Again looks good Toshi. I have a birthday coming up in two months, I may have to pick up one of these as a little birthday gift to myself!

Beautiful cockpit Toshi! You've got the right mindset about trying to do better with each build, and I must say you are succeeding! Can't wait to see more, keep up the great work!

-Andy

To modelcrazy,

Oh, no.  I don't know about that, the engine looks to be another challenge coming up.  It looks just like the Tamiya 1/32 Corsair engine with several modifications.  The build and installation follows the same procedure as the Corsair engine.  So this helps me a bit, but not by much.  LOL!  Thank you for the vote of confidence as well as watching my back.

Toshi

To gamera,

It's a great kit, lots of fine detail and gimmicks like the retractable landing gear and foldable and removable wing tips.  I definately recommend this kit in the hands of a pro like you.  Thank you for the visit and the reply.

Toshi

Rooster513, thank you very much.  Believe me you, I'm doing the best I can to the best of my abilities.  LOL!  I really appreciate your support in my past builds, especially my current build of the Mitsubishi Zero as well as your kind words of encouragement.  Thanks for always checking in and the replies you leave, it's greatly appreciated.

Toshi

In two weeks I accomplished just what you see below which is still a partial build of the cockpit.  I still need to assemble the instrument panel but at this time, I figure I'd take a quick break and compose this portion of a continuation of the Zero build thread.  So I'm really slacking as in a week I normally can build a entire kit!  LOL!  

Although a joke, it's true as well, it's just the schematics for the Zero assembly needs to be deciphered in my eyes as I'm building a specific model number.  According to the schematic, I chose build A.  As for the next step, I'll assemble some of the wings, then onto the engine of which is another challenge that I can preclude at this time.  I'll know more as I get to that point.  

Until then, I've taken some photos of the cockpit prior to attaching the instrument panel.  Once I do attach the instrument panel, I can foresee that the panel will be blocking any attempt in taking detailed photos of the interior cockpit. Please see below for my progress.  As always, I appreciate forum members for supporting and viewing my builds as well as the many replies.  This makes my day go by quickly especially being at home for the majority of my time.  I really am honored to be a forum member of FSM!  Thank you everyone for excepting me.

Toshi

The seatbelt in this kit is made of paper stickers.

As you can now see, I at first was disappointed as I was expecting PE seat belts.  The paper sticker seat belts actually looks very good.  You be the judge.

The completed set of seat belts A, B, C, and D as the diagram denotes.

Front view.

Side view.  I painted the outer frame work just for the photo presentation.

Side view.

Top View.

7/16/15 evening,

Cockpit complete, installed into fuselage.  Next phase, wings.

Hi, Toshi - Now that's a mighty nice looking office, it will grace the finished model perfectly. Your new method of building these more complex kits is turning out some fine work, I know it's quite a change from the old Toshi way, (24 hrs = one model,) but just look at the difference you're achieving now.

Very good job, Buddy, thanks for the photo's and post's.

Patrick

Thank you Patrick206, yes, I think I found my niche!  I really like these difficult models, building the challenging kits that make me have to overcome my (Traumatic Brain Injury) or TBI makes me inspired to do that much better.  Even the doctors and therapists see a huge improvement, and when they see the threads here on FSM forum, they are completely shocked at what I've been able to accomplish.

I feel great knowing that I'm slowly but surely am regaining the fine motor skills I once had.  Back in my day, I used to prepare dioramas that included little baby rabbits and kittens playing in a forest all made with food.  A edible diorama if you will.  I really enjoyed presenting such the artistic side of me, it was an extension of my musical career.

I have to emphasize that it is FSM forum members like you that have guided and supported my efforts in my growth while I build each and every model kit, even if it takes me twenty four hours to build a kit. LOL!!!!

My next project is a "Visible B-17G (Flying Fortress).  I purchased six different PE sets for each and every compartment, this should be another challenging build.  I'm also eyeing out and considering the Trumpeter 1:32 TBF Avenger and the Tamiya 1:32 Supermarine Spitfire as my next endevours.  I once again look forward in doing a WIP detailed thread for forum members.  

Due to my situation of being home bound, I so look forward to your read and replies as well as other members read and replies.  Thanks for making my day that much more meaningful and exciting.

Toshi

Wow Toshi you're becoming a very talented builder.  Your Zero looks top notch so so far and I'm sure the rest of it will too.   Your detail painting on the office really makes it pop. A quality job on a quality kit my friend.

Jay Jay

Wow Toshi you're becoming a very talented builder.

I will second that! You've come a long way and now you're leaving a lot of us in the dust Really like the movable stabilizers and the cockpit looks great all buttoned up! Keep it coming

-Andy

Toshi my friend, I do enjoy watching your builds. I even got my wife interested.

Ah HA! So you are going to try some PE. I knew it, it is just a logical next step in your rehabilitation and regaining your fine motor skills.

That B-17 will be another enjoyable build for me to watch, after this fine project of coarse. I do hope you decide to join in on my Boeing Build with your B-17. Just post your build there and a separate WIP post like you always do (don't you dare deny your followers the enjoyment of your WIP posts) for you this suggestion in the GB rules would be mandatory.

If you decide to, just follow the Boeing Build link in my signature line.

Steve

To Jay Jay,

I'm not sure if it's a quality job but it is a quality kit.  I'll do my best to exceed yours and forum members expectations to the best of my meager abilities.  I saw your engine wiring on the B-26 build.  Can you give me some insight on how you did this please?  I would like to try and attempt this process with the Mitsubishi Zero Build.  Mr. Jay Jay, thank you for your support and everything you've done for me sir.

