Battle of Midway Group Build, 3 June, 2017 - 7 June, 2018

I believe the pit takes a Grumman Bronze Green which is darker than the regular zinc chromate. All other interior parts were FS 36440 as you said.

Tri color cats had white wheel wells I believe.

Hey D,

I built the Fujimi A6M-2 back in the early 90s. I can't remember if it had that problem or not, but if it did, I managed to fix it. Can you jam anything between the upper and lower wing parts to force it to the correct height ? 

That problem would probably put it onto my Shelf of Doom for a decade or so too.

Cheers

Tony

taxtp

Hey D,

I built the Fujimi A6M-2 back in the early 90s. I can't remember if it had that problem or not, but if it did, I managed to fix it. Can you jam anything between the upper and lower wing parts to force it to the correct height ? 

That problem would probably put it onto my Shelf of Doom for a decade or so too.

Cheers

Tony

 

For a shim, how about two pieces of .040 sheet styrene shaped correctly, stand them ontheir ends,then two small pieces of sprue glued between them so they "stand" inside the wing like an H, but with two rungs.  I think that might work!

D 

I usually use leftover sprue and carefully fit to size by sanding or slicing off a little at a time till I get the fit I want. Kind of sneaking in or working down to the fit you want. I learned this method in woodwork to get tight mitered joints.

ManCityFan

Hey check, hate to add more work, but I am going with Scott's suggestion of getting the Tamiya 1/48 F4F.  Love that stubby little plane, so it was just a matter of time until I built it.  Please update the roster.  I am determined to get this GB badge.

Off to Scalehobbyist to put my order in.  This will be an OOB build.  No reason to fuss much with the pit, as the canopy is small, and you won't see much.  This will be my first Tamiya plane, and am looking forward to it.  Hope Mission Models has the colors I need.

 

ManCityFan

 

plasticjunkie

Hey no sweat D, just a thought to throw this idea out.  Once in a while a brick wall appears out of nowhere killing the project.

You can't go wrong with the Tamiya Wildcat, that is a very nice kit and has the typical excellent   Tamiya parts fit. I just completed the new Tamiya 1/48 Tomcat as a commission and was impressed by the level of detail and outstanding parts fit, superior to Hasegawa 's cat.

Save that Zero as a test bed for future projects then.         

 

 

 

 

 

Hey PJ, I am definitely not tossing the Zero, and I will be trying out your suggestion at some later date.  Trying to fix that issue will help my building skills, so again, thanks for giving me a plan of attack.

 

In researching this plane, I have come up against the "right color" conundrum again.  The cockpit color is described as bronze green or dark dull green.  Multiple FS designations are suggested as the right color.  Vallejo sells a bronze green: FS 34052.  Does anyone know if this is close to right?  I know you won't be able to see the pit well when it is done, but why not get it right, right?

Second, the wheel wells.  Some say to paint it white, some say light gull gray.  I am leaning toward light gull gray FS 16440, which is a lighter light gull gray than the bottom plane color FS 36440.  Does that sound right?

Sorry I am being so long-winded today.

Dwayne:

if you're using acrylics I won't be of much use to you for color, but Bronze Green is a very dark green not at all close to either zinc chromate green or interior green.  Colourcoats makes it in an enamel; not sure who is close in acrylics.

Seems that somewhere I read that Bronze Green and Dark Dull Green are the same color, except that the former is glossy and the latter is matte/flat.  Not sure about that though.

Wildcats interior wheel wells were painted "Grumman gray," a very light gray which apparently was a Grumman proprietary color.  It's close to "camouflage gray," and light gull gray is probably a close enough match.

I'm working on an F4F-3 right now for the Coral Sea GB, so I recently looked into the matter. 

 

 

 

checkmateking02

 

Wildcats interior wheel wells were painted "Grumman gray," a very light gray which apparently was a Grumman proprietary color.  It's close to "camouflage gray," and light gull gray is probably a close enough match.

