Thanks Gam and Waikong

Sorry, yes thin CA

Wow Steve, total masterclass.

Quick question, when you glue it all up, what do you have it sitting on? I have had issues before with gluing the PE to my cutting board... maybe I just need more practice.

I have got the tractor together, now I will have to work on the diorama.

Thaks lost, I glue it on a piece of plactic bag that comes with the kit. CA doesn't stick to that very well but I also apply the slightest amount using a piece of streached sprue.

Piers: Ohhhh, that looks really nasty, worn, and filty. I love it! 

Steve: Interesting, I'd not thought of using a plastic bag. Going to keep that in mind. 

OK this weekends data dump. I worked on and off. I have 79 hours into it now. The Zero took 9 of those hours, but now that I did one, I get faster as I go. Not that I have any complaints with the detail kit but I do wish they added drop tanks for the Zeks.

The canopy was more difficult that I thought it woule be. Cutting out for the interior and the canopy/antenna were to toughist and too the longest. Now time to paint but I'll do that when I have the AB out for other things. The wheels are turned brass.

Moving on the she ship. I completed the pillars and added the crane tracks. I dry fit the deck to check the fit. Looks good. Now I need to add the cable stays but am also continuing on to the kits instructions and the additional paper detail set. Theres still some girders needed to add to the fore/aft sides and the mid deck.

Also, I didn't like some pillars hard molded on the kit so I am replacing those.

That's all I got done this weekend.

Oh wow Steve! That lattice work support structure for the deck looks friggin' amazing. But I love that Zero! I'd guess in 1/350th scale they've got a wingspan of about an inch/3cm? That canopy and landing gear are insane! And I love the spinning prop!!

Yeah Gam, perhaps I can enter the Zeek as another GB build. 

modelcrazy

Yeah Gam, perhaps I can enter the Zeek as another GB build. 

 

With that level of detail you could! 

Some more progress, slow, but progress. I worked on the AM paper braces and finally got the process down. Now I'm starting to get some things done again. A 25mm AA gun platform is shown here. The other platforms shown also have the paper braces. Once I touch them with thin CA, they become as hard as plastic. I need to attach the bracing posts and makes up some AA guns from PE. There are also 2 ladders that will be attached from the small hull opening to the platform.

The spiders are going to love this model.  Better start thinking about an airtight display case.  Lovely detail!

Absolutly John. I'll make my own since something that big off the shelf would pay for the Kaga.

Maybe even a real Kaga!

Steve: Again, looks good! Never thought of soaking paper parts with thin liquid superglue but it makes perfect sense. 

Thanks guys.

Here the gun is finished and next to a kit gun. It took me around 3 hours but now I know the sequence. They should take about and hour each and have 13 more to do....unless I loose parts.

modelcrazy

Thanks guys.

Here the gun is finished and next to a kit gun. It took me around 3 hours but now I know the sequence. They should take about and hour each and have 13 more to do....unless I loose parts.

Steve: I'm beginning to wonder if you have a fake giant rubber finger you use for photos... 

All joking aside that's friggin' incredible! Fourteen of them? I'd end up in a straitjacket! 

He's using Waldoes and an Electron microscope!

modelcrazy

 

LOL thanks GAF, Jean and Cliff. I didn't drive myself nuts last night by working on the guns or planes but instead I worked in the paper framework under other platforms. I'm almost halfway around the port side.

I have been working dillegently every night on the Akagi. I have been replacing the bracing parts with the laser cut paper parts. Each one takes me about an evening each and still have several parts left to do. After this do I work on the AA guns or planes or do I go back to finishing the hull? 

Steve: That is amazing. You're really going to have a museum quality model when you're finished. 

I swear if you drop and break her after adding all that detail I'm going to break down and cry... 

Gamera

I swear if you drop and break her after adding all that detail I'm going to break down and cry... 

So will I Gam, so will I.

OK guys, I completed this section, at least until I get the IJN ladders from B&A in Australia and attach the deck, but I'm moving on. The black paint under the 25mm AA gun platform is where I'm checking if I need to add some filler. I also need to add the railing before I spray the black base.

I added some detail interest to the area under the deck but can't find any pictures of it to really know what was in there. Probably no one will see them anyway. This is the area where the three AM (Alliance Model Works) 1.2cm twin AA guns go. I glued the bracing on the AA platforms and set them aside to dry before attaching them to the hull. This area is going to need to be repainted. Lots of dust in there 

That's friggin' epic Steve!!! 

I'm hoping so Cliff.

Again, that's just friggin' amazing! 

Thanks Cliff,

Here's some pics of Alliance's 12.7 cm type 89 AA gun conversion to a reasonable facsimile of the 12 cm type 10 which the Akagi had, using some kit parts. The guns were to be replaced after Midway.