1:48 Tamiya Japanese A6M5 - First Build and First WIP COMPLETED 2/27/16

Your Zero looks fantastic. I've been wanting to get one of these kits, and I enjoyed seeing your progress. Very inspiring.

Kind regards-

You did a beautiful job on this project.  I look forward to your next WIP!

Toshi

Hunter, I have been following your build and each time I got caught up I couldn't believe how well you were doing.  That plane is georgeous.  Great work!  I am positive that your Dad is smiling down on you and is very proud of your accomplishment.  Keep up the great work. 

Jim  

PS - Never saw that stand before. Gotta get one. Looks to be very helpful.

Hey MM - 

Thank you Mopar, and I have a long way to go. The build was easy, it's getting the details correct. Thank you for looking in on my build. And yes to the stand, my wife got it for me.

modelcrazy

 

Great looking build Hunter and you will only get better. Within a few kits you will be turning out contest quality builds. Learn one or two new techniques with each build and get familiar with them, then move onto still more techniques. It certainly does not look like a first build to me.
I echo Lawdog’s observation here. The Hinomarus on the fuselage is a little too high and the ones on the wings are a tad too forward. Where is the one for the left side? These are very small details that will become second nature as you become familiar with aircraft markings. Your airbrush technique looks perfect. The canopy masking’s are sweet however a little out of my price range for something I can do myself albeit time consuming, especially on an aircraft like the Zero. I will/did hand paint the canopy using acrylic paint. This allows me to clean off any paint that strays off the frame by using a toothpick and water. This takes a steady hand and patience.
Again very nice build. Great job my friend.

 

Steve - 

Thank you Sir....I know it's my first but I wasn't pleased with how it turned out. And yes I could not agree with you more about learning techniques and taking them forward with my future builds. Now the markings....the left hand Hinomarus was destroyed when I was working on the tail numbers. I was moving the aircraft around and my finger crinkled it to the point of no return and the right side one was 100% dry. I was working with Micro Set and Micro Sol for the first time and was having a time with it...not enough or too much. Yeah....a lot of lessons learned with this....a lot. Thank you for all the support and guidence friend.

Model Nerd - 

Thank you for your kinds words and for looking in on my build. The kit was great and I am going to look into another Tamiya kit. Great avatar by the way.

Way to kind Toshi....Thank you for your comments and for following the entire build...I have aways to go before I reach your level.

fox

Hunter, I have been following your build and each time I got caught up I couldn't believe how well you were doing.  That plane is georgeous.  Great work!  I am positive that your Dad is smiling down on you and is very proud of your accomplishment.  Keep up the great work. 

Jim  

PS - Never saw that stand before. Gotta get one. Looks to be very helpful.

 

Jim - 

Thank you very much for your kind words and for following the entire build. I am pleased with everything I've learned, not so much on the results. I don't know what my dad would being saying...LOL..."Why didn't you do this or that...you've seen me do this a 100 times" LOL  I know he is pleased that I took up the hobby because he tried for years to get me to join the "Plastic Dark Side" LOL. Thank you again Jim

Friend Hunter - A very nice job you made of it overall, great finish work, looks like you have the airbrush well under control. It took me a few builds to get comfortable with an airbrush, and I still didn't do as well as you at this stage.

I love that Lawdog and others chimed in with suggestions for details, that will help you as continue to develop your skills. What a great place this forum is, and the members are so helpful, friendly and supportive. 

Nice job, Buddy, keep 'em coming.

Patrick

Hello Patrick - 

I couldn't have said it any better....everyone has been great through this entire build with help, tips, suggestions and support. I am already starting on my next build so I can utilize what have learned from my mistakes.

I hope you have been well, and thank you for your kind words and for looking in on my build.

Take care,

Hunter

You did a fantastic job on that kit. Really nice work.

BK

Brandon - 

Thank you friend for your kind words. I have been watching all your works since joining and you sir have an immense talent in model building. Your AH-1Z Viper was absolutely wonderful...job very well done. Thank you for looking in on my build. 

Hey Hunter, nice to see the finished model. Your airbrushing is nice and smooth, and I like the semi gloss sheen it has. You even used the correct colors! A rare thing for a newbie building a Zero. I built the same aircraft when I first came back to the hobby, although it was the Hasegawa kit. So seeing this brings back a few mems! I'm sure you've learned a lot and the only suggestion I have that hasn't been pointed out is the angle of the main gear might be off a bit. again, nice work and keep on building. 

Hunter,

What's a project without a fubar moment?    Who on this forum hasn't done the same thing; buggering up decals while they're covered in setting solution at least once in their model building lifetime?  It's almost a rite of passage.

All hiccups considered, your build turned out very well, despite the hinomaru setback.  You've got a great attitude towards the hobby and your future projects.  Take what you've learned through your own efforts, add the suggestions you've received from others and take the techniques and ideas you have found yourself and add them as you go and you can only improve your skills and build quality.  And remember, you only have to please yourself.  Have fun with the hobby.  That's what it's really all about.

Look forward to your next project.

