Reasoned

 

Not wanting to be an R/C, just a word of advice on this pic and for builders of Jap planes with type #98 bombs exposed, in my research (which was limited mind you) it stated that they were grey, with green tip and a red stripe, not the "flat black" it usually calls for.

http://www.j-aircraft.com/research/bill_sanborn/phmod21.pdf

 

Cool thing, saved  and me found a good detail page for the george (and i'm searching for the Claude and found too!!)

http://www.colesaircraft.com/N1K1-J.html

also here the main link

http://www.colesaircraft.com/JAPACDET.html

Not wanting to be an R/C, just a word of advice on this pic and for builders of Jap planes with type #98 bombs exposed, in my research (which was limited mind you) it stated that they were grey, with green tip and a red stripe, not the "flat black" it usually calls for.

http://www.j-aircraft.com/research/bill_sanborn/phmod21.pdf

Gamera

Doogs: I think I'd just paint the thing a slightly different shade of grey than the underside of the fighter. I'm not really sure how a wooden tank would chip - I guess you could use a little tan paint maybe. Same with the blue primer.

BTW: Next time you're at your LHS could you look at what price the guy wants for the trainer Zero? Just wondering how much he wants for it. Funny he should have two, I haven't seen any at shows unless I didn't notice them. These are the 1/48th Hasegawa ones right?

Well, a slightly different shade of gray should be easy - the underside's NMF (rally hoping to start the spray work tomorrow or Saturday). 

I guess, yeah, chipping might be uncalled for. Boo...

I'll definitely check next time I'm at the LHS. I want to say it was around $40...remember because I was looking for a Ki-84 and was all "WTF, all they have are these stupid Zero trainers and a Raiden"

Nice cuts there Doogs

Sstarted the Claude, not resisted to leave it in the box

Someone know what colors i can use to mix malachite green? never see it. Keep in mind i don't use tamiya or gunze colors.

Doogs: I think I'd just paint the thing a slightly different shade of grey than the underside of the fighter. I'm not really sure how a wooden tank would chip - I guess you could use a little tan paint maybe. Same with the blue primer.

BTW: Next time you're at your LHS could you look at what price the guy wants for the trainer Zero? Just wondering how much he wants for it. Funny he should have two, I haven't seen any at shows unless I didn't notice them. These are the 1/48th Hasegawa ones right?

I've got Mr. Color 35 IJN Gray. According to my Zero color article by Millman it was thought to be a match for the Zero as thought accurate until the early 90s. This means a semi-gloss light gray with perhaps just a bit of blue or maybe green in it: call it light gray. It resembles to my eyes very closely German Revell's RAL7001 Silken Gray or RAL 7035 Silk Light Gray. Revell has a pretty good chart at http://www.revell.de/index.php?id=287&L=1 (if that doesn't work, search Revell Aqua Color and you'll find Revell's site. These are, btw, very good paints if you like water based acrylics. Unfortunately only found on eBay or from Europe.) There is a chart from a translated Japanese site that shows the Mr. Color range that has a pretty good rendition.

http://www.mech9.com/blog/2010/01/mr-color-solvent-based-paint-color-chart/

If that's the call for the underside I should think it would be very nice. It certainly isn't anything like a green. On my Paint Assistant utility (very nice utility for $20) it lists Gunze 35 as a kind of blue. It isn't. The program does say that RAL 7001 is quite close to RLM 75 which is pretty close to Tamiya XF20. Those look very much ballpark to Mr. Color 35.

Eric

Doogs, on my paint chart it says Mr Color 35 is equal to Xf-20 Medium grey or 1731 Aircraft Gray from testors, FS16473.  You can search most paints on this Paintchart.

Call Gary at Hill Country Hobbies.  He has a full rack of Gunze Mr Color.

Gamera

Yeah, what Doogs said!

I've always had good luck at shows with grabbing three twenty-five dollar kits and shoving them and a fifty dollar bill at the vendor. The only limited edition Hasegawa kit I've had trouble tracking down is an elusive two-seat trainer Zero. I'll get one some day!!! I don't even pay much attention to the different limited edition marking schemes since I try to replace the decals when I can.

Doogs, I tried looking it up and Mr. Colour 35 on the IPMS Stockholm site is a grey. And H35 is dark blue. What does the directions tell you to paint in 35? One of us might be able to figure it out from that.

My LHS has the two-seat trainer Zero...two of 'em I believe. Weird because their selection of Japanese aircraft in general is pretty much crap.

