This is looking really good, Toshi.

I think that I should pick this kit up and build it. I do have Vallejo's US Navy and Marine Corps paint set so that should be a good start.

I have now finished the E-100 Waffentrager build over on the armour section and If you would be so kind, I would like to know what you think of the build. Maybe you would like a trip to the dark side for a little change with an armour build of your own.

Now it is time I launched into Zoukei Muras first kit, the Shinden. Plenty to do and paint on this and I already have a plan for a different camo scheme than the original upper surface dark green, lower surface grey. Plenty of extra add-on sets and etched detailing etc.

My best to Mrs Toshi and tell her to keep fighting the beast and laughing at good comedy... Laughter is the best medicine

Your good friend

James

snapdragonxxx

This is looking really good, Toshi.

I think that I should pick this kit up and build it. I do have Vallejo's US Navy and Marine Corps paint set so that should be a good start.

I have now finished the E-100 Waffentrager build over on the armour section and If you would be so kind, I would like to know what you think of the build. Maybe you would like a trip to the dark side for a little change with an armour build of your own.

Now it is time I launched into Zoukei Muras first kit, the Shinden. Plenty to do and paint on this and I already have a plan for a different camo scheme than the original upper surface dark green, lower surface grey. Plenty of extra add-on sets and etched detailing etc.

My best to Mrs Toshi and tell her to keep fighting the beast and laughing at good comedy... Laughter is the best medicine

 

Your good friend

 

James

 

“A very unique build.  Not building very much armour (M1-A1) at all I’ve never seen such armour let alone a kit in my life.  Saying that, that’s a fantastic job you’ve done!  Camoflauge, subtle changes in color, and a masterful eye on details.  The black and white photos look realistically awesome.”

The Shinden is a kit I look forward to, sounds like with all the after market items, this will be a fantastic WIP.  Have you see the jet conversion kit?  Wow!

Your Friend, Toshi

I have seen the jet conversion kit and bought one. Once I had it in my hands and went out looking on the net I found that it is not a very good job or reproduction of the actual engine and so decided not to use it. There is much detail missing. I am sticking with the engine in the kit!

James

Take a look at how long these 30mm cannon barrel is.  Wow!  Can anyone say metal barrels?  No, seriously since the weight is displaced in the wings, it’ll be absolutely fine unlike a tank.

PE accents.

Nice drilled details.

Coming along nicely Toshi! Thanks for sharing.

Greatmaker

Coming along nicely Toshi! Thanks for sharing.

 

Your friend, Toshi

Folding Wing Assembly.

Movable flaps with steel pins and steel PE.

Your Friend, Toshi

Nine and a half inches in just the one wing.

I’m not into foldable movable wings.  They tend to break, but these are built and designed well.

I wanted to add, no bombs, drop tanks, nor rockets for folded wings.  So I’m at a crossroads.  Do I do half folded or unfolded to show off the bombs and rockets?  We shall see, “Oh the horror, oh the horror”.  Marlon Brando’s Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now.

Your Friend, Toshi

P.S. Great weather today, Ezra was not interested in the Avenger build.  He wanted to ride his Paw Patrol Car.  Lol!

To lock the wings in, there’s two tabs (One for each wing) by the landing gear that locks the wing in, in a fixed position.  To store the wings there are PE locks at the tip of each wing that attach to the horizontal stabilizers.  Then the kit provides ropes as tie downs.  

I‘ve come to a decision in that I’ll display the Avenger with fixed wings.  That’s so I can add munitions to the TBF.  As you can see, I have a thin piece of Tamiya tape securing the wing temporarily.  

The wings attached to the fueselauge by internal clips.  No glue needed.  For my own piece of mind, I used Tamiya Extra Thin Cement around the wings.  There are absolutely no gaps at all, the wings/fueselauge fit is extremely tight and very very secure!

Your friend’s, Toshi and Ezra

I had to place the 100 ton (Lol!) Trumpeter 1/32 Avenger kit on it‘s landing gear as it was resting on the tip of the 30mm cannon.  I didn’t need the cannon barrels to break.  

All the landing gears need is some electrical wire for brake lines and the Avenger can stop on a dime.  Look at the size of the Oleo.  It’s bigger than most 1/72 kits!  Lol!  I’ll probably need between 20 to 30 gauge solid core electrical wires from Walmart or Home Depot for brake lines.

Your friend’s, Toshi & Ezra

After careful consideration, and I mean really careful as there was no going back, I set, fixed, and CA the wings together.  Although having the ability to fold the wings was a brilliant idea on the part of Trumpeter, especially the way it was engineered, I still wanted my munitions.

On top of that, I would have to AB the Turkey in odd sections as oppose to a fixed wing set up of which is more conventional.  But nothing is conventional with this kit.  The sheer size and girth of this kit gives the modeler a out of body experience!  Lol!  It will have to be AB outdoors on a decent day and in NE Ohio, and that could be 2050!  No, seriously.  We had rain, hail, flurries, and a tornado warning all within 24hrs.

