not remember name.
And your work is excellent!!!
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Most of my styrene comes from Evergreen here in the U.S. http://www.evergreenscalemodels.com/
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I know for them, I will see now did they expand they range of products or stay as before...
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Also I forgot Plastruct. They have some of the shapes that Evergreen did not in the past.
I should add that some of the round shapes in that cockpit photo are windings from an electric motor and lead-free solder of the proper diameter. I could be called the "junkyard modeler" I sometimes think! :-dal
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If you have Plastruct link please let me know. No direct order from Evergreen site :(
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No direct order from Evergreen site :(
Check here mate
http://www.modelsforsale.com/catalog/modelkits.php?manufacturers_id=14231+Evergreen&osCsid=1eb894c4fdcf9795b90ea57b2ecafcbb
http://www.hobbyeasy.com/en/category/TOOL/index.html
Both reliable shops ;)
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Thank you :)
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If you have Plastruct link please let me know. No direct order from Evergreen site :(
Here is a link to Plastruct. http://www.plastruct.com/Home.html They do international direct orders. As for Evergreen, if you have a shopping list I could see if our local hobby shop has the items you need. Post shouldn't be too expensive, I would think.
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All right :) Thank you ;)
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Hehe... Well noted too...
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First, Klir on the cockpit elements. Then, a wash with Citadel Brown Ink. Then Pébéo matt varnish...
So I've placed the canopy... You can see that fitting is ab-so-lu-te-ly perfect!!! :-green :-help
Vallejo putty programmed for this afternoon...
And I've also glued the wheels, that also needed putty (but here, Tamiya one)
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Nice progress... ;)
Well,it needs putty,but you will fix all problems,i have no doubt! :-flo
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Thank you Sall!
Here is the putty... And I corrected also elsewhere
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Looks good. :-ok
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Some more progress on the Val yesterday morning. All just parts from the salvage boxes and wire, styrene, or aluminum stock for the rest. I find scratchbuilding strangely relaxing :-paper when I get rolling on a project like this.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7168.jpg)
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I also find scratchbuilding very relaxing so I hardly wait to start any project in close future where will be need extra plastic work.
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Nice! :-clap
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Splendid work mate!
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Outstanding
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Sanding done...
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I can hardly wait for final assembly of both of your egg-planes!!! :-clap :-clap :-clap
This morning I found my very old bottle of Gunze H-6 for the interior of the late-war Val. I did considerable research and this seems to be the correct shade for the Aichi factory at that time. The paint worked out fine after a little mixing.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7173.jpg)
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It's called quality. ;)
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I like how this progress!!!
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It's called quality. ;)
AMEN, Sall!!!! Both the Humbrol and this Gunze paint performed perfectly even after decades of storage. Some of the storage time was spent in an unheated/unair-conditioned storage building and the paints still work just fine. There are cases where "you get what you pay for"! :-tri
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You are absolutely right! :-flo
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Excellent work, Scott!!!
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Some minor progress...
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Nice progress both of you! :-ok
No.1, I believe you'll find some more time for modelling now that you've finished the new issue of the magazine :-tri
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Yes, I will give full throttle on my work projects next week.
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Yes, I will give full throttle on my work projects next week.
Great news! ;)
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I got up early this morning and finished the interior of the Val during my coffee drinking ritual.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7176.jpg)
After adding a few more bits I put the fuselage halves together and installed the wing--the fit around the root area was a bit puzzling......... :-help It took some filler in several places, but now it is presentable.
After laying the first coat of filler on the Val I masked and painted the anti-glare panel and the fuselage decking under the aft canopy of the Zero. On this airplane the aft decking is standard IJN dark green and the Americans painted the anti-glare panel in normal AAF olive drab.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7179.jpg)
The disassembly of the third project also got started tonight. This didn't put up too much of a fight and will be a rather quick and easy restoration, other than masking and painting the "ATAIU SEA" legends.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7181.jpg)
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Cockpit is wonderful! :-ckap
and you next project...Hardly wait! :-jump
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Great work
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I am back in track... cockpit covered and paint dark blue grey base color.
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Excellent, both of you!
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Thanks!
Good progress, No.1. :-cool
This morning's agenda was to get coffee brewing and prime the Val repair areas. Then a light coat of flat white base followed by yellow leading edge stripes and propeller tips. The Zero flight controls were sprayed with aluminum and sealed as the first step in the NMF process.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7184.jpg)
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Excellent, both of you!
I agree! :-clap :-clap :-obey
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Thanks :)) Yellow bands on...
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White bands on KI-45 and Super Hornets on steroids :-smey
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Nice work, No.1! :-ok
That Hornet is :-dal
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Yes.. our friend Goran (not member of this forum), have excellent ideas :))
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Excellent!!!
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Good job No.1 ;) :-clap
Hornet is put it mildly,strange! :-dal
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The splinter camouflage makes it even more aggressive looking!
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Ki-45 completed :))
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:-love :-ok :-clap
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:-love Sweet!!!
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Perfect job! :-clap :-clap :-clap
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Thank you :))
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Nice work, No.1! :-ok
What has happened to your camera? Some pics are blurred, like you took them using mobile... :-think
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Strong headache last days so in few moments my hands shaking much... sorry :(
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Headaches are never any fun :-wall--hope you're feeling better!