Mike

Hello Nathan - 

Thank you for your kind words and for looking in on my build. I don't know how it would have turned out if the kit wasn't so well designed and made. LOL Thanks again

Murph - 

Thank you Sir, and boy were there a few fubar moments (LOL) I had a great time building this kit and having everyone help with thier tips and suggestions. I have definitely learned a lesson or twelve. Plus, great things came from this WIP...I was invited by Gamera to join the Japanese GB..where I got my first badge, and I joined the Floats and Boats GB where I am tackling a 329 pieces monster with PE (LOL) Thank you very much for your kind words, and for looking in on me Murph.

Hunter

Steve - Thank you Sir....I know it's my first but I wasn't pleased with how it turned out

Hey Hunter, being in the same boat ( newb ) I have a feeling that we'll never be totally pleased with a build.That's why we continue.

Very true templar, very true. Point well taken friend.

Hunter,

I can't believe what a wonderful job you have done! Actually I can believe it!!!! I have really enjoyed following it and seeing what a great modeler you are my friend! I apologize for not getting in touch with you sooner but I'm wrapping up my SBS tomorrow and I will drop you a line and I have have a few Tiger Paw pictures I want to share with you.

All the best my friend!

Joe

Highlander242

Hunter,

 

I can't believe what a wonderful job you have done! Actually I can believe it!!!! I have really enjoyed following it and seeing what a great modeler you are my friend! I apologize for not getting in touch with you sooner but I'm wrapping up my SBS tomorrow and I will drop you a line and I have have a few Tiger Paw pictures I want to share with you.

 

All the best my friend!

 

Joe

 

Hey Joe - 

I hope you had a great show, and I'm sure you impressed everyone with your outstanding figures. Thank you for the very kind words...to nice. I have a lot to learn to earn my stripes. I am grateful that everyone took the time to view my build to obtain all the great tips and suggestions from everyone.

I can't wait too see all the photos from the show. Take care bud and I'll drop you a line soon.

Hunter

Just saw this, Hunter. Finished product looks real good. Decals are tough, man. They come at the end of the build, you only really get one shot, and they make such a big difference in the final appearance. For me, a minor location error would be the least of my worries if they laid down flat and didn't silver. Yours look very nice.

Overall a clean looking build. Enjoyed following along and I'm looking forward to the next one. 

suomi39

Just saw this, Hunter. Finished product looks real good. Decals are tough, man. They come at the end of the build, you only really get one shot, and they make such a big difference in the final appearance. For me, a minor location error would be the least of my worries if they laid down flat and didn't silver. Yours look very nice.

Overall a clean looking build. Enjoyed following along and I'm looking forward to the next one. 

 

Suomi - 

Thank you very much for the comments.....I really appreciate that you took the time to read and follow my first build. I had a great time doing it and learned a few things along the way. 

For your first build, you did a cracking job Hunter! Nice work all around. My only question would be regarding the propeller: I believe they are brown in color with yellow bands around them and not black with yellow tips as the RAF aircraft have.

What's next?

Keep having fun!

Cheers,

Martin

I was unaware of that and will make sure not to make that mistake again. Thank you for that insight and thank you for looking in on my build.

What's next: A 1/48th Trumpeter HU-16A Albatross and a MiniCraft Cessna 172 Float Plane for the Floats and Boats GB. After that I think I am going to try my first attempt at armour then a ship.

Thanks again Martin for looking in and for pointing out my mistake

Looks real good but I am curious if you overlooked the canopy framing on the forward wind screen and the rear canopy?

Aggieman

Looks real good but I am curious if you overlooked the canopy framing on the forward wind screen and the rear canopy?

 

Hello Aggieman - 

No, I had to get more of the proper color and finished the front and rear of the canopy. At the start of the build I had to order rattle cans in bothe colors and shorted myself at the end. It does not come in 10,18 or 23ml bottles. I thank you for looking in on my build and for helping me by noticing that paint item. 

Dude, if you saw my first build you'd know how well you did. Outstanding job!

I really gotta build a zero but I just haven't been able to bring myself to build an axis warbird yet... maybe after I build one of every variation of every allied aircraft...

Masking canopies is easily the most infuriating part of building aircraft. What I do is keep two xacto handles and I always keep a super sharp blade in one (I marked the handle by wrapping it with colored tape). Then I try to cover the canopy/windshield in as few pieces of tamiya tape as possible then just lightly cut the tape into shape - like literally don't press the blade down at all, just let it set on it. One trick I've picked up to help is to turn the flashlight on my cell on then hold the canopy over it - it helps make the lines in the panels more visible.

The masks are truly great but I'm on a budget so I rarely indulge. If you want to try them (and try some resin and PE while your at it) - eduard makes a stellar 48 scale Hellcat Profilpack that comes with PE parts, PE cockpit parts, resin wheels, and masks - all included in the kit. I just picked one up and in the box the kit looks stellar.

Again, great job man! Looking forward to seeing your 2nd build!

Harp - 

Thank you, thank you very much for looking in on my build, your kind words and the great tip for masking the canopy. I am definitely going to try it on the Albatross(Floats & Boats GB) I am building right now.

Well done hunter.

Congratulations Hunter! Well done! I really enjoyed following your progress on this build ans I look forward to seeing your next build. Very nice build.