The instructions state Gunze Mr. Color 35 - Green (Mitsubishi) but yeah, it does look like it's IJN Gray. Weird. Either way, it's for the behemoth of a drop tank. Only thing on the kit that gets that color I believe. I also need to figure out what they primed the tanks with - since they were wood, chipping to metal wouldn't make sense. I believe I read somewhere that they primed them blue, which could create a nice bit of visual interest.

Yeah, what Doogs said!

I've always had good luck at shows with grabbing three twenty-five dollar kits and shoving them and a fifty dollar bill at the vendor. The only limited edition Hasegawa kit I've had trouble tracking down is an elusive two-seat trainer Zero. I'll get one some day!!! I don't even pay much attention to the different limited edition marking schemes since I try to replace the decals when I can.

Doogs, I tried looking it up and Mr. Colour 35 on the IPMS Stockholm site is a grey. And H35 is dark blue. What does the directions tell you to paint in 35? One of us might be able to figure it out from that.

Bsyamato: I love that great box art. I never really liked the dull picture of the model on the box top so many went with back in the '80s. I've bought a few models just because the box art was cool. Funny, I'd have thought the Judy would have more than one scheme- I don't think they ever had much other than the standard green over grey scheme.  

Reasoned

I'm 'n all these Jap planes!

LOL 

Nice pieces Eric put some jap plane in

Cliff i pick up two Judy because was the cheaper betwenn the pile i brought so hard to find these kits in europe so i exagerate for future work. I like it but is not my favourite

A really curious thing, all the kits includes decals for more than a subject out of..... the judy murphy's law win!

Yes the claude is the best kit between these and fit perfect! will be a good pleasure to build it. Probably will add only some missing thing in the cockpit. The worst is strangely the hasegawa raiden .. bioh

so there the other box art ,really cool the jill one 

Will post all sprues asap in aircraft section

Gamera

Funny, I buy most of my models at shows and haven't had any problems finding any of them. Maybe it's a mail order thing?

I've bought two Hasegawas through online retailers (the George I'm working on and a Fw 190A-8), but most of the time the prices are just ridiculous compared to what you can grab them for on eBay or at shows.

And let's face it, most of the better Japanese-subject kits are Hasegawa kits.

I've had some amazing luck with scoring Hasegawa kits at shows. Last month, I snagged Hasegawa's 1/32 Tojo with the 40mm cannons for just under $40. Picked up a 1/48 Ki-84 for $15. Recently I scored a 1/32 Frank on eBay for substantially less than I'd be able to snag it on Sprue Bros, Great Models, etc.

Also...progress on the George and a question.

Been creeping toward priming. Opened up the wingtip and tail lights for the clear pieces last night and ended up spending more than an hour on the garage floor locating a wingtip clear that went flying out of the pliers.

Not long now!

Okay - question. Anybody happen to have Gunze Mr. Color 35? Goes by the name of "Green (Mitsubishi)". Which isn't the same as "Dark Green (Mitsubishi). I'm trying to get sense of what shade of green this is, but Gunze's online chart is worse than useless.

Eric: Sounds like you had a good haul there, I looked the at the Great Models sale but I don't need to add anything else to the stash. I have most of those kits and have built a few of them and they're all good quality. Funny, I buy most of my models at shows and haven't had any problems finding any of them. Maybe it's a mail order thing?

Great job on the P-47 and the sub, love to have you jump in with something if you have time. BTW: the theme here is Second World War Imperial Japanese subjects- everyone so far has done aircraft but a ship, tank, or figure would be eligible as well.  

Much to my amazement GreatModels had all of the kits I ordered and they've been shipped. So inbound are (one each) 1/48 Hasegawa Tojo, George, Jack and Claude. All for less than $100 counting everything. The Tojo and George are available at some places, but as I've learned about Hasegawa Zeros, their 1/48s can go out of print very quickly. I haven't seen a Claude or a Raiden in a store for two years. Must have been sitting in their back-room somewhere. Don't know if there are any left, but each is a major Japanese aircraft and they'll be hard or expensive to find. (Arii makes three of them, but each are "classic" kits complete with raised panel lines, lots of rivets and thick canopies. I sold mine because the kind of modeling called for - either "I don't care" or lots of skilled scratch-building - neither are my specialty. I'm actually pretty happy. (That means in the last six weeks I've picked up two Hasegawa Zeros, a Kate, a Claude, a Tojo and a Jack. Already had a Tony and an Oscar. All on the strength of one build. Let's hope Hasegawa made good kits in the late 90s or I'll feel like a proper idiot.) I've only built one US plane: an Arii P-47. (Actually I did that one during this GB: so I'll throw in a pic. It's in 5th AF garb circa April 1943. 5th AF Jugs were very good at shooting down the planes I just bought.) In the stash is a Accurate Miniature B25, Avenger, Dauntless and A-20 (never built an AM kit); two AMT/Italeri P-40Ns, Tamiya Wildcat & Corsair and an Eduard Hellcat. Am I nuts?