The Val now has the landing gear, modified oil cooler scoop, and bomb crutch installed. Then I pulled out my 25-year-old :-wise Gunze pinstriping roll (worked perfectly) and masked off the stripes on each horizontal stabilizer.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7190.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7191.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7192.jpg)
Once the canopy is figured out this one will be ready for final painting. The radio/gun cockpit aft canopy sections of the -2 are quite different than the -1 so there will be some scratchbuilding and vacuforming to be done in that area.
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I am afraid that it is too late for use of this image... :(
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It's never too late for more reference photos! In fact, I'll be revamping my bomb racks using this picture as a guide.
Notice the very thin white outline on the hinomaru--usually the underwing markings seemed to be only the red disc.
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This is why I prefer archive images as direct source for modeling- you always found some details not seen anywhere else.
From my side I will continue with Kawanishi E7K kit, my sample is the Hasegawa old kit i 1/72 scale. Here you are image of the parts and there is more parts for catapult.
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Yeah...One more build in this topic! :-love Great! :-jump :-jump
@Scott
Good job so far! ;) :-clap
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Thanks, Sall. No.1, the Kawanishi looks like a great project!
The belly of the D3A got its grey paint this morning after I updated the outboard bomb racks with the help of Srecko's photo. I'd hoped to spray some of the NMF on the Zero but ran out of time.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7193.jpg)
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Good detail mate :) I have prepared some reference material to support my build, here you are resized samples...
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Another nice morning for coffee and airbrushes...... :)
The second step of the NMF for the Zero was applied after masking the flight controls. I created a small setback :-wall during the masking/unmasking in that a bit of the sealer came off with the masking on the left side of the rudder. I will do an addition to the NMF sticky to show this mistake and how to repair it.
While painting I mixed up my "propeller brown" and sprayed both props and spinners in the appropriate colors. The brown prop with grey spinner is for the Val, the other for the Zero. The fuel tank will find itself under the belly of the Val one day.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7196.jpg)
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You are absolute metal cote master :-ok
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So good! :-love :-clap :-clap :-clap
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Splendid!!!
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I'm far from a master at this but I'm learning every time I try it. Here's the repaired rudder with a BareMetal foil trim tab added:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7210.jpg)
Also some additional shading of other sections. I described the shading in the NMF sticky thread for the curious.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7215.jpg)
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I don't know what you are,but this looks absolutely astonishing. :-eek :-clap
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I fully agree with Sall!!!
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Good work today: Light grey on the undersurfaces; then dark green on the upper surfaces; airbrushing of black (in fact: black + dark grey) and the tyres are painted in "Dark Rubber" from Panzer Aces...
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I like it!! :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap
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The EggZero is looking great!
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The original canopy on the old Zero is in fairly rough shape. Rather than spend a lot of time trying to sand and polish the glue damage on this part I purchased a Tamiya A6M2 kit at a local craft store for around $10.00. The Tamiya kit comes with two complete canopies, one open and one closed, so I robbed the open version for the -5 project. After some thought I decided to also use the landing gear components from the donor kit on the NMF machine. I also borrowed a few decals from the -2 for the Val project. ;)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7220.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7223.jpg)
Here's the canopy after having the foil framing applied.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7225.jpg)
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Strip method of framing is great, I use it sometimes :)
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Kitbashing is always helpful...
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Gloss varnish, and the cowler is glued now
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Looks great!!! :-clap :-clap
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Thank you Sall!
Today, "decals day"... ;)
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:-clap
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Well, the decal setting seance was not a piece of cake...
Bad decals (tendance to broke); bad fitting... My nerves were sollicited!
But OK, the result is not too bad...
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Very nice result!!!
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I think that it looks splendid. :-clap
I like it... ;)
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Thank you, mates! :)
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Excellent results! I see by the gear door stripes that this is a Mitsubishi-built EggZero! :-jump
I'll try to post some photos of my two projects after coffee........
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Here is a small update on the A6M and D3A.
Firstly the nicely detailed Tamiya landing gear for the Zero after painting. These parts are MUCH superior to the old pieces that came with the -5.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7230.jpg)
After working on the cowlings and exhausts for the Zero I finished the camouflage painting on the Val and applied the clearcoat. The old kit decals that came with the Testors kit looked beautiful on the sheet but are rather translucent when applied to the airplane. I applied one decal to the underside of the wing and it turned from vivid red to maroon. To fix the problem I'm using circles of white decal paper under each hinomaru.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7229.jpg)
That's the lower wing of the Zero with its star-and-bar applied.
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Translucid decals are a problem, but fortunately you had white decal paper...
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That is real modeling. :-clap :-clap
To be resourceful in every situation. ;)
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Project Three beginnings.......I tried a different method to strip the paint from the Raiden. Rather than using oven cleaner I removed the paint with denatured alcohol. It took a lot more rubbing and scrubbing but did work very well. I'll probably stick with the oven cleaner, though!
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7232.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7239.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7240.jpg)
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I use mix of the alcohol and acetone and this work great :)
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Hmmm...... :-think I thought about mixing in some acetone but didn't know if it would attack the plastic. Do you mix it half-and-half or ?
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Personnally I use methanol...
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I use 2/3 of acetone and the rest is alcohol and no problem at all.
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Good to know that.It is very useful info for me. :-flo
Thank you both. ;)
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Yes, thanks for the info. I'll try the mixture tonight when I strip the horizontal stabilizers and cowling.