It’s 4:00am and I’m not tired, at least not now.  And I have a 10:15 doctors appointment in Cleveland so this should be fun.  If I can’t sleep, I just might build and install the horizontal stabilizers.  I know for sure in that a trip to Hobby Lobby is indeed needed.  This kit burned through my supplies like crazy.  Primer, acrylic gloss black (Pre-shading), Tamiya Extra Thin Cement, AB cleaner, and CA.  Wish me luck!

Your friend’s, Toshi & Ezra

Hi Toshi

while you are out, pick up Vallejo's USN & Marine Corops Aircraft Paint Set. It has all the correct colours in for the exterior of this aircraft.

in actual fact, sometimes it makes sense to paint the exterior in sections before assembly. It is all about kit features and accessibility Plus your building plan and the occasional leap of faith!

moveable folding wings? That could be a fun and interesting challenge!

James

snapdragonxxx

Hi Toshi

while you are out, pick up Vallejo's USN & Marine Corops Aircraft Paint Set. It has all the correct colours in for the exterior of this aircraft.

in actual fact, sometimes it makes sense to paint the exterior in sections before assembly. It is all about kit features and accessibility Plus your building plan and the occasional leap of faith!

moveable folding wings? That could be a fun and interesting challenge!

 

James

 

Your friend’s, Toshi & Ezra

Looks like a neat kit and the two of you are making great progress!!! 

Looking good Toshi!  You and Ezra are doing a great job on the build!

Gamera

Looks like a neat kit and the two of you are making great progress!!! 

 

Your friend’s, Toshi & Ezra

Eagle90

Looking good Toshi!  You and Ezra are doing a great job on the build!

 

 

Your Friend’s, Toshi & Ezra

Tosh

 I know for sure in that a trip to Hobby Lobby is indeed needed.  This kit burned through my supplies like crazy.  Primer, acrylic gloss black (Pre-shading), Tamiya Extra Thin Cement, AB cleaner, and CA.  Wish me luck!

Your friend’s, Toshi & Ezra

 

 

Tosh

 

 

Gamera

Looks like a neat kit and the two of you are making great progress!!! 

 

 

 

 

I was inspired by your Avenger!  When I purchased this very same kit several years ago, you sent me photos of your Avenger.  That was a very nice build you did.  Thank you for the support in Ezra and my builds.  

 

Your friend’s, Toshi & Ezra

 

Oh really!?! I'd forgotten! This looks like a much nicer kit than mine. Glad to have inspired you- the Avenger is one of my favorite aircraft. 

mustang1989

 

 

Tosh

 I know for sure in that a trip to Hobby Lobby is indeed needed.  This kit burned through my supplies like crazy.  Primer, acrylic gloss black (Pre-shading), Tamiya Extra Thin Cement, AB cleaner, and CA.  Wish me luck!

Your friend’s, Toshi & Ezra

 

 

 

 

 

You'll definitely do that with these larger kits Toshi. When I built that 1/24 scale Trumpeter Bf109 it used up ALOT of painting supplies.

 

 

By the way, how was the Trumpeter 1/24 Bf 109 kit?  Would you recommend this kit?  Thank you in advance.

Your friend’s, Toshi and Ezra

Gamera

 

 

Tosh

 

 

Gamera

Looks like a neat kit and the two of you are making great progress!!! 

 

 

 

 

I was inspired by your Avenger!  When I purchased this very same kit several years ago, you sent me photos of your Avenger.  That was a very nice build you did.  Thank you for the support in Ezra and my builds.  

 

Your friend’s, Toshi & Ezra

 

 

 

 

Oh really!?! I'd forgotten! This looks like a much nicer kit than mine. Glad to have inspired you- the Avenger is one of my favorite aircraft. 

 

Your friend’s, Toshi & Ezra

Toshi-  The last letter is the Navy designator for the manufactuer.   "F" was for Grumman, "M" was for General Motors, who built the same plane as Grumman, under license, as Grumman didn't have the ability at the time to build the numbers required, along with the Hellcat and Wildcat.

As an aside, Goodyear built the Wildcat, under license, as the FM-2, later ones had a taller tail.

goldhammer

Toshi-  The last letter is the Navy designator for the manufactuer.   "F" was for Grumman, "M" was for General Motors, who built the same plane as Grumman, under license, as Grumman didn't have the ability at the time to build the numbers required, along with the Hellcat and Wildcat.

As an aside, Goodyear built the Wildcat, under license, as the FM-2, later ones had a taller tail.

 

Your friend’s, Toshi & Ezra

Assembling the movable horizontal stabilizers.

This technique I’ve seen and read about.  By  placing masking internally and AB the glass interior the appropriate color, in this case green zinc chromate then AB the external color this should or would be real world correct.  

Red vinyl will be the interior masking (E-Z Masks from Ontario, Canada) while the yellow exterior mask is a Eduard product.  I’ve used vinyl masks before and it definately works great.  They stretch and conform really well while protecting the adhesive site.

Your friend’s, Toshi & Ezra