Eric

Arii P-47 razorback with my own rendition of USAAF early war olive drab: if it's ugly it's because it's quite accurate:

Did I hear a call: "let's see your impossibly rusty AFV Club 1/350 I-Boat?" (Both of these kits were done within the last four months. Imagine what might have happened if I'd known the Group Build was on. Actually, maybe you shouldn't.)

Reasoned: Just posted your Val to the front page. Again congrads on a beautiful build there. You're always welcome to build another aircraft (wink, nudge )

Bsyamato: Just posted the Claude to the front page too. Nice collection of kits you picked up there, you must really like the Judy After all that work on the Mary hopefully the Claude should be an easy build, most Fujimi kits I've build went together very nicely.

Doogs: Thanks for the photo tips, when I get more time I'm going to have to go though all your blog posts.

Excellent work, guys! 

Seeing some discussion of photography here and there, and thought I'd share a post I wrote awhile back about some quick ways to improve things.

http://doogsmodels.com/2011/07/15/5-tips-to-improving-your-model-photography/

The George is still progressing. Need to finish up a last bit or two tonight, then have some happy sanding-fun-time. 

I'm 'n all these Jap planes!

David good work on the Val and best wishes for a new camera i recently brought a z981 from kodak, but wishing to get asap a real SLR from nikon or canon

Cliff!!! 

the delivery from Japan arrived today unespected .. less than 2 weeks!!!! add the fujimi 72 tenzan Claude for now

Asap will post some detailed shots of all spuues , is not so easy to find on interned good shots of these fujimi kits

Edit:

Heres updates about mary

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]

actually painted a gray layer as primer but more sanding needed

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]

and here few shots of today delivery and details on the claude 

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]

little dimensions respect the mary

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]

and the rest of the pieces

fine engraved panels

and the beauty box art

at the next

Reasoned

 

David Maddog: MD, now you know why I went with the "easier" paint scheme.  I think your's looking very clean, sharp lines on it and not overdone.  I posted these two pics to show what lighting will do, the top has the cowl anti-glare looking grey, while the bottom looks more black, go figure.  At any rate be careful with that blasted bomb rig with the 4 little support pieces for the bomb, don't lose one of them like I did!

I'm still trying to get my camera and lighting figured out.  I think I my lights are too close for their power, I need to diffuse it and then change the white balance on my camera.  I think these shots were done on the outdoor setting.  Then again, the background might also have something to do with it.  My camera is a very old one and I plan to get a Canon T2i with macro lens.....hopefully this year. 

I've already got those supports on, all I have left to put on the plane are the bombs and canopy, however you were right about the pilot tube, I did manage to bust that off.

Wow, you guys had a productive weekend!

Reasoned: She looks perfect to me, nice smooth flawless finish!

Bsyamato: Nice, she's coming right along.

David: Really super job on the faded paint. And there's not much more eye-catching than a green plane with a bright red tail.

PS: Camera shop just called, hopefully will have her back by the end of the week!

Val's galore. What paint colors are you using? Guess there's a squabble about that too. I've got several IJN aircraft that will get that basic scheme and better start keeping tabs. I guess another question that's up in the air is when they started using the "leading edge" markers on the wing. Sometime during the Solmons campaign, although I can't swear that the bombers used it. But optional for an early war plane no doubt. (More blinking masking for those.) Like the soft demarcation of green/ grey. (I've quit building in single-engined planes in 1/72 but Dragon has put out a Val in that scale with folding wing tips. Wouldn't be surprised if a 1/48 followed.)

Eric

David Maddog

 

 

 

 

MD, now you know why I went with the "easier" paint scheme.  I think your's looking very clean, sharp lines on it and not overdone.  I posted these two pics to show what lighting will do, the top has the cowl anti-glare looking grey, while the bottom looks more black, go figure.  At any rate be careful with that blasted bomb rig with the 4 little support pieces for the bomb, don't lose one of them like I did!

That Val looks great David.

Len great looking Betty,do'nt envy the canopy masking you had to do but very nicely done!

Reasoned great looking build! I think you did a masterful job on it!

Bsyamato wow thats some serious surgery you had to do .looks like the hard work paid off nice fix!