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The alcohol/acetone mixture worked excellent! I mixed it 50/50 and the paint came off rather easily. :-tri
After finishing the stripping process I repainted the cockpit from the hideous blue to the "Mitsubishi cockpit green" I mixed up for the Zero. This picture is of the first coat, the second covered much better.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7245.jpg)
After finishing some detail points in the cockpit and sidewalls I assembled the fuselage and wing. The cowling and horizontal stabilizers are installed temporarily for the photo. I should be able to prime everything during the morning coffee ritual and then apply the lower camouflage grey.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7246.jpg)
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Look like new :))
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I have to complete catapult first :)) Not an aircraft so I did not take much attention and images, just complete it.
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:-ok
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The catapult has fine detailing!
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Yes, good basic work, with small number of parts, great result!
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Launch system completed ;)
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Interesting stuff! :-think ;)
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Yes, very interresting stuff!!!
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THE EGG IS FINISHED !!!
Well, I've examinated the situation: very few engraved lines; large enough to be visible without an oil wash; and the decals that are partially occulting those lines... So I decided to bypass that phase. I decided also not to weather too much the plane: it's an egg before to be a real plane and in such a case I find more sympathic a nice paint than a weatehered one.
So, I've airbrushed matt varnish and I finished the plane with Tamiya pastels.
To remove the Tamiya tape out of the canopy takes a lot of time...
I like the final result. It was a funny build, really funny and a good derivative to more serious builds.
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Amazing mate :-ok
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Beautiful work,a looks so cuteeee! :-clap :-clap :-clap
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I like it as well :-love
Nice funny piece of the shelf, although you've put an effort as you were building the "real" model :-ok
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That is an AWESOME model!
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Thank you!!! :)
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Imagine, in 100 years, when someone finds your EggZero and then tries to find the 1/1 version in some old reference book!!!!! :-tri ;)
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Imagine, in 100 years, when someone finds your EggZero and then tries to find the 1/1 version in some old reference book!!!!! :-tri ;)
;) Yes Scott, you're right...
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Today was going to be "decal day" but other duties got in the way. I had time to at least get this few decals on the A6M and D3A and painted the leading edge I.D. markings on the Raiden.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7248.jpg)
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Good! :-clap
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:-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap
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This'll be a nice addition to your collection. I like Zero and shall make one... once...
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Hasegawa offered in 1989 Zero kit with decals for aircraft captured by U.S. and British forces.
I still have it here in the original box. Think it is a real collector's item now!!
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Thanks for that info, Nico. There are so many kits and decal sheets that were released during my sabbatical from modeling! It'll take me years just to catch up on the news of the last couple of decades and I appreciate learning from y'all.
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A two-part update on my first Japan-Build projects is in order. I performed "final assembly" on both kits today as it is extremely hot and I didn't want to work outside...... :-joke
First is the D3A2 converted from a very old Testors/Fujimi D3A1 kit. As shown earlier in the thread, I cast a new cowl inlet ring using an old Zero cowl. The propeller blades were recontoured a bit and a resin spinner added. The engine is also a few scale inches further forward than on the -1, though it isn't easy to see the difference. The gunner's aft canopy is entirely different on the -2, and I just happened to have a perfectly shaped transparency in the spares box. I vacuformed that piece and the rest of the sliding canopy sections. The gun cutout is extended aft under the new canopy section also. The auxiliary fuel tank is from a George model that is waiting its turn to be refurbished.
For markings I was able to use the hinomarus from the kit, the tail markings came from various spare sheets, and homemade characters from white decal sheet. I confess I don't know the actual unit the airplane was assigned to--the mottled camouflage scheme led me to construct this airplane!
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7264.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7277.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7276.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7255.jpg)
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Part II
Not a lot to say with the A6M5, other than I'd been wanting to build this particular machine since the late seventies when I first saw a photo of it.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7266.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7274-1.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7270.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7268.jpg)
Incidentally, this is the Zero that now hangs in the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. It's back in (mostly accurate) Japanese camouflage that it wore when the U.S. captured it at Islito Field on Saipan in '44. It is believed that the actual tail number should be 61-108 rather than 61-131 that's on it now. It's rather neat building a model of an airplane I've actually seen in a museum--I hadn't thought of that until just now typing the Smithsonian information...... :-think
I enjoyed building these two airplanes, especially so since they were two of the basic types so important during the Battle of Midway. I'm reading a very good, unbiased, book about that battle right now, and it is sobering to think of all the brave airmen and sailors on both sides that were lost during that pivotal battle.
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Very nice finish but I am wonder about the number when it is captured, how it is possible that number is not known, I guess they have images when it was found. I know that this was regular way to archiving info, with photo material.
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Well, the information I was able to find (most of it on the Pacific Wrecks website, thanks for their hard work) was that no one kept track of which serial number airplane went with which unit tail marking when the captured airplanes were shipped back to the U.S. The tail number on this Zero was from a photo taken on Saipan but it was of another machine. When the airplane was put back into Japanese markings here in the States it looks like they took a good, but wrong, guess. Later, more research seems to have proven the markings are incorrect. Hopefully the Zero will be taken down from its hanging pose someday and the markings corrected.
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Both kits looks great!You have done great job!!I like it... :-clap :-clap :-clap
And,interesting story about those numbers and markings... :-think
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I like both!!!
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I like both, but Zero I prefer :-ok not a big fan of stars'n'bars, but this one looks marvelous :-clap
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Thanks, everyone.
