Gary: I have a lot of issues with those seams. They don't seem to fit well on a lot of kits. Oh well, I've been sanding and puttying all weekend. It's got to fit in the end.

Looking forward to seeing how your Zero looks. Hunter Green sounds close enough.

It's been a little while but I completed the initial construction on the captured Nick. Filled, masked and applied the black base. Next is the silver.

Steve: Looks good, perfect base for the NM. 

Initial construction begun on the Chi-ha Type 97:

AA: Ohhhhhh cool! Nice work! 

I've built both the Hasegawa and Tamiya Zero kits and they both had a little work to do at the lower wing to fuselage.  The irritating part is that the real airplane came apart there for ground transport because the wing was one piece tip to tip.  So you do need a clean panel line there.

AA> Good start on the Chi-ha.  Should be a nice one.

Not much to report here.  The temperature and weather have prevented painting, so all I've been able to do is test fit and glue a few pieces together.  Here's a test fit of the main body and wings.

The lower wing seam as discussed above seems okay, but the upper wings seems to have a slight gap.  I think I can correct this with some tape to pull them in closer to the fuselage.  I look forward to some nicer weather for painting.

I really need to get a basic airbrush so I can apply just base coats!  Oh, well.

Gary

Gary: That looks good!!! I had a bit of a gap in the wings too. I ended up adding some Perfect Plastic Putty, let it dry for about five mins or so and then wiped it with a moist cotton swab and it filled perfectly. It should work for about any sort of putty, just use whatever cuts the putty. 

I filled and sanded that blasted seam about a dozen times. I think it finally looks okay now, I went ahead and painted the fighter black today. Hopefully it will be dried enough to take photos soon. I'm going to try to paint the thing NM, and then chip her using the hairspray technique.

Jeaton: Thanks! At least I didn't sand and putty by poor mind away for nothing! 

A little more done on Nick. Bad lighting.

Even with the bad lighting that's a nice finish Steve! 

Gamera,

I would like to join in, please put me down for the Airfix 1/72 Mitsubishi A6M2b Zero.

Yes, I know, I know, another Zero!?!

Hey Ziggy, welcome. I just put you down. 

And there's always room for another Zero... 

BTW: Went to apply a coat of aluminum to the Zero last night with the intention to use the hairspray technique to apply the green/grey camo over it and then chip the camo away to reveal the aluminum underneath. Well the cap of the bottle of Alclad aluminum must not have been tight and most of the solvent had evaporated leaving me with some thick sludge. So I ordered some more Alclad aluminum from Sprue Brothers at about 10:30 last night EST. Got an email this morning at about 9:30 that the order had been filled and shipped. Sorry neither here or there but my complements to Sprue Brothers for fantastic customer service!  

I can now report that the Surrender Betty is finally done.  It was an entry in the GB III or IV, got dragged out behind the hanger, and like most 1:1 aircraft, left to rot.

Prudence (that cold, dark, heartless, expensive woman) and Gamera finally talked me into searching the berry briars and finish it up.  Pics tomorrow, after blowing off the rest of an inch of dust and leaves. 

Taking the Myrt to model club tonight to continue working on the office, hoping to get the interior green painted tomorrow. Pics as well.

GH: I'm looking forward to photos of the Surrender Betty. And the Myrt sounds really cool too! 

BTW: I've got the sketches for the badge and hopefully it'll be done in a week or so. Sorry, wish I'd had them sooner but the guy who does the sketches is finishing up a new comic book and been kinda on the busy side. 

Here is the start on the Myrt.  Still a few pieces to put on the sidewall before gluing it to the fuselage side, and painting the interior.  Will have some brush work for the different color callouts inside.

This is the "Surrender Betty", 1/48 Tamiya.  Started it about 6 years ago, for Gam's GB back then, first build after around 40 years away from modeling. Gave me something to do to pass time after the wife passed.  Has been sitting for 5 years behind the "hanger of doom".

Not the best work, canopy frame painting is rough, and I didn't fill and sand the seams around any of the glassworks. Does have PE belts and IP, though it's a strain to see it.

Paint is MM acrylic, green crosses are masked and painted after the decals went outhouse mouse on me and tore to shreds. Antenna behind the ADF loop went missing while it sat.

Represents one af two that were painted and marked to bring the surrender delegation to meet with the allies.

Although Gamera has it listed as an entry in this GB, I don't consider it a part of it, sat way to long to be considered for a "rollover".

Steve> The finish on the Nick looks fine.  I guess all that's left are the decals?

Goldhammer> The Betty turned out nice.  You deserve a badge for the canopy work alone!

Gamera>  Look forward to seeing how the chipping turns out.  I haven't decided yet on what sort of weathering I will do on the A6M5, so show me how it's done!

I managed to get the interior cockpit painted with a black base this week on a relatively nice day.  I'm currently painting "interior green" over that, so no pictures yet.  I'll post something up of the cockpit work when that and detailing instruments is finished.

On the decal problem I had earlier, I discovered I had forgotten about a Tamiya Shinden model I had in the closet.  I can sacrifice some of the decals from it (as I will probably never build that aircraft), so that problem is solved.

Gary

Thanks Gary.  I left the Eduard masks on for 5 years, so they pulled paint when removed.  Small brush and a toothpick made repairs.  Decided to leave well enough alone and live with it as is.

So much good build already here :)

Cliff, I,'m I'm with this little ibg piece, 917t japanese version truck, also I'll try to continue the italeri sea dragon

GH: She looks pretty darn good to me! Nice work! You're sure you don't want to me to put her down as an entry? Esp nice considering the masks were on the canopy that long, I can imagine they would pull paint up with them.

The Myrt looks good, nice looking kit of the nice looking plane.

GAF: Well, it's still an experiment here. I'll be sure to let you profit from my mistakes.

Bsyamato: Cool, got both of them down. That truck looks like a really interesting kit.

Thanks Gamera, I wouldn't feel right by the other entries to claim it after the time lapse.  If you want to put up the last pic, I'm OK with it.  Not wanting to claim anything.  Not fair to others who finish in the timeframe.  Appreciate the thought though.

wait, Another Japanese GB started already? And some people already finished? Dont you guys sleep? Great looking builds so far by the way. Guess I am in too, will check the stash to see what I got.

GH: You know I may just put the photo up. It's up to you if you want to take the badge or not. 

Waikong: As usual you're welcome to join us with whatever you find! 

I'll wait on a badge and see if I can get the Myrt done on time to claim one.

Art, that Betty is amazing. I would be super proud of it. Well done!!

BK

GH, that antenna didn't make it to the finish line on my Betty either, it got tweezed into spaces unknown.  I replaced it with music wire.  I say put in on the completed roster!

Thanks guys.  May replace it and install antenna wire later on

Heres 917 box'n'sprues:

Bsyamato: That looks cool, and nice work the frame looks good. 

Guys: Put GH's surrender Betty up on the completed roster yesterday! 

Saw that...thank you sir.