Wow. And I thought Edward WWII fighters plane engine mounts were fussy.

Echoing Joe, go slow. Looking good, Toshi.

Hang in there with it Toshi. It's gonna be a great build. Just take your time with it and resist the temptation to "get it done". That's one of my weaknesses when I want a certain part of a build to just be overwith. I have to fight that temptation all the time. lol

Lookin' good BTW!

Last night, I stayed up a little later than anticipated.  I got caught way too much in the build process.  I lost all sense in time due to tha fact that I became so excited with this build.  

This is the end for page #7 stage #10 and #11.  I'm getting real close to AB the frame/spar work.  If the rest of Zoukie Mura SWS (Super Wing Series) is anything like this build, I'm now their number one fan.  Please see below the assembly manual as well as the point of the end of stage #11.

Toshi

Just by looking at the frame work, you can tell which side is the front and rear of the HO 229.

philo426

Wow Toshi!this kit would require careful  study before gluing anything together, great job thus far!

 

It reads pretty simple, there's not too much confusion.  Thank you should go out to the Zoukei Mura team for creating such an in depth assembly manual.  If the rest of the Zoukie Mura SWS (Super Wing Series) kits are anything like this build, then I can highly recommend all of the SWS series.  

I can confidently say that I really want to build the Kyushu Shinden.  What's so funny is that these kits that inspire me are all 1:48.  LOL!  As I reiterated earlier on this thread, I prefer to build 1:32 kits.  It's just that any Zoukei Mura SWS 1:32 kits cost twice as much as the 1:48.  What I find challenging in almost a zealot way is that the SWS 1:48 is an exact replica of the SWS  1:32 kits with the only difference in that of the scale in which to build in.  

A quick note, I am a huge fan of everything Tamiya until I saw this kit.  Of course I still am a Tamiya fan but the only difference now is that Zoukie Mura kits are now in my number one engineered kit of all time.  Although I've only started to build model kits for one year, you can quote me on this statement!

philo426, thank you so much in supporting my builds as well as being a huge contributer in my build threads.  You just don't know how much I appreciate this!

Toshi

TREYZX10R

Toshi that center frame work is looking great,I see what you mean by tedious.

 

Please take the extra time out if you plan to build any of the Zoukei Mura SWS (Super Wing Series) kits.  I can now say that this is one of the best kits I've ever seen and that I am a rabid fan of Zoukei Mura SWS kits.  Thank you sir for your support in my threads as well as reading and replying on them as well.  This means so much to me.

Toshi

Wow Toshi!this kit would require careful  study before gluing anything together, great job thus far!

Toshi that center frame work is looking great,I see what you mean by tedious.

This is stage #9, it took me most of the morning and I will probably still be on stage #9 after dinner.  As you can see, one wrong glue point and or one wrong attachment, this whole kit will definately fall apart.  One word to describe this kit, tedious!

Toshi

mustang1989

I was lookin' in on this thread yesterday and meant to comment and then got busy. This looks like a mirror image of the 32nd scale kit that I have. I remember thinking to myself, "Man this aint no shake'n bake kit right here!!" . Once you get the skin on it you'll have alot more structural integrity with all this frame work you're building though. Good goin' so far Toshi!

 

So far, from what I've read and seen (Schematics on the Zoukei Mura site) the 1:32 kits come out first.  ie: Your SWS 1:32 Zoukei Mura HO 229.  Approximately a year later, Zoukei Mura releases the 1:48 so called SWS kits.  The only difference from these two scales is the size of the kit, 1:32 vs 1:48.  Of course the price point is a hundred dollar less.  

One of the schematics on the Zoukei Mura site shows the Kyushu Shinden engines assembly with both the 1:32 and 1:48 side by side.  You can't tell the difference.  The same quality and impeccable effort of the 1:32 is given to the 1:48 kits.  It's just a size issue.

Personally, as you and the many FSM Forum members know, I prefer building in 1:32.  I do not like to build in 1:48 or even 1:72.  In general, the later two scales tends to negate the fine detailing that 1:32 offers.  Most importantly, there are days due to my injury in that I'm unable to do 1:48 and 1:72 kits, my hands shake way too much.  

This fact does not play into Zoukei Mura kits.  It's the direct resemblance and consistency that sold me on to the 1:48 kits, not to mention the authentic accuracy in these kits.  On that note, if I bought the 1:32 ZM 229 and 1:32 Kyushu Shinden, I'll be way over my monthly allowance in how much I can spend in a month for my hobby.  Plus Mrs. Toshi will trade me in for a younger and much more handsome man.  LOL!