Profa, I'm going to use the Tamiya "parts airplane" to build Petty Officer Koga's A6M2. I've always been interested in the Akutan Zero and its retrieval and repair, but not much had ever been said about the young man who died flying it. Now I'd like to build the airplane as it looked the morning he took off on his last flight. With that in mind, I'm wondering if anyone has the red "DI-108" unit markings of Koga's machine in 1/48th scale?
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Here is the progress on Koga's Zero thus far. Perhaps I'll get it primed and then will paint it as time allows:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7310.jpg)
My next two Japan-projects are here:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7303.jpg)
This box was in the large antique-store purchase I made years ago. When I opened it I was disappointed that the decal sheet was gone, but overjoyed that there were two full kits inside :-ok, one radial engined and one in-line. I'll be building these out-of-the-box and will just find some decals for them as I go.
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Nice work on the Zero... And for the Judy box, I see that the Hinomarus are engraved on the wings...
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I have even four Zero to build... :(
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Yes, very nice engraving!!!!!! :-help Maybe, since I don't have any 1/72 hinomaru decals, I'll use the engravings as a template for masks and just spray them on after engraving the panel lines and filling the circles....... Other than those darned circles the parts look pretty good.
The more Zeros I see, the more beautiful the design is to me.
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I have finally make some time to continue modeling and Kawanishi goes so quickly, kit is so great. As well I drop idea of getting plastic profiles and shapes, this one would not have detailed interior. Some other time maybe... :-dal
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Very fast,and good! :-clap
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Yep, nice progress.
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Thank you friends ;)
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Nice, but that kit sounds like asking for some work...
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Yes, interior is poor and option is to make framing (plastic shapes)... some instruments and so on... I let it as it is, will try to do exterior in regards to images.
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Engraving, float mounting, struts...
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:-love :-ok
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Top wing completed and kit get two coats of bottom color
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Very nice results so far, No.1! :-cool
I did just a little bit on the Raiden and Zero this weekend, then had to make room on the bench for a different project. After I pushed all the stuff out of the way I set these projects up like the scrapman did after WWII......
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7373.jpg)
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It's really a nice kit!
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Scott, nice "triple dive"!!! ;)
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Nice position for taking image :) Remind me on post war piles of abandoned aircrafts
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Yes, that line-up was inspired by a whole series of photos taken at Walnut Ridge, Arkansas during the scrapping operation. I've been all over the airfield through the years and I've actually stood in virtually the exact spot where this picture was taken. It was the Motor Pool/Motor Repair area during WWII and the final resting spot for hundreds of single-engine aircraft during the salvage period.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/WalnutRidgeP-40s.jpg)
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What will any of us give just to have any sample from this scrap yard :(
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I weak up early and paint green over. Kit have no streaks on top wing, this is just fresh color.
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i envy all of you for building so fast :-roll
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:))
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Good job Srecko! ;) I like your progress! :-clap
Scott...Excelent photos! :)) I like your machines.All of them are different! :-flo
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Thanks ;) Two small steps- pilot get basic brown coat and propeller get just basic colors over
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Scott, amazing photo!
Srecko, nice progress!
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My kit get coat of Klir or how it is called...
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You guys are all incredible.Absolutely great and fantastic. :-obey :-obey :-obey :-obey :-obey :-obey :-wave
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You are right, Scott and Daniel really work great, I am just weak support :(
I fight with decals. I am not sure about situation today but this old decals have coat of something over decals and you need really hot water over it and to smudge surface with finger to release decal from base surface. Decals need to be trimmed later as well to put solvent over it.
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Your problem with the old decals sounds exactly like the situation I had with the D3A2 sheet. I even tore one hinomaru when trying to move it on the paper with my finger. Everyone can see that patience has salvaged your decals, though.
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Thanks ;)
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Looks nice!!!
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Nice dinghy, No.1 :-ok
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Thanks :))
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Well,good job!!! :-clap :-clap
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Simply way to hold wings tight when join them and damage it later when remove holders :-wall
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I don't know the holders,but i know i like this plane sooo much!!Really
like it! :-clap :-clap
I like this combination of colors. :-flo
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Comes very nicely. Always watch the background of a photo: it seems that a triplane is in progress... ;)
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Very little progress on my Japan projects. :-/ This morning I mixed up some of the black-blue antiglare paint and shot the appropriate areas on the Zero and Raiden, along with the yellow striping on the A6M. I've been working on the two Suisei projects a tiny bit also.....
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7379.jpg)
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I watch your build... huuuh... Rei Shiki was built by Mitsubishi and Nakajima and in one factory cowling was black and in another this paint tend to be blue black in time. Will check out for this!
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Yes, I've learned a large amount since we started the Japanese project. According to the material I've been reading, Mitsubishi had the bluish shade and Nakajima plain black. The wheelwell color is another topic of discussion!
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Correct-there is black landing gear strut in one case. Maybe time for expert?
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The wells and gear doors themselves are of a different color--Mitsubishi used the underside color and Nakajima used the Aotake green/blue clear lacquer from what I've learned.
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Nice work anyway...
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I think this is right... I will check out my file in another PC. Maybe there is any chip of use?
http://www.letletlet-warplanes.com/2009/09/06/painting-japanese-ww2/
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Aloha All,
The corrosion control effort by IJN was to apply a zinc chromate style prevention on the interior of the exterior skin...called "Aotake", it is translated as "blue bamboo". It is also spelled "Aodake" when it is used in select Japanese sentences...yet the non-Japanese use "Aotake" as the general term. However, the modeler must know WHICH "Aotake" is used by which manufacturer...as there are TWO VERSIONS: one is a "candy blue" as the name suggests, and the other is a "candy green". "candy" colors refer to those paints we once used on car models...but in this case the application over a "silver" metal paint gives a most satisfactory solution.
