1/350 Hasegawa Akagi Complete.

modelcrazy

I have been working dillegently every night on the Akagi. I have been replacing the bracing parts with the laser cut paper parts. Each one takes me about an evening each and still have several parts left to do. After this do I work on the AA guns or planes or do I go back to finishing the hull? 

 

Thanks guys.

GM, yep, I got em. Most are full with the POW and NC parts though 

Tojo, don't kid yourself. I'm positive your Akagi will turn out awesome. Hasegawa makes a beautiful kit OOB. I don't think I will go to this level on another build. I don't even want to add up the money I've "sunk" into this thing and I still have more to get! It may have been better, and absolutely less expensive, for me to go OOB.

modelcrazy

Thanks guys.

GM, yep, I got em. Most are full with the POW and NC parts though 

Tojo, don't kid yourself. I'm positive your Akagi will turn out awesome. Hasegawa makes a beautiful kit OOB. I don't think I will go to this level on another build. I don't even want to add up the money I've "sunk" into this thing and I still have more to get! It may have been better, and absolutely less expensive, for me to go OOB.

 

I heard you were doing all six carriers of Kido Butai in 1/350 Although I think you would have to scratch Hiryu and Soryu as I don't think they are available yet !!! Looking forward to your future project 

After this one, the other 5 will be done wrapped in flames as they appeared just before heading to the bottom.

Other than the smoke and flame, a lot less detail.

Steve,

Outstanding work.  I would finish the hull up and then move on to the smaller stuff.  Where did you get the paper details?

Tojo72

I heard you were doing all six carriers of Kido Butai in 1/350 Although I think you would have to scratch Hiryu and Soryu as I don't think they are available yet !!! Looking forward to your future project 

The reports of future Kido Butai builds have been greatly exaggerated, although I do want to get the Kaga and Shokaku in 1/350. Both are far more expensive than the Akagi and of course I would need to get the PE set for them.

I have the 1/700 Kaga triple decker in the stash and may have to get the Hiyru and Soryu in 700 as well. Lets see, that would just leave the Zuikaku 

Buddy, yeah, I guess your right. My eyes and sanity need a break.
I got the laser cut paper from a guy in South Korea. It took some time for me to track him down after I saw his build on Pintrest. Outstandig modler. He had said that while his Akagi "LCP" was for sale, he never expected to receive an order from another country.

How did I miss this one. I think that I am insane when it comes to me working on P/E but you take the prize so far. Absolutely brilliant work.....Cheers Mark

Thanks Mark. I'm completing the paper framework today and going back to the hull assembly. 

I still need to get 3 sets of 3D IJN pulots and crew. Northstar is the only one who makes them and it takes 4 months to arrive for reasons only Northstar knows 

After completing the paper framework, at least as far as I can go now, I started back on the hull. I decided to scratch this....bracing? Or whatever it's suposed to be. I didn't like the oversized piece provided in the kit. In fact, the pieces I installed are oversized compaired to the picture provided in the "Kagaro Super Drawings in 3D" book, but WTH.

The OOB piece looks more like prison bars rather than bracing (or whatever it is). It looks good Steve.

Thanks John. It looks like I have a few more bracings to add for the platforms. I cut that oval part out of the OOB part, cleaned it up and sanded it thin. I glued it on last night before turning in.

GMorrison

 

 

modelcrazy

I have been working dillegently every night on the Akagi. I have been replacing the bracing parts with the laser cut paper parts. Each one takes me about an evening each and still have several parts left to do. After this do I work on the AA guns or planes or do I go back to finishing the hull? 

 

 

 

 

Whichever, make sure you have a good storage system. I use those hinged lid divided boxes like electronics parts or fishing lures go in.

 

 

 

Great point GM. I have a ton of small plastic baby food containers with lids that I saved when my grandkids were ibn their baby food period not long ago and they are perfect for separating and sorting out parts during a complex build as this one. I use a piece of masking tape and label each container with the reference. Once the parts are glued I peel off the tape.

OK guys, I completed this section, at least until I get the IJN ladders from B&A in Australia and attach the deck, but I'm moving on. The black paint under the 25mm AA gun platform is where I'm checking if I need to add some filler. I also need to add the railing before I spray the black base.