Toshi

Rooster513, I don't think I left anyone behind my dust.  It's possibly the other way around, I'm playing catch up with you all!  LOL!  

Thank you for the comments and the read and replies, besides the movable rudders, there's still the retractable landing gear and the landing gears have a spring loaded tension for a smooth landing on a carrier based mission.  I thought that was a ingenious plan on the part of Tamiya.  Let's just hope I can pull it off.

Toshi

That is one sick kit. I've read this is a really detailed model and you're proving that to be true. Super nice work so far my man. You make me want to build a 1/32, but alas, I must resist. Too many in the stash to add more right now. Keep up the good work.

BK

Please tell your wife Mrs. modelcrazy that I said I'm honored and thank her for her interest in the Zero build.  On my behalf, and at your recommendation, I have just entered your Boeing GB.  I understand that there are certain criteria needed to be met, if I'm not able to meet these rules, I can understand my build not being able to partake in your GB.

Please note, I'm in no way capable of building such a kit with the finesse and professional artistic rendition and building skills all forum members possess.  I don't have that type of technical abilities, I am in no way to say simply; "That good".  Please take this into consideration, as I don't want to upset other members of whom partake in the Boeing GB, it will not be fair to them.  Thank you very much for being there for me!

Toshi

Yes BrandonK, it's beyond sick!  I've been having trouble and some issues with certain parts of this kit but I was able to comprehend and overcome these obstacles with some time and patience not to mention Mrs. Toshi's direction and insight.  

Your perception is correct in that this is a very detailed model kit, I'm not even half way done and yet there's so much more intricate items to assemble it's as if I haven't even started this build.  You have correctly mentioned in the past on one of my many threads in that; "I am having fun and the excitement continues to grow with every piece that I cement together".  My passion continues to grow each day that is to your inspiring builds that you so proudly display!  Thank you so much BrandonK!

Toshi

Funny thing is, Toshi, that we can all see you do have some skills. You've already come a long way since your first posted build here. So don't be so down on yourself buddy. You're growing in your hobby just fine and making significant progress.

We can all see that with each completed build you do. :)

Take heart, my friend. You're in good company.

Toshi,

I have accepted you entrance in the Boeing Build and am looking forward to your project. Remember what I said though, you MUST post a separate WIP build for the 17 as there are several members who follow you that may not follow Group Builds. Don't deprive them of watching your impressive improvement.

Your Zeke is looking fantastic.

To M.Brindos,

Thank you sir.  This coming from such an esteemed colleague as you means much to me.  I went back and took a look at my P-61 Black Widow, my first build and thread here on FSM forum.  I do see that difference that you and other members speak of, it's just hard for me to remember (Short term memory) and recognize my growth.  

I hope I can do justice with this Zero build, at the very least that's my plan, thank you for being there since the very beginning of my modeling journey!

Toshi

Thank you modelcrazy, I'll do my best to not disappoint your GB members as I will also do as you recommend in that I will post a thread of the B-17G in the aircraft build here.  I want to thank you very much for this acceptance and am looking forward in partaking in my very first GB.  This is a very exciting adventure to me, I am looking forward and I will definately have fun in doing so!

Toshi

At the rate your skills are increasing you will surpass the rest of us by next week. Don't be fooled by modesty, you got some skills my man!!!

BK

Oh boy, BrandonK, I don't know what to say to this except THANK YOU for such glowing words!

Toshi

You can tell when either your getting old, either you can't see such small details and or it's getting really late at night and it's only 8:00pm.  Well, it happens to be both!  LOL!  Below is just a small update into the partial start of the main landing gears that retract.  The tiny wires were some thing to be afraid of.  Or was it?

I recall my dad telling me of a really scary story back in the day during the Cuban missile crisis.  While my dad served his time at SAC  "Strategic Air Command" in Wiesbaden, Germany, he was immediately sent to Miami, Florida.  He was told to stand guard at the several oil refineries in the south in case the Cuban Missile Crisis happened to excell by then dictator Fidel Castro.  Dad mentioned that he was truly afraid that if the crisis went forward, we would all be incinerated by the nuclear war heads.  

Now that's something to be truly afraid of.  If my memory serves me right, we were at Def Con 3 or 4, that's the highest we've ever been in a state of emergency.  

Toshi

I forgot to add, look at us now, the U.S. Is ready to open up an embassy in Cuba very soon.

"Can you give me some insight on how you did this please?  I would like to try and attempt this process with the Mitsubishi Zero Build"

Toshi,

In the case of the B-26, the engine wiring came with the PE set I bought from Edward. First The wires where painted flat black after annealing ,then it was a simple matter of CA glueing the ring in the proper place, and bending and glueing the wires into position on the cylinders.

That was the 1st time I used PE for wiring.  I usually scratch build the wiring using the finest copper wiring I can find , cut the many pieces to length, after annealing ,then bend to shape.  Then they are CA glued by dipping the wire ends in a blob of CA and installing 2 per cylinder.  It all takes considerable time but I think it's worth the effort.

Jay Jay, thank you for the direction in reference to the engine wiring.  As always my friend, thank you!

Toshi

These following components are part of the retractable landing gear.  I've actually installed them into the wing assembly and I'm allowing the CA to set.  It utilizes a mini L-shape turn buckle to activate the landing gears.  Here are the photos below.

Toshi

7/19/15 Sunday,

Here is where I'm at today.  Next up, flaps, masking cockpit windows and primer.