This Aotake application extended to the wheel wells on Nakajima built Zeros...Mitsubishi built A6M landing gear covers and wheel wells are the undersurface color. Nakajima built Zero landing gear gear leg painted with the undersurface color on both sides, the well itself and interior of the small crescent shaped door was in BLUE aotake.
The black A6M landing gear colors are illustrated by H. Fujii at: http://japaneseaircraft.multiply.com/photos/album/101/A6M_landing_gear_covers_and_wheel_wells
Note the variety of field applied and factory colors for the "oleo strut pressure" markings on the exterior of the strut cover.
Mitsubishi used a blue-black paint for both the cowlings and the fuselage deck underneath the cockpit. Actually any 7 to 3 mix of black and dark blue paints will give you a good result. Nakajima used a true black colour.
One sensei wrote to me: "Most important thing we have to remember is that the color was controlled by military standards. Therefore, there should not have been differences among color of each airplane manufacturers. Of course, even so, regional factor caused some difference. Mitsubishi was located in Western part of Japan and Nakajima was located in Eastern part of Japan. So, Mitsubishi used colors manufactured in Western area and Nakajima bought the color from companies located in Eastern region. Even today, it is almost impossible to produce 100% same color in different timing and location. Black on cowling is an example of this. After 1943, all material was controlled by a ministry. This means that ministry decided all allocation of material. After this happened, talking about color difference has less meaning."
Of further interest, the black dangling aileron balances were a quick fix for limited combat ability on Mitsubishi-built Zero 21s until just before Pearl Harbor. This was to keep the planes from having high speed crashes and skin ripple during dives.
These "Pearl Harbor" vintage Zeros were flight restricted, until an internal fix was done on the Mitsubishi production line. Thus none with the internal fix were aboard the Kido Butai.
This was not used by Nakajima as the internal fix was made early enough for their production line. No Nakajima built Zeros were ready for
Pearl Harbor".
The newer Zeros with the internal fix began being swapped with the old "dangling aileron balance" as soon as possible. ACE T. Iwamoto noted in his diary that his new (post Pearl Harbor) Zero arrived in January 1942, while ACE Iyozo Fujita got his just before the Indian Ocean action.
http://japaneseaircraft.multiply.com/photos/album/1/Replica_Jan_1990
For the Jan 1990 REPLICA mag article "Shinjuwan no 101 ki", H. Yoshimura, M. Asano and I found that the stripes on the CV aircraft at Pearl Harbor did NOT go under the fuselage...at least for those we found photos.
We also found that the stripe on DI-108 on Akutan Island DID wrap under the fuselage. So we became wary.
For those Tainan Kokutai aircraft we have found that the diagonal stripe did NOT go under the fuselage.
Why did the majority NOT go under the fuselage was a puzzle?
THEN I was involved with the Confederate Air Force Zero 21....and heard the many complaints by the dude who painted the complete wrap of the fuselage stripes on EII-102, leading me to understand why the fuselage stripes did NOT go under the fuselage. There just was no room when on your back painting the stripe!
OH, we -the entire restoration crew- signed our names on that rear most stripe far under the fuselage, which was there until the Pacific Air Museum got their hands on it!
Reverend Sidnei Maneta (Brasil) has nice artwork for 'Pearl Harbor' and other CV borne actions:
http://japaneseaircraft.multiply.com/photos
Hope this helps,
Cheers,
David Aiken, student of 7 Dec 1941...Shinjuwan Sakusen (Pearl Harbor Operation)
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Excellent support to our build effort Dave- thank you very much :-ok
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This you get when you call in an expert - an expert report :-clap
Thanks, Dave, this is really helpful :-ok
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Hi, David!!
I don't think we've corresponded since the CAF B-24 reconfiguration project. Good to have you contributing to LetLetLet.
You mentioned DI-108 and I have a question about the markings. Some reference drawings show a yellow tail band yet the photos I have are rather indistinct in that regard. Did Koga's airplane have a lower band of yellow on the vertical or ?
Thanks in advance for any insight you might have.
Scott
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Hi, David!!
Did Koga's airplane have a lower band of yellow on the vertical or ?
Scott
Hi Scott,
The mud line extended across the vertical surface and fuselage and engine. The portion across the vertical surface caused many to place a yellow command stripe BELOW the tail code. A check of all Zero "Shotaicho" (flight CO) marks confirm the stripe position was ABOVE the tail code.
Further, the mudline across the fuselage was illustrated as a blue section on the upper fuselage including the canopy in some of the earliest "Zero" books.
The immediate post crash analysis of the Koga crash contains an illustration showing the yellow fuaelage stripe and the red tail code...but the mudline was NOT a "color" on the plane.
HTH,
David
PS: The taxi ride across Carswell AFB that (late) CAF pilot Jim Thixton gave me on Diamond Lil was as close as I ever got to a flight. tsk...
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Thanks for that information, David. I became very suspicious of the application of a command stripe after viewing photos, especially one of the rebuild process.
