Here is is a continuation of Monday night!

Here is the start of the build.  The first step is the cockpit.

Toshi

As said I built the 1/48th version and it was a really good kit, this one looks nice in the box. Should go together like silk. Only issue I've ever had with Hasegawa kits is I've not had much luck with their decals, hope yours work out better Toshi. 

To my fellow forum members,

Thank you for having me in this Japanese GB.  I have here a Hasegawa 1/72 J2M3 Raiden Jack Type 21 Limited Edition.  What's cool about this kit is that there are two Raidens in this box.  Both of them are for two different squadrons.  I'm saving the other Raiden for the Thunderbolt GB which is starting on October 1st.  I hope everyone likes this build of mines.

Toshi

Thank you so much for including me in this group build.  I am very excited to be a part of this.  

Toshi

Sure Toshi, I'll be happy to. This group build runs to the end of the year so you have plenty of time till the Thunderbolt GB starts. I'll probably be doing a Japanese GB VI next year so I can roll you over to that if you want to start then.

Can you add me in to the GB?  I have one issue, I won't get to my build for a couple of months as I have other builds going on.  My kit to enter if it's ok is:

Hasegawa 1/72 Mitsubishi J2M3 Raiden (Jack) Type 21

Gamera

Steve: So you're not buying the resin in 50 gallon drums yet??? 

No, but I do for the acrylic gel 

Bruce: Very cool, I'm glad you decided to do something a little different. Bikes are something I know almost nothing about, happy to follow along and hopefully learn something. 

Steve: So you're not buying the resin in 50 gallon drums yet??? 

And on a slightly more seroius note just posted you to the front page, again congrads, really nice work. 

Alright Gents, I'm getting ready to start on the motorcycle (from now on referred to as "bike") Yeah, it's not a airplane, or tank, or ship, but it is Japanese! And I used to very much enjoy the type of riding that this bike is built for!

Here is the box cover art:

And the contents:

Not as many parts as I had thought. I had originally decided to build this OOB, but, I couldn't help my self:

I had to buy some Ohlins front forks! LOL! I have two other Top Studio AM sets being shipped. And the funny parts is, I could have spent a huge amount of money on AM parts for this bike. Much more than what I have ever paid for aircraft, tanks or ships! I was pretty amazed at what is out there for autos and bikes. This is a lot like building a bike in 1:1 scale.

I'm really looking forward to this build, and I hope you enjoy the WIP!

Rob S.

Gotta ask, was that quantity of resin costly??

Well.....yes. Altogether I used around 80oz of resin (two 32oz and almost one 16oz). If it weren't for 50% off coupons from Michaels it wouldn't have been possible. I should have used my first smaller base; however, it wouldn't have come out as well. It was worth it.

One of the coolest dio's I think I've seen Steve! Bloody incredible. Gotta ask, was that quantity of resin costly?? Again, wicked dio!!

Steve: Great, I'm going to try to get you posted either this evening or tomorrow. 

Ya know now I have to run part VI just to see what magic you conjure up to outdo these and the Mushashi 

Steve,

That turned out awesome!

Thanks guys.

Gam, I'm going to leave it the natural Poplar so these pics are final.

I'm going to be working on quite a few other GB's for a while so I'm not sure I will be getting to the Aichi or not. It may be a while yet.

If not, there always next year if you run the GB. I will have to come up with something to top the Rufe and sunken Zero.

Wow, you knocked another one outta the park Steve, sharp work! I too love the light streaks though the 'water'. 

Are you going to stain the base though, or just leave it natural wood? I'll get you posted soon as I get the chance. 

modelcrazy

That is a result of the resin and light refraction. Resin acts exactly like water when dry.

 

Right on, again great stuff!

Thanks Jack,

That is a result of the resin and light refraction. Resin acts exactly like water when dry.

Steve, congrats, that looks epic!

How did you create the streaks of light shadow underwater, like those lines over the wings in the second last photo?  Or was that just a natural occurrence as you added the layers of resin?

regards,

Jack

Thanks Bruce, I remember seeing that one before.

I’m finished with the Zeke. Because of the larger size of the base I used more resin than I wanted, but the smaller base wouldn’t have looked as good.

Comments and critiques welcome.

Steve,

I apologize! From the pictures, it looks to be a couple inches deep! So, my though really would not work for you! LOL! I think that really shows how well you created the water. 

Anyway, this is a picture of the model I was speak of:

I believe your idea to replace the base with thicker wood is the best solution. I'm looking forward to the finished pictures!

Outstanding work Steve. The resin looks like actual water, incredibly realistic. 

I think your method is the best for correcting the bow. It will blend right in.

Me neither about the resin shrinking - so out of curiosity did a little google search, and it seem the thicker the layer of resin, the more heat it creates while curing, which results in shrinkage?

http://www.sculpture.net/community/showthread.php?t=1887

Still though, that is looking awesome there, Steve!

regards,

Jack

Hey Steve she looks great! 

I have no idea what to do about the shrinking and bowed sides other than what you're already doing. I'll keep my fingers crossed. 

Hey guys just want to point out a screw-up on my part in the hopes someone might learn from it. 

What you see below is wrong. Aotake was not applied to the inner skin of the aircraft, it was left bare aluminum. Thankfully when I posted some photos on Facebook a guy pointed this out to me. I cemented the fusilage halfs together but still think I can spray some aluminum paint in there to cover what little you can see. 

Thanks Steve. I thought I'd added more stuff to the cockpit since last time and then looked at the earlier photos I posted of it and noticed I think it's mostly the same stuff again... 

Well, hopefully I will have some real progress next time... 

Gam, the cockpit is smokin!

Hey thanks Bruce, the floor boards are just a Prismacolor silver pencil. Cheap and easy to get it right where you want the silver, I think it beats drybrushing at least in this case.