PJ, the Zero came out fantastic.
Gamera, the 109 is looking good.
Steve, amazing work as usual.
Jack, the little Zero looks very nice the extra details.
I’m afraid I need the remove the Ki-84 from the build. I ruined the paintjob with Testors glosscote probably due to user error. The model is salvageable however I’ve been in a model building slump and I’m not interested in redoing it right now.
On to my other entry the Tamiya 1/35 Type 1 SPG Ho-Ni.
There’s not a lot in the box. For a kit first made over forty years ago the detail is quite good. The molds for the kit are starting to show their age the road wheels have very prominent seams and there is a lot of flash on some parts.
Due to the seams on the road wheels cleanup took a lot longer than usual. This doesn’t look like a lot of work however this took almost an hour and a half.
The model comes with a very basic interior since the fighting compartment is open. It’s just enough to give you the idea that it is there. I spent a fair amount of time trying to figure out what colour the inside should be and came up empty handed. In the end I went with the base colour for Japanese tanks from 1942 onwards Kusa Iro (Grass Green? ) using Tamiya XF-13 IJA.
Here is the interior after a little detail painting and weathering. The driver’s seat does have noticeable pin mark however you won’t be able to see it with the top glued on.
Finding information much information on Ho-Ni at least in English is pretty hard along with conflicting information. I finally ended up translating some Japanese websites and finding out a little more. It seems only fifty were built and there are hardly any photos available which makes figuring out markings hard. From what I gather they were used in Burma, China and the Philippines. I’m probably going to mark my model for the the 2nd Tank Division stationed in the Philippines since there are a few pictures of a Ho-Ni of that division captured by US soldiers.