In all the thousands of hours of work we did on the various bombers, the closest I came to flying was doing a couple of engine runs for our avionics guy one day. Gary was always up against a deadline from the "leadership" to give them the airplane so they could go burn gas.....
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Gosh, Scott,
When I said that I did not get to fly...I was speaking solely about the B-24 as a taxi ride.
I did fly in Chuckie when it had a #2 engine (oil leak) shut down during a CAF Air Show...and a B-25 (Hap Arnold's plane) at a CAF crew party...both with (late) Mike Clark as pilot.
Lorn Westfall got me up in his "What the L-4" where we overflew Galveston Beaches...as a reward for helping the "Gulf Coast Wing" TORA fleet of aircraft.
Now I hope to get a flight in the latest B-26 Invader restoration. (Late) USN Ace Oscar Bailey and I worked on the old CAF A6M2 in 1982 and Norm Hartman and I worked on it in 1990 and now Norm is working on this new Invader project.
Cheers,
David
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Ah, yes... I remember Dr. Hospers telling me about letting Mike Clark fly the Fortress. Doc didn't let too many people in that cockpit and Mike was one of the few. Since I'm "retired" from working on warbirds there isn't much reason for me to be around them.
P.M sent, David.
Scott
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Both of the Judys are going together fairly quickly, though they are only worked on during my lunch period :-paper. I hauled them home yesterday so that I can prime them and prep for paint.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7380.jpg)
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Excellent work Scott.Good planes! :-flo
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I'm impatient to see them finished...
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They wold be great when complete :-ok
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Today I finally sat down, read all the advice from many experts, researchers, and modellers, and decided to try my hand at mixing up some paint for Koga's A6M2. I ended up using ModelMaster RLM02, gloss white, and some Dunkelgrun to give it just a tint of olive. I've no idea if it is close to accurate, but at least it isn't light grey as I'd always thought early war IJN aircraft were painted. I've learned much during the few months of the Japan Group Build.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7387.jpg)
And a close-up of the cockpit, pretty much out-of-the-box including the instrument panel decal that came with the kit.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7391-1.jpg)
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Cockpit look very good, almost no need for anything aftermarket.
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Very good job.
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Nice progress, Scott!
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I've changed my mind on the Zero......our new member, David, has been so helpful with information on Petty Officer Koga's airplane that I'm going to save that project for a better kit. I'll finish this "parts airplane" in other markings (yet to be decided.....).
Scott
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There were many examples of the A6M2 in markings from the Pearl Harbor operation but I wanted to do something different. So.......this is the scheme I decided on. Next to spray it with some clear gloss and apply the decals.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7399.jpg)
The Raiden looks like this this morning, after applying a bit of aluminum Metalizer in the areas that will have paint chips:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7394.jpg)
I'm going to use the toothpaste paint-chipping method that Letipapa and Profa have used. I've tried to use very small amounts of toothpaste applied with an old paintbrush and other instruments.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7403.jpg)
I'll spray the underside grey and we'll see how successful my efforts are.
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Great Scott,great!! :-clap
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I like this bands work mate :-ok
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Nice rainbow band, almost like Nam 20 years later... :))
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Yes, I confess that the fuselage banding drew my eye to this airplane--not to mention that the position of the band was in just the same place as the original yellow marking I'd started with. In addition, it was operating from Takao, Formosa rather than being part of the Hawaii action, so I'm modeling something just a little different. You know me, nothing "popular" from my desk!
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Nice!!!
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Here is the "after" photo of the wing section I tried the toothpaste paint-chipping on. It really, really works well now that I've learned to use the paste very sparingly.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7408.jpg)
The other wing:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7410.jpg)
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Result is very,very goooood!!! :-clap :-clap
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Yes, I'm very excited and I am just now starting to dapple the paste on the upper and side surfaces. This will be the real test of my skill with this process The green camouflage was quite rough in a few spots on the airplane I'm modeling. Hopefully I will have a further report to add later tonight!
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The toothpaste works FANTASTIC! Here's the Raiden after spraying the green and removing the paste.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7430.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7432.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7431.jpg)
The hardest part of doing this is trying to exactly match the chipping pattern on the real airplane with the paste. A bit of practice should help.
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You are right, just practice ;) But this look good!
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The hardest part of doing this is trying to exactly match the chipping pattern on the real airplane with the paste. A bit of practice should help.
To do that job,it takes a lot of nerves and skill!! :-flo
I like how it looks!! :-clap :-clap
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Excellent result!
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Hooray! :-joke I have more room on my workbench finally.....This is the Zero "parts airplane" that donated landing gear legs and some other pieces to the A6M5 I built earlier in this GB. I'll try to get a few more photos taken tomorrow if time permits.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7435.jpg)
Now on to the ATAIU/SEA J2M3, the Curtiss, the two Judys, the B-25 (just started), the Hs 129, the Y1B-17....... :-roll
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She is splendid Scott!!! Well done mate!