Now that I see that there are no differences except in scale, I'll build the ZM 1:48 kits since the details are accurately portrayed.  Also as the code of checks and balances is concerned, I will spend half my monthly amount of money on ZM 1:48 kits and still get the quality assurance throughout ZM 1:32 kits.

As for structural integrity, I'm leaning more and more into finishing this project and a unique one at that by negating the HO 229 outer skin and just portray the skeletal version of my HO 229.  With this many anchoring points, and establishing the wing spars, I think that the skeletal kit can be a sound and assured build with integrity.  Now you got me into thinking about purchasing another 1:48 Zoukei Mura HO 229 kit and finish that off with skin and completely paint the entire HO 229!  You see, now you got me even more excited!!!!  Thank you sir for this conversation, I so greatly appreciate and have the need to discuss and critique kits with you.  This is another layer of the love of building these kits.

Toshi

I was lookin' in on this thread yesterday and meant to comment and then got busy. This looks like a mirror image of the 32nd scale kit that I have. I remember thinking to myself, "Man this aint no shake'n bake kit right here!!" . Once you get the skin on it you'll have alot more structural integrity with all this frame work you're building though. Good goin' so far Toshi!

allan

Wow. Thats some frame youre putting together there!

 

That's my safest way to assemble the 229's frame.  If the additional part makes the frame torque, then I'll know for shure that something was not done properly.  So far, I have yet to prove my theory, and I want to keep it this way.  LOL!  Thank you for the read and reply.

Toshi

Wow. Thats some frame youre putting together there!

Oh, I forgot to add, I assembled the frame/spars work with Tamiya Extra Thin Cement.  I let this dry while the styrene fuses together.  Once dried, I hit each attachment spot with a very small amount of CA about the size of this period at the end of this sentence.  

Do I need to do this?  No, but it definately gives me the confidence that the attachment joints will not come apart, it's like car insurance. LOL!  You be the judge.

Toshi

To my fellow forum members,

These photos are in reference to the fueselage frame/spars.  The build starts off nicely and looks simple.  The deal here is as you progress, the parts needed to be assembled become much more intricate and deceptive too!  The next several assembly stages include smaller pieces needing to be pushed/pulled through a network of what looks like spider webs.  

Even with my visor, I can't tell if I'm doing this correct until I get to the next process and then see if it can dry fit without any issues.  Now that's the key we modelers are always looking for.  fit and finish.

So far, I will do a set stage, glue the pieces together and then stop for a half hour to read and browse through the net.  I don't even want to see my next steps.  This helps me in returning back to the build with a fresh mind and the excitement to see where this is going.  Thank you forum members for the read and replies.

Toshi

Gamera

Ah ok, I just assumed you were looking at the 1/32nd kit.

HobbyLink Japan has it listed for about forty-four. It's currently back-ordered but they usually get stuff like this back in stock fairly rapidly.

 Link

 

Toshi

Ah ok, I just assumed you were looking at the 1/32nd kit.

HobbyLink Japan has it listed for about forty-four. It's currently back-ordered but they usually get stuff like this back in stock fairly rapidly.

 Link

Gamera

I assume you're looking at the 1/32nd kit? The bigger kit does look at lot more detailed but as I generally build 1/48th I just went with it.

 

Toshi

I assume you're looking at the 1/32nd kit? The bigger kit does look at lot more detailed but as I generally build 1/48th I just went with it.

Gamera

Great work there on the engine anf frame Toshi.

And really nice looking 229 there too CNQ.

BTW: The ZM (under the name Volks) 1/48th Shinden is still listed by HLJ, that's the version I have.

 

Toshi

Great work there on the engine anf frame Toshi.

And really nice looking 229 there too CNQ.

BTW: The ZM (under the name Volks) 1/48th Shinden is still listed by HLJ, that's the version I have.

TREYZX10R

Thats some intricate molding ,nice work getting that off the sprue without breaking it. I would'nt have been so lucky. Toshi as for the book unless you are collecting for a personal library I would'nt spend that kind of money on it. There are some good shots of the real one @ Smithsonian its what I used for a reference to build my 'what if luft 46 229' nachtjager. 

keep up the great work Toshi,cheers Trey

 

 

As for the book, I agree with you that it should not cost the same with the model or in this case more!  That's just ridiculous!  GMorrison has provided me a link to the Smithsonian HO 229.  Your night fighter looks awesome, what a great job you've done.  Thank you for the read and reply.