Very nice Reasoned, I have no idea what you messed up but you are a skilled builder, it looks great!!  And with that I give you my Val, she needs a little more touch up paint and I think I'll be ready for the decals.  The tail was not fun to mask and took a few applications with some annoying over-spray to clean up.  I free hand the grey and green for the soft edge.  Using rolled up tape and paper seemed too complicated. 

I ran into this problem all the time writing history. If something is obvious at the time, there's a good chance nobody will write it down, or it will be present in some manual that people will forget. I daresay that among Japanese pilots the issue of Zero color rarely, if ever, came up during the war. Why would it? Go look at the plane dummy. When people are close to something they rarely see the need to record it because everyone in the universe must know what they do. Vets were sometimes startled when I'd ask questions about things that to them were matters that were self-evident: like, what did the Navy serve you for breakfast? And technical stuff can drive you nuts. I had a beastly time trying to find actual data on blast patterns caused by bombs and artillery shells. It was there, but it took a lot of digging. Had you been manning a gun during the war, you would have known it. So why write it down? These matters of detail concerning color or weathering cause modelers to squabble in almost every genre I can think of. So we just have to live with a little uncertainty. Something like color has the factor built in - every factory made a slightly different color, every vehicle was looked at under slightly different conditions and every eye sees the color itself a little differently. Actually, I wish we knew less. I don't like Olive Drab: I want to paint Sherman tanks British Racing Green and give them white stripes up the middle.

Eric

Good info Eric, It's kind of funny when you start to research Jap a/c there is still many details of various planes not agreed upon (e.g., color, schemes etc.) I suspect much of this has to do with the fact so many of the pilots and crew were killed thus not able to provide first hand account info. Since my subject was not a flt leader it didn't have the stripes on either the horizontal or verticle stabilizer.  I did come across info on the surprising gawdy color scheme of several leader a/c.

One thing the Japanese plane fanatics agree on is that early war Japanese planes were waxed. Other air forces did the same at one time or another - should tabulate that. Wax provides it a little finish protection and a slight reduction in drag. Down side is that an enemy could pick up the little glint of sunlight that showed your presence before you saw him. (Several pilots described exactly that when I was writing about the Pacific air war.) Early in the war the Japanese weren't trying to hide: they termed the greenish grey the "offensive scheme." During the slugfest in the Solomons the IJNAF adapted the "defensive" green/grey scheme across the board. Opposite happened in the USAAF. Later in the war the USAAF dispensed with camo altogether to save a little weight: and they weren't hiding either. But I don't think a waxed plane would have been gloss: more like a satin. Personally, I think few airplanes were a true matte - and if they were, I'm not sure a really dull finish emulates it on a model. Yours looks fine to me: I'd guess that the glare deflector was matte. The planes on the way to Pearl would not have been "pristine." They'd been put through months of hellish training - Yamamoto personally declared that every man killed in training should be have the honor of being termed "killed in action." That said, you can just imagine those nervous ground crew on the hangar decks polishing and cleaning their airplanes for hours on end just to relieve nervous energy. And there were no flight ops during the journey to Pearl. When I described my build, I said think of a plane as it might have looked on the way back from Ceylon - April of 42 - after weeks of frantic operations. But even that required a restrained hand. Carrier planes never flew the number of missions that was typical on land. (If nothing else, they were often in port.) Now if you were painting a USN plane class of 1944, things would be very different. They were at sea so long and in the air so often that they were nearly as messed up as land based planes - and in the Pacific theater that was really messed up. Russia too. Actually, I think WWII planes are usually under weathered. But everything was new once, and every combatant had hundreds or thousands of planes in the "pipeline" to replace lost, damaged or worn-out planes at the front.

I didn't even try those fancy decals. (I didn't notice whether you put on those little thin stripes worn by squadron leaders. We think Akagi's Val group leader flew an orange plane for ID purposes: I've seen a model of it. The "grunt" planes had simpler markings.) Except for the ID marking numbers, I masked everything. Actually, I'm trying to get away from decals to the extent possible. Unfortunately, except for the Japanese and perhaps Soviet planes, it would be really tough to do a national insignia. But ID markers can be done. (I think one way you can tell a model aircraft fanatic is to see whether they put on some of those miniature warning messages. Some jets have dozens of them. Must take hours. Another reason to stay with props.)

Eric

flaps details on the wing finished

and gears on , i inserted a metal pin inside to make a strong fixing

now just some putty work and sanding and the maty ready for the paint [:D (] or not? forget something? but don't remember)

Reasoned

Good eye trouble, that was painted on the fairing since the decals were for another plane, plus I think it's easier than getting decals to set on curvey stuff IMHO.