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Really beauty :-clap
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Wonderful job mate. I like it so much!! :-clap :-flo
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A small bit of progress on both D4Ys today. They're getting close to the painting stage. I mixed up some red/brown propeller paint for the 1/48 J2M3 so I sprayed the propellers for these also and did the tires as well.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7448.jpg)
This next little project took just over three hours of total relaxation to complete. The poor A6M2N at the top of this photo has been sitting on top of a box in my storage shed for almost nine years without being disturbed, cleaned, or moved in all that time. Then I needed a ring cowl for the D3A2 Val that I built earlier in this thread and used the cowl from this Rufe to make a mold.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6720.jpg)
I purchased this kit not long after Tamiya first released it, probably in 1974 or '75. If memory serves this is either the first or second model I ever painted with an airbrush, that being a Badger 350 that I still use today. I took all of the disassembled bits into the sink today and gave everything a good bath. It didn't look too bad under all the dust and grime so I hauled all the pieces to the model desk. I was missing two pieces--the top 1/2 of the radio antenna mast and the little scoop section inside the cowling--both easily fixed items.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7442.jpg)
Initially I was going to strip all the paint and redo this one as I have the other old models, but the paint looked pretty decent. The cockpit had fallen free at some point so I carefully demated the wing from the fuselage. Then I cleaned the cockpit up, added some seatbelts, and reassembled everything back the way I did it 36 years ago. I hand't yet discovered filler for seams when I built this kit, but being a Tamiya it fits pretty nicely anyway. I decided to just button everything back together and repair the broken antenna mast. The only painting I did was the black on the cowling (I'd done some damage during the RTV mold making) and a little touch-up of the joints on the wing/fuselage and the main float/wing joint. I have no idea what color the paint is as it doesn't match any of the Humbrol Japanese colors I have......but it's green and grey. :-roll I evidently sprayed the model with flat clear after decaling as all the markings are still in good shape after over three decades, probably half of it spent in unheated/uncooled storage sheds.
So, without any more blabbing :-smey :-smey :-smey, this is what came off of my modeling desk in the year 1975 after today's three-hour rescue:
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7443.jpg)
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No doubt that you will be leading in number of released kits in this subject!
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Comparing it to my 30+ years old kits, it looks magnificent :-roll :-ok almost brand new after this post-treatment :-clap
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Nice work mate! And nice story. :-flo
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Excellent, Scott!
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I dug out this little gem this morning for another rebuild.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7458.jpg)
I haven't got a good idea of a paint scheme for this one yet.....
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I will search some multi colors from China ;) They fight against Soviet pilots :))
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Oddly enough, that was the area I was leaning toward......
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All right, will take some time to search and forward to you ;)
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Nice! :-flo
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My desk is finally starting to have a bit of room since two projects were completed this weekend and that gave me a chance to start decaling the RAF-operated J2M3.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7494.jpg)
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Goood! :-ok
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Splendid!!!
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I just went out to the storage shed and unearthed (almost literally) this restoration project. I will clean it and survey for what to do. More later.....too many other things to do right now.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7496.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7497.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7499.jpg)
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:)) :)) Lost treasure! :-flo
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That's my last Zero model in storage!
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Nice!!!
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This Otaki N1K1-J is the final complete model of a Japanese subject in my collection. I'll add it to the "assembly line" for the Japan Build. I think this one will get the full Letipapa/Profa toothpaste paint chipping procedure as some of these airplanes looked pretty rough after being in service a while.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7500.jpg)
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Very nice result mate :-clap
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Bravooo! :-clap
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I'm impressed by your production, Scott...
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I'm impressed by your production, Scott...
It's really easy when I've already assembled the model thirty years ago! :-tri Digging in the shed for one thing led to another, then another and soon I'll have my old :-wise Japanese fighter collection restored. I will need to purchase another Ki-84 and Ki-61 to fill in for two that I ultimately broke up completely for spares. It is fun to recall the original build process while I update these old models to a better finish--even if they are old-technology and not up to today's molding standards.
Here's the N1K1-J just about ready for primer. I split it apart and painted the cockpit in the appropriate color instead of my signature Pactra blue.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7525.jpg)
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:-ok
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Following my standard procedure I disassembled the Ki-27 and correctly repainted the cockpit. Then it was an easy job to remove the old decals and wetsand the whole model to prep for primer. This is really a nice little kit, with fine engraved panel lines and good fit. It was originally produced by Mania and then Hasegawa/Minicraft reboxed it in the '80s. If anyone is wanting to build a 1/48 Nate, this is a good place to start.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7527.jpg)
I've changed my mind on the paint scheme for the N1K1-J--I found a really interesting machine with photos of both sides of the airplane :-eek that I'm going to replicate.
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I wanted to finish the N1K1-J tonight but then I realized I have run out of hinomaru decals. I may decide to paint them on rather than use decals now that I've depleted my spares. It's ready for gloss clear at this point and I prepped the little Ki-27 for paint also.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7539.jpg)
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Hinomary are easy, it is important to have unit markings
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:-ok
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:-ok :-ok :-ok
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Well, the hinomaru project worked out pretty well for a first attempt. I doubt I'll use decals any more! Just a few bits to install and this one goes in the display case.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7540.jpg)
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:-clap :-clap
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I also got the landing gear installed a bit ago. It took quite a lot of work to add all the plumbing and linkage to the gear. The N1K1-J had a very long gear and it double-telescoped to fit into the wheelwells. Unlike the P-47 design the Japanese engineers used hydraulics only to shorten the gear for retraction. That led to a lot of hydraulic lines and sequence valves on the gear legs. The N1K2 lowered the wing to the bottom of the fuselage and so dispensed with the stalky, complicated legs.