Toshi

Thats some intricate molding ,nice work getting that off the sprue without breaking it. I would'nt have been so lucky. Toshi as for the book unless you are collecting for a personal library I would'nt spend that kind of money on it. There are some good shots of the real one @ Smithsonian its what I used for a reference to build my 'what if luft 46 229' nachtjager. 

keep up the great work Toshi,cheers Trey

Here is an update for this Wednesday afternoon.  As you can see or cannot, the glue points are extremely small and easy to break off.  So far, my building assembly is going good!

Toshi

waikong

Very nice, I too built the old dragon kit, but this one blows that older kit away.  The best part was detailing the engine :)

 

Toshi

TREYZX10R

Toshi that ZM kit looks a quantum leap up from the old Dragon offering. Looking great so far ,eagerly awaiting the next update!

 

Toshi

Very nice, I too built the old dragon kit, but this one blows that older kit away.  The best part was detailing the engine :)

Toshi that ZM kit looks a quantum leap up from the old Dragon offering. Looking great so far ,eagerly awaiting the next update!

Toshi

 

Now that the P-61 project came to a close, I'll be working on the Shin Den next or at the minimum, starting the build of the Shin Den.  Now that the Jumo 004 is completed, I can work on a potential next project.  Thank you for always remembering my builds!

Toshi

 

 

Let me appolagize for the latest thread entry.  I became confused and had issues with my memory.  I don't recall writing the above entry, but I can tell I had another episode.  I'm back now and feeling great, this is what I wanted to convey to you all.

I just completed the GWH P-61 Black Widow.  Now I'll start earnestly on the HO 229 build.  Looking around on eBay, I noticed that the Zoukei Mura Donier Arrow was going for $200.00 plus dollars.  WOW!  I really wanted to build the Arrow.  Looking around again this morning, I came across a Zoukei Mura Kyushu Shinden at less than $100.00.  Now don't get me wrong but even $100.00 is still a hefty price to pay for a model kit, but then again, that's the nature of the beast.  Like all hobbies it's; "How far do you want to go".  

Ultimately, there's no hobby that is cheap, even if it truly does not need money to fund your own hobby, time is what you're investing in.  I've always told my children; "Never forget, time is money".  So my feeling is still strong on building the Zoukei Mura Kyushu Shinden after I'm done with the HO 229.  The Shinden just looks so odd, it looks cool.  If that makes any sense.  LOL!

Also, I wanted to note that if the Zoukei Mura Kyushu Shinden kit is anywhere near the perfection the Zoukei Mura HO 229 is, then in my humble opinion, it's worth every penny.  

As for the 229, I've never seen such a complex and difficult kit like this ever.  The Jumo 004 dual jet engines was a straight forward assembly process.  It's the fueselage wing and cockpit spars that looks confusing at best.  So far, there are no fit issues at all, the directions are clear as such, it's the minuscule attachment of the spars that drives me crazy.  Lots and lots of dry fitting.  I think I'm going to assemble the skeleton of the 229, and then AB it.  I haven't reached that far but I'm just assessing what's best in my next step.

Heres a interesting note, if you log onto the official Zoukei Mura site and click on the aircraft of choice, Zoukie Mura has already picked out and displayed any AM part pertaining to your choice.  That's just great salesmanship!  My only concern of which I have two for the moment is that for builders that like to build and paint their figures, you have to buy the figures as a AM part.  I'm incapable in my figure assembly and painting, so with this issue, I'm fine with.

My second concern is the cost of the books that go with the individual aircraft choice.  Just the cost of book alone for my 229, this book cost more than my 229 kit.  You gotta be kidding me!  So I will continue and forge ahead with my current build while I consider my next build of which could be the Zoukei Mura Kyushu Shinden.  Thank you all in advance forum members for your input, tips, how to, and general support in my threads.  I greatly appreciate it!

Toshi

Now that the P-61 project came to a close, I'll be working on the Shin Den next or at the minimum, starting the build of the Shin Den.  Now that the Jumo 004 is completed, I can work on a potential next project.  Thank you for always remembering my builds!

Toshi

Toshi: PM sent.