Jack: Looks like a pretty cool kit there, I'll get you down. Only question is I can't make out the brand there- Choroszy Modelbud!?!  Wish I could read Czech!!! 

I found a few photos of the Ki-9 but none showed the stenciling. I've got the 1/48th kit by I think Otaki in my stash, if I can remember I'll try to hunt it up and see what decals it included and where it says to position them. 

John, looking forward to the salt technique results.

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I've begun another Japanese aircraft slated for the Trainer GB, but would like to share it here since it also fits the theme.  It's a resin kit in 1/72 of the Tachikawa ki-9.

Lower wings were pinned with brass rods for added strength, and I've got some initial putty and sanding done on the fuselage seams.

Now I've a question, anybody read Japanese, or familiar with stencils on this bird?  Kit instructions do not show where to place them.

regards,

Jack

John: Yeah it's a little blurry but looks like a nice clean blemish free paint job to me. A real good start there!  

Well I got something done this weekend,  finished filling and sanding ridges and stuff and got my base coat of silver on.  Now I can think about doing the salt method for the green top color.

Sorry it's a little out of focus,  that's what happens when I take pictures after midnight!

John

Gamera - thanks, but yea your call about switching out the front page photo - I'm easy on that regards.

Johnsan - agreed about the protruding bits.

Bsyamato - thanks for the laughs, and look forward to your next creation.

regards,

Jack

Thanx Doug 

Cliff the Sonia will be a speed build (....) .. maybe

LOL the curse of fujimi's Claude tail wheel  then was not me only ..

Two rod pieces and aluminium stripe on my claud :D Lost during the second paint session

More works i did on the sonia today but no pictures yet .. asap i'll post

Jack - I always expect aerials and pitots to break off, so I replace them with brass. Makes for much stronger and generally better looking parts. I've never been so lucky with a Fujimi Claude tailwheel. You must be doing something right!

Bsyamato: Looks like a great kit there but I love seeing all the extra touches you add!

Jack: Love the last photo (the sunset close-up)  there- you sure you don't want me to swap out your photo on the front page for it?

Johnsan and Panzerpilot - thanks guys!

Oh by the way, the tail wheel on the Claude remained intact for the duration of the build.  The antenna mast was another story.  It snapped  off three times before deciding to leave it off until the very end.

regards,

Jack

BSY... AsAlways... looking good!  You get so much out of and put so much into your 72nds... too small for me any more! LOL

Doug

Thanx Panzerpilot :)

Well done the new pictures Jack, i really like the cowling looking. Wishing to get another one or two fujimi Claude :)

Johnson, never see the hasegawa/mania ki-27 but suspect that the Icm nate really rocks :) i build one for the first japanese GB

The works done on the Sonia

Before to get better referencies i cut too may flaps parts  after glued the two unused flaps and keep the correct central flap

the fuselage details before the sanding work, will make new structures and instruments on the walls

glued the 3 parts cowling

a test fitting that shows the good quality of this kit

drilled holes in the exhausts 

thinned the cowling on the back, just left two surfaces for the gluing, also started to improve the look of wheels , moulded on a side of gears, will try to give them a better sense of dept

then glued , some other retouches but almost done

That's all for now, next step structures on the fuselage i think :)

Bsyamato and Jgeratic...

Good work guys! Congrats!

Jack - Nice!

Bsyamato - You're correct. When Mania released their kits (early 70's) they were the best kits around in any scale. The kits they released for the most part haven't been surpassed. (I'm excepting the 72nd Nate) and most haven't been done by anyone else since. It's apparent that they were influential with Hasegawa as it wasn't long after release of these kits that Hasegawa kits improved greatly. Mania's Sonia is still one of my very favorite kits and I've got several in the stash waiting their turn at the bench.

Gamera and Bsyamato, thanks!

Spoke too soon and had a dumping of snow today.  There was a moment of bright conditions, so took a few more shots and added/changed some to my gallery.

regards,

Jack

Just the Sprues of the sonia for now, alreday done some improvement work

As someone knows , this kit was original mould from mania, as you see the arrangment of details are different from usual hasegawa style. In these days Mania probably was a better brand than hasegawa (looking to the kate too that have in the stash)

no box for now, this kit was a part of a combo kit sent from a my friend, soon will send other decals for the version i wish to do... with some other kit 

Thanx for comments guys :)

Top work Claude Jack  realistic look 

Bsyamato: Just posted you to the front page!

Bob: Went ahead and put down your Zero while updating the front page. Take your time, no rush.

Jack: Wow, she's just gorgeous! Love how she turned out! Went ahead and posted you to the front page too, if you don't like the photo I used lemme know and I'll swap it out.

A5M4 Claude is now done.

Wish there was better natural lighting to be had here in the great white north, but it continues to be cloudy day after day - at least it's not snowing.  I had to lighten up the pictures a tad in photoshop to make up for the overcast, but the final results are fairly close to what is seen with the natural eye.

regards,

Jack

Anytime you want to add me is fine Gamera, I'm going to have to figure what I'll be working on after I finish my LCVP and Stuka.

bsyamato - very nice work! 

I love the sepia toned photo, and the ground level shot that follows, those rock!

regards,

Jack

Bob: Sure- eight months to go, and you're ok to sign up at any point. I can put you down now or later if you want to wait, there's no cut-off date here.

Is it too late to sign up?  I have a Tamiya 1/48 A6M2 Zero that I'd like to do, but it would be a little while before I'd be able to start because of other GBs.  I know I'd be able to get it done by the end of the year though.

Very nice Bsyamato! I'll see about getting them posted when I get on my home computer- it's more of a hassle here at work.

Finally find the time (and the weather) to take final outdoor pictures.

Here the finished Babs

more here

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/29/p/1730682/reply.aspx?tsid=e4dcc79c-62b9-4041-ae19-258bc290e3d8

Already started the Ki-51 asap some picture :)

At the next!

Ah right my apologies Bsyamato- I forgot about you taking your finished photos outside. No worries, take as long as you need of course!

Thanx guys :)

Cliff the babs is actually finished but not yet outdoor final pictures for the frontpage :(

Sorry guys, been a little busy lately.

Jack: The added highlights and shadows work great at pulling out the detail in complex parts on the stab and fin.

Bsyamato: Another beautiful plane! Very elegant, clean design on the 'Babs' and you did a great job on her. I'll see about getting her posted to the front page tonight.

Terry: Sounds good!  

Cliff, I''l get started on the Ka Mi next week, I've been busy with other builds so I'm anxious to get this one going.

Terry

Looks good, Bsyamato.

Excellent updates guys :) Jack the Claude is really great!

Last updates of babs before final pictures, waithing a good opportunity to take outdoor pictures in the usual location :)

Washing done during the weekend. Used a mixed enamel medium grey 

glued all pieces, a test withouth cowling before to glue all

almost done, after these pictures i fill the last little side window and with stretched sprue  glued the antenna wires

Waiting other two modellers on another modelling forum in Italy  to start a triple sonia wip . If waiting will too long i'll start another subject meanwhile 

At the next!