Messages

4546

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: May 03, 2011, 07:38:10 PM »

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.

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.

Here's the embarrasing color I used to use for Japanese interiors......... Yes, I'll be redoing this area quite surely!

4547

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: May 03, 2011, 04:38:25 PM »

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

4548

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: May 03, 2011, 04:18:02 PM »

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!

4549

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: May 03, 2011, 07:47:56 AM »

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.

4550

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: May 02, 2011, 07:16:35 PM »

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.

4551

Warplane Art / Re: Curtiss Hawk 75

« on: May 02, 2011, 06:37:05 PM »

The tone on the codes and fin flash red stripe certainly look the same. I wondered about the darker grey they used on some airplanes, but I lean toward red as you've painted it.

4552

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Curtiss-Wright CW-21B

« on: May 02, 2011, 04:56:14 PM »

Well- CW-21 and MiG-21 are both interceptors

Funny--that is exactly what I thought! My donor kit is an IMC model that was already missing the canopy. I checked on the auction sites and found that it isn't worth much so I decided to rob the gear legs from it. I had planned on building it just to say I did, maybe now I'll mount it on the clear plastic stand that came with it. Ironically, I acquired both kits in the antique store purchase. Some things are just meant to be!

4553

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: May 02, 2011, 04:42:40 PM »

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.

4554

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: May 02, 2011, 08:46:53 AM »

My first project is under way:

4555

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Curtiss-Wright CW-21B

« on: May 02, 2011, 08:44:40 AM »

Today I formulated and sprayed the color I decided on for the old leaf tone and clearcoated for decal application. While that was drying I attacked the landing gear legs. The kit parts just don't look right and have the scissor link bosses too high on the strut. I dug around in my spares but couldn't find anything that suited me. I had a "eureka!" moment when I remembered the ancient MiG-21 kit in a box. Sure enough, the gear legs turned out to be nearly perfect for the Interceptor with a little extra work. I added a few bits of plastic, scratchbuilt the accordion strut doors, and applied the PE scissor links that come with the kit and this is the result, with an original on the left for comparison:

4556

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Academy F-8 Crusader

« on: May 01, 2011, 08:15:23 PM »

My buddy who worked on the F-8 said the hydraulic actuator that raises and lowers the wing was one of the worst things on the airplane as far as maintenance. ALWAYS leaking hydraulic fluid! He said that when you disconnected the actuator to change it you had to support the wing or the tips would keep going down until you damaged something.

4557

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Academy F-8 Crusader

« on: May 01, 2011, 08:10:16 PM »

Looking nice. They did a pretty good job on the upper fuselage bay under the wing. I've built the old 1/48 Monogram kit a couple of times but never got around to scratchbuilding the structure under there.

4558

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Group Build> Japan

« on: May 01, 2011, 08:05:23 PM »

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.

Also in the queue is the British-operated ATAIU-SEA Raiden as B1-02.

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.

4559

Aircraft Modeling / Re: Fokker D.VII Group build

« on: May 01, 2011, 05:37:06 PM »

This is an enlightening subject, I must say. I spent some time learning about the whole concept of the lozenge camouflage material. I've always admired the patterns but never looked into the actual process of making the fabric in 1/1 scale. Fascinating stuff!

4560

Aircraft Modeling / Re: AIRCO DH.2 (Eduard 1/48)

« on: May 01, 2011, 05:28:04 PM »

Beautiful!