I added some detail interest to the area under the deck but can't find any pictures of it to really know what was in there. Probably no one will see them anyway. This is the area where the three AM (Alliance Model Works) 1.2cm twin AA guns go. I glued the bracing on the AA platforms and set them aside to dry before attaching them to the hull. This area is going to need to be repainted. Lots of dust in there 

Wow does that look nice. Lattice is a real imprvement on that flat plastic they had for you ! Gonna be stunning in black. Looking forward to it.

gee , I'm enjoying this build , love your work modelcrazy .

Thanks Chris and Steve 

Excellent work Steve, the scratchbuilt lattice looks much better and to scale.

That is some beautiful work there Steve. I love your scratchbuilt lattice work. Looks like I need to pick up the Kagero book on the Akagi now. 

And just to let you know, after following your build, I “had” to buy the full Hasegawa PE set for my kit. It’s all your fault! At least that’s my story and I’m sticking with it.

Steve

Thanks Scott and Steve.

Steve, if you're intrested in the paper set for the fine bracing work let me know. I'll post Harry's contact info.

Hey Steve, its me.. just checking in on this wonderful build. I echo everyone elses comments on your replacement of the lattice work. Did you complete the remaining aircraft or will they be one of the past things to finish? I really love the landing gear and canopys, etc. 

By now you have probably rounded the ends of your fine point little tweasers with the amount of PE put into this thing! I bet the weight of the model had doubled because of the amount of brass added to it. 

Glad to see it is moving forward at an IPMS contest pace. 

Ben

Thanks Ben. I haven't worked any more on the planes. At present I need a few more kits but they are way out there on price. I did order some from a company in China at a reasonable cost but they said there's no shipping yet and they haven't charged me . I also need about 4 more IJN pilot figure sets from Northstar but they only have 1 in stock. I can't find any anywhere else and it takes about 4 months shipping. I think I'm going to run into issues receiving things in time (a year away). The Infiny IJN ladders I ordered from BNA, another item you can only find in one place, still haven't arrived after 3 weeks using air mail.

Currently I'm modifying the 12.7 cm type 89 guns I received from Alliance Model works. They are the only AM 12 cm guns available but the Akagi had the older type 10 guns which look similar. I'm bashing kit parts and Alliance parts to come up with something passable. I just have 3 to modify, then on to the starboard side of the hull.

modelcrazy

Thanks Scott and Steve.

Steve, if you're intrested in the paper set for the fine bracing work let me know. I'll post Harry's contact info.

 

Yes, please and thank you.

Steve

Steve,

His email is jhchi1@naver.com. His name is Harry and has a blog with more pictures. It's in Korean so you'll need to translate it. He's very easy to work with and responsive. The set seems expensive until you figure in the work and time he put into it and how much a compreable brass PE set (if someone made one) would cost.

https://blog.naver.com/jhchi1/220890705230

Here's some pics of Alliance's 12.7 cm type 89 AA gun conversion to a reasonable facsimile of the 12 cm type 10 which the Akagi had, using some kit parts. The guns were to be replaced after Midway.

modelcrazy

Steve,

His email is jhchi1@naver.com. His name is Harry and has a blog with more pictures. It's in Korean so you'll need to translate it. He's very easy to work with and responsive. The set seems expensive until you figure in the work and time he put into it and how much a compreable brass PE set (if someone made one) would cost.

https://blog.naver.com/jhchi1/220890705230

 

Cool and thanks bud.

Ok guys.

I arrived at the place I wanted to stop and take a break on the big ole Akagi. I ordered some ladder rungs to replace the pi#@ poor plastic lines that were molded on (like those on the second picture) however, until that time arrives.....I'm putting her aside and working on something else in the que....not Japanese.

Ignore any missing ladders and such. They were removed to easily facilitate the removal of the plastic handholds and instalation of the new PE. Those will all be taken care of once I get the rungs in.

I know it doesn'tlook lick mush that there's many hours involved.

Ooo, close up shots show some stuff that still need attention.

Yep, I was able to craw my way out of the pit for a break. I'll jump back in shortly. I have a year to complete her and at this rate..... I'll need all of it.