Hi Robert,

Yes I only saw a couple in the shops when I was in Japan recently, and ones that I had not seen four years ago when I was last there.

Looking at the Aoshima website, there are 10 in the series, some good fun ones.

https://www.aoshima-bk.co.jp/en/product/?s=&brand_en=&category_en=&scalename=&seriesname_en=1%2F24+CATERING+MACHINES&number=&jan-code=&when1-year=&when1-day=&when2-year=&when2-day=

Oh she's coming along great Robert! 

And cool Piers, I've seen about half those at the HLJ website but didn't know they made that many. 

And I apologize... I STILL have no badge. I'll get something whipped up. It won't look as good but it will be something... 

I want to add two more to the GB, both Hasegawa 1/48.  The Rufe, and an A6M2-K trainer.  They call the trainer an A6M2-K, but it has the A6M5 wing so I think it might also be called an A6M5-K.  There seems to be some confusion about the type and who built what.

For the Tony, I have the cockpit complete and the seatbelts in.

The seatbelts are from Kamizukuri, laser cut paper, with buckles and fittings available

With the fuselage closed up:

Nice work on your Ki cockpit lostagain!

John: I'm not sure about the correct designation on the trainer either but I just put you down with both. 

Piers: She's lookin' good! I have some of the Kamazukuri laser-cut paper weapons straps for US GIs but haven't used them yet. Those seatbelts look great!!! 

Thanks, Cliff.

I've been having issues with my main computer but I have now a report on the Rufe, it is well underway.  I have built 3 of these Hasegawa kits before and this one will be fine when it's done but it has been more trouble than the others to get good fits.  The Rufe fuselage halves are different to accommodate a ventral strake and bigger fin/rudder and the lower wing is also a new part as there are no wheel wells, but there are spots to add the central float pylon and struts.  When I first started fitting things together there was a furrowed brow for awhile, but with various nudges and squeezes everything eventually fit as well as any of the others, almost.  I had to force the cockpit module in to the fuselage, which I have never had to do before, and let it cure up good before more work.  The lower aft fuselage wanted to argue about coming together so I wrapped it real tight with tape while it cured.  The wing fit looked like a mess everywhere, so I glued the upper wings to the fuselage first and clamped them with some flanges on the bottom and let them cure.  There was a little sliver of a gap on the right wing root but a bit of Tamiya putty fixed that.  When I fit the lower wing half to the uppers they had to be glued in small spots, averaging out the fits, but to my surprise when I was done there was goodness in the land, and all were joyous.   
However, there was still some questions about the fit of the float gear, as the fit of the pylon to the fuselage was loose and not at all even on top.  Careful gluing and nudging before the glue set got it straight, I think, but the little struts in the back had an approximate fit and needed a little filler.  Quite likely a little more care when fitting the main pylon to the wing might make that better, and next time I will attach those struts to the float first as the depression where those struts fit on the bottom of the wing are much deeper than those on the floats and might hide some fit issues, if there are any after the float pylon issue is addressed better.  There is no separate part for the carburetor intake on this kit as there is on the others, it is molded as part of the lower wing.  By minimizing the gap at the aft wing to fuselage join there was a slight mismatch on the front which I fixed with a little sanding, and also by not trying to get a good tight fit on the ring the engine mounts on.  Spreading it open on the bottom improved the sideways fit on the forward wing root around the oil cooler area.  As you will see I did not neglect to put 16 grams of shot in the nose of the float, held in by dams of Aves Epoxyclay and a thorough soaking with RC 560 canopy glue.  The kit comes with a nice dolly to display the model, but I think I also see one of those Tamiya Kubota crawler tractors to go with it.  The cowl is attached to the engine, and it is the back of the engine that holds the assembly to the fuselage.  That makes it possible to thin the back edges of the cowl flaps to a nice edge.

Every time I look at this box art I wonder why all those B-24 gunners are asleep!

Sorry to hear about the fit issues John but she came together nicely! 

It's not a problem if it works in the end, right, Cliff?

Nice work on the planes, Gents!

Rounding for home on the Ramen Wagon...Remember that unused hole in the roof I probably should have filled, but didn't?  It's now a radio antenna.  

Just waiting for the banner that hangs on the pole on the back to dry then I just need to do some paint fixing on the edges that wore off during assembly and handling.  It seems the coat og sealer I used was not as robust as it normally is.

Excellent job on the food truck!  Nice idea about the antenna on the roof.

Gary

She's looking great Robert! 

John: Yeap!

Looking really good there Robert.

John, the Rufe is coming along well. SOmetimes you need to show those models whose boss...

Not in this group build as I'm pretty awful at completing them. However  thoroughly having a good time watching these kits come together. 

Hey, I'm been missing out!  Always a fun GB with Gamera.

That Tony cockpit is nice - never seen those paper cut belts before, lays really nice into the seat.

I would like to join please, I can start maybe in 2-3 week.  I will be building the 1/48 Finemodes Ki-15 'Kamikaze'.  The plane is a civilan paint job for a change, set a world time record for traveling from Japan to London for the King's coronation in 1937. Before the whole world went to hell, and planes were meant to make the world a closer place.

The Ki-15 should be a fun build, Waikong.  The Fine Molds kits are pretty nice, especially the newer ones.

With the better weather here I've had some distractions but I have a report on the Rufe. Canopy is on and masked. The bottom was painted the Nakajima grey green, and then the upper surfasces were painted with Alclad dull aluminum, followed by a clear coat to protect it. You will see that there is some silver on the left lower wing but it was just aluminum powder that wiped off with a damp paper towel. Today I put on an uneven coat of Nakajima Dark Green on the upper surfaces. When it has dried for a while I will do some chipping, and also add the yellow wing ID strips on the wings. All the paints are Mr Color.

Nice job on the Rufe, John!  One of my favorites.

Looking forward to the Ki-15, Waikong!

Gary

Thanks.

John, that's an interesting color for the Rude bottom. I don't think I recall seeing a green color like that before for the underside of a Japanese plane. Were they unique to seaplanes?

I haven't seen it before either.  I hope Hasegawa and Gunze are not lying to me!

A little more done today, some markings painted on.

That looks great John!!! 

Waikong: Sorry, I'll get you down now. Nice selection there! 

Great work, John!

Thanks, Robert and Cliff.  Here are two more photos, I have some more weathering to do and I am building a Komatsu tractor to go with the model which I am waiting for paint to arrive to complete.

looking very nice!

That's a beautiful Rufe!

Gary

John: Wow that looks superb John!!! Great work! 

I went ahead and posted you, when you get the tractor done I can replace the photo with the newer one. 

Lovely work on the Rufe there John!

jeaton01

Thanks, Robert and Cliff.  Here are two more photos, I have some more weathering to do and I am building a Komatsu tractor to go with the model which I am waiting for paint to arrive to complete.

 

 

 

Beautiful Rufe John!

Thanks, everyone for all the nice comments.  Here are some photos with the Komatsu and a Kurogane for good measure.

John,

That's a magnificent result on the Rufe, Komatsu and Kurogane.

The Tony is staggering forward - I now have the white primer on after blacking out the canopy framing.

Thanks, Piers.  Your canopy masking looks nice and neat.