 

 

Did some work on my Val. I dumped the plastic exhaust pipes and made some from aluminum tubing. I also used the UMM razor saw to cut each cowling flap for added detail:

I sitipled some Mr. Surfacer Formula 500 on the bombs to give them some rough cast texture. I still have to scratch out the thin fin brace strips not provided and a few more thingies to be added before the painting stage.

All the small belly small bits were added including the mains.

Next will be assembling the delicate bomb trapeeze and some other minor details.

Looking good there, PJ.  Just got some Mr. Surfacer 500, partly for the exact reason you just used it.

Nice clean construction.  Looks like a pretty decent kit.  Just checked, and this a rebox of the same kit I have in my stash.  Now I have some hope it will go together better than the Zero.  Will be watching this kit go together with particular interest.  Now, if it gets messed up, I will know it is operator error. 

That extra detail is going topay off in spades on the finished model, nice work PJ.

Looking good, pj!

I have some time to work at the bench and started adding all the guns to the Akagi.  The layout of this ship just amazes me. 

Yeah, I really like IJN ships.

Looking good Scott.

So this came in yesterday:

IMG_0701 by Dwayne Munk, on Flickr

And I got these extras:

IMG_0702 by Dwayne Munk, on Flickr

Quickboost engine, resin tires, and a decal sheet so I can do John Thach's plane.

Really looking forward to this build.

Nice work, Scott.  Looks pretty complex.

Good choice, Dwayne.  Jimmy Thach was a significant part of Midway operations.

Hi CM,  actually, the kit seems to be very simple although it looks complex.  I am really enjoying how it is going together.  Painting is going to be a new learning experience, I have never did effects airbrushing with light layers on such a small model with so many dimensional details before.  

Dwayne, you are going to have a blast building that kit, and the addition of the aftermarket parts should add to the fun.

Scott

Been adding all the pipe supports and girders and at first thought, man, this could get interesting.  However, the kit is so well molded and engineered, all these small parts fell right into place.

My $1 garage sale find Shopmate pan vise also is a huge help.

I've said it before, and I will say it again...I have got to hit some garage sales.  That vice is absolutely perfect for model building.  $1.  You are killing me.

Your work is going pretty quickly.  Don't you love a well engineered kit.  Looks great so far.

That is a fascinating-looking ship, Scott.  Very entertaining watching it come together.  And, of course, educational too.

Thanks for the comments guys, I'll try to get some more posted soon.  

New update, got all the hull fitted out and did the shaded top coat this morning.

Looking really good, Scott.  Good job painting.  

It's been a while since I last made a post, so here you go.

I have almost completed the engine, just require some detail painting to complete.

I was also able to get the firewall and engine mount assembly painted.

Cockpit still needs work with detail painting. Disappointed that Hobby Boss kit did not supply decals for the IP. I was going to use a set from another build but the task was going to very complex and didnt bother in the end as it is not going to visible anyway.

I made up a spare set of fabric like seat belts from HGW Models, never attempted before. The parts are really, really small. Lost a couple of metal parts in the process. The result is OK.

Thats it.

I have been on the go slow recently and would like to get more done, but life is complex at the moment.

Till next time.

Those seatbelts came out nice, so you modified them to fit the kit?  The whole cockpit is looking good.

Great-looking engine and cockpit, damouav.  The seat belts turned out really well.  Nicely done!  

Thanks guys! Hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving Day.

scott and damian

Both your projects look stunning. Keep up the good work!

Right now we are away from home helping our son, his wife and our grandkids settle down in Greenville SC. Hopefully I will have some bench time by mid week.

Hey Scott,

The seats belts are for a P47 (a future build) so not actually for the TBF-1 Aveneger, but they match visually close enough for me. The cockpit requires much detail painting before I call it done.

Thanks for your comments.

Damian

Thanks Check,

It has been a slow build to date, hope I can get done before the end of the GB...

Appreciate your comments.

Damian