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True, no matter that mid wing configuration gives less drag, more penalty come from the difficulties with landing gear. If you put it in wing, you need long strut and this mean weight and in other hand there is also problem where to put it in wing (this make another problem with structure stress and weight penalty). Other solution is to put landing gear in fuselage (like in Wildcat) but this give narrow track and this mean taxi problems. Options are inverted gull wing (like Stuka and Corsair), where on lover point is mounted landing gear or smaller length. As you guess- gull wing have this braking point which have to be secured by additional bolts and hinge and this mean weight penalty.
It was a real nightmare to make good fighter!
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:-ok
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Thanks for technical details, Scott, and nice theory explanation, No.1 :-obey
Yep, BTW, nice hinomarus as well :-ok
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The designers and engineers were certainly ingenious in being able to turn a floatplane fighter into a land-based machine with relatively small modifications. Certainly the gear ended up being a problem, but under the wartime pressures to produce the -J it's a pretty neat solution to the design.
Here are two photos of the gear on the prototype airplane. The first shows the strut in the fully extended configuration and the second shows just how much it telescoped to shorten it for retraction. You can see in the first photo that there are two strut cylinders, one telescoping into the other and the pair then sliding up into the upper gear leg.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/N1K1-JExtended.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/N1K1-JCompressed.jpg)
The production gear is a little bit less complicated looking but still has quite a lot of plumbing on it.
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Excellent images mate :-ok
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Very rare images! Excellent! Thank you for share ! :-clap
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Here is the N1K1-J. I picked this particular airframe even though I don't exactly know its pedigree. I had access to both left, right, and forward 1/4 view pictures of this bird and I liked the NMF lower surfaces combined with the standard top camouflage. The lower inlet scoop of the normal George is missing on this machine and there is no armament, leading me to believe it was a test ship for engine modifications. The main inlet is also larger diameter than the standard N1K1-J.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7544.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7546.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7549.jpg)
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Looks very,very good! I like it much! Great job Scott! :-clap :-clap
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Nice work mate :-clap
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As you said - nice combo of upper cammo and lower NMF, and that NMF of yours shines :-clap
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Very nice!!!
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Thanks, friends. Refurbishing these old projects is a very relaxing form of modeling. "Low-tech" modeling like this offers a lot. The old Otaki/Arii kits look pretty nice when finished even if they don't have all the tiny detailing of a modern kit.
I've been doing some thinking about the airplane I modeled and I now wonder if the 1/1 version may have been the second prototype of the N1K1-J. The photos I've seen of the first prototype show a cowling with a much bigger main opening and no chin scoop. Regardless, my model represents some form of development machine.
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After much searching and a batch of ideas sent by No.1, I've finally decided on a scheme for the little Ki-27. Eventually it'll carry markings of the 59th Sentai that saw combat at the Battle of Nomonhan/Khalkhin Gol in 1939. There are many interesting markings for this little fighter but I felt like I wanted to portray an airplane that fought in a relatively little-discussed battle.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7550.jpg)
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Yes :-ok
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I'm thinking that I also need to build an airplane from the Russian side of this battle.
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So you need early I-16?
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Yes, or an I-153 would be interesting......I may sneak down to the local store tomorrow to see what he has. ;)
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Will see ;)
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:-ok
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Nice ideas, Scott! :-clap
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Khalkhin Gol/Nomonhan is almost unknown, or at best, ignored (except to historians and researchers) on this side of the Pond. I've been doing a good bit of reading about this particular combat lately and it's quite interesting, indeed. I had no idea there were a number of BT-5s and other rare armor pieces still set-up as memorials to the conflict until I began this research. LLL expands my knowledge base yet again! :-paper
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Ok, here is the Ki-27. This little fighter was assigned to the 2nd Chutai of the 59th Fighter Sentai and fought at the Nomonhan/Kholkhin Gol conflict. I simply masked and sprayed all the markings on this one.
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7556.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7558.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7557.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7554.jpg)
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Nice!!!
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Simply and beautiful :-clap
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You are so fast!! :-flo
Great,as always! ;)
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I'm only this fast because these are rebuilds rather than new construction, Sall! ;)
Here's the J2M3 that was flown by the British for evaluation. I decided to mark it as B1-02, the second of the two ATAIU SEA machines. Rising Decals did a sheet with ship B1-01 on it and the markings are slightly different between the two. Most of the drawings of the right side of 01 show that the "ATAIU" lettering didn't interfere with the roundel, but on this airplane the painters "ran out of room" so to speak and simply brushed the letter over the roundel. The toothpaste paint chipping process really worked great--thanks to Letipapa and Profa for inspiring me with this method! :-ok
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7566.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7567.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7568.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7570.jpg)
I'm going to take a break from the Japan-Build for a while and finish up a couple of other projects that I've had started for some time. We invite everyone to keep contributing anything related to the Japanese as this is still an open build.
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You did the best in this topic mate and hope we can add something more ;)
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I've still got those two D4Ys on the bench and several old unbuilt kits in the shed, but I'm going to take a short break from meatballs for a little while. If this thread gets stale we'll find a way to revive it!
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Great Scott!!! You are greaaaat!! So much models from you,in this topic... :-eek
:-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap :-clap
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Here is a "before and after" photo essay of the majority of my builds for this thread--it was pretty easy to restore versus actually building new kits!
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6720.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7573.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_6722.jpg)
(http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w117/2AF/IMG_7574.jpg)
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For those who like to model Japanese subjects, here's something to fire up your inspiration this autumn... ;)
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1849084408/
Including 32 very diverse profiles by yours truly :)
I'd recommend grabbing a couple of those Hasegawa 1/32 kits...