Hello everyone, thanks for the compliments on the GB badge. 

Cliff's friend, Rock Baker, and myself seem to have made it an almost annual event to combine our efforts to produce these badges - about half dozen I think thus far?

Congrats to those completed builds  posted on the front page.  The ongoing projects looking great as well.

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So here's my entry, Sweet's tiny 144 scale Zero:

The kit has one main sprue times three - so thats three complete aircraft.  One extra small sprue contains the pitot tubes, bombs,  and an antenna mast without the kink. Decals are numberous, but all are for fighters from the Akagi - would of been nice to have options from the other carriers.

Was told these kits are nice quick builds to get onself out of a modeling slump.   Leave it to beaver, I have gone ahead and added some finer detail to the base kit:

- carved out the location of navigation lights on the wingtips

- inserted 0.6mm tubes for 20mm cannon

- pitot tube created from 0.2mm and 0.4mm wire/tubing

- added a shapeways 3D printed generic pilot

- barely visible, but also replaced the cowl guns with 0.3mm tubing

regards,

Jack

Seemed to me  they weren't that impressed by the fighter though they did go with the Kawanishi Ki-61 Hien which was pretty much their own version of the machine. So I guess they did like it somewhat. 

Amazing work there on the Akagi! I love all the PE for the structural forms under the flight deck.  

Gam, have you ever read what the Japanese thought of the 109?

OK guys, here's a picture update. Last night I finished the stern anchor chain, touched up all the paint and started adding the boats. I also painted the stern deck girders. Tonight, finish installing the boats and set the deck. Once the deck is set I'll need to scratch the cross bracing of the pillars and attach the cranes, ladders and landings.

I don't think I've posted anything yet but I did start on my Japanese Bf-109.

Steve and  Gamera  

Dunno what's going on but the photo came up fine on the office computer. Just posted you- nice work and as always thanks for joining us! 

plasticjunkie

I just tried to quote you and got the stupid 303 code thing, very annoying.

Hmm, that is strange.

Sweet looking Zeek PJ! 

Thanks  and Yes Gamera strange indeed. I just tried to quote you and got the stupid 303 code thing, very annoying.

PJ: Great job there! Really beautiful work! I'm sure your friend will be impressed. 

For some weird reason I can't see your photos on my computer. I've tried three browsers, Pale Moon, Brave, and Chrome. But they come up on my phone with Pale Moon just fine.  I'll see if I can get them up on the work computer tomorrow and post you there. My apologies... 

And thanks guys, I love the badge too. Jack may join us, I don't want to speak for him. And I'll send Rock your compliments. 

That Zero is great!

Kudos on the badge Gamera!  Now I can't wait to start on my ship.

Thanks Gs. My build is completed and hope my friend Larry will like it. Tetsuzo Iwamoto scored 80 kills making him one of Japan's top scoring aces. He fought in China, the Philipines, New Britain, Truk, home defense and trained kamikaze pilots. He died at age 38 from sepsis in 1955.

Thanks  Gamera for hosting this GB and feel free to use any picture for the completed page.

Thanks Gamera.

modelcrazy

Looks good PJ. I hate the metalic blue green they used for the wheel wells.

 

Thanks. I actually think it's cool. I was reading that the color added to the clear they sprayed could range from blue, green to yellow.

Steve: It's good to see more of the Akagi. That's truely an epic undertaking- museum quality!!! 

PJ: So sorry to hear about your friend's mom. The Zero look fantastic!!! I hope it cheers him up at least a little. 

Looks good PJ. I hate the metalic blue green they used for the wheel wells.

keavdog

Sorry about your friends mom.  

Model is looking good.  Which paint did you use for the gear wells?

 

Thanks. For the aotake color I used Tamiya metallic blue with a drop or two of clear green. 

Sorry about your friends mom.  

Model is looking good.  Which paint did you use for the gear wells?

Decals added late evening

Almost done, just a few more things to do tomorrow.

O

Paint was done earlier today

That looks very good Steve.

The friend I'm building this Zero for just lost his mom last night, not COVID related. She was 90 and had several problems going on. I will be switching to 5th gear on this one to complete it by Thursday since we will be driving down to South Florida to see him on Friday and want to give him this model. I shot aluminum first then hairspray and IJN Green topsides followed by IJN Grey undersides and chipping. More to follow.

Cliff,

Since my time is running short before the Nats, assuming they are going to be held this year, I moved the Akagi back to the front of the line. I received the last of the portholes (still not sure it was worth it), installed them and worked on the small boats, sampans and motor boats for the last several days along with trying to come up with a method to replicate the rolled hammock/futon splinter shields the IJN used at the begnning of the war.

There were some pics I saw of these shields on the AA gun emplacements as well as the directors so I added them, know one knows for sure anymore so I figured the extra detail can't hurt. Maybe I'll get a consederation for effort. I used Milliput to make them up and think the came out OK. Once painted white, they should look decent. I still have the starboard side to do but it doesn't take but and evening or two. In the meantime I can finish spraying the stern area and touch up the cable reels, add the anchor chain and then the small boats. I have an idea to "secure" the boats to the deck like they were with straps and add some oars. It's most unfortuanate that once the deck is on, most of my work will be hidden but if you look close you will see the little jewels, the same with most of this build.

That's all for now, but I wager that things will start moving faster from here. Assuming I get some bench time.

keavdog

Yes, 1/48

 

Cool, gotcha! 

That is one groovy looking badge!

Yes, 1/48

Thanks guys but thank Rock and Jack, they're responsible for our fantastic badges!

Keavdog: Sounds awesome! I'll put you down- those are both 1/48th right?

A neat badge indeed!

Cool badge!  I may join - I've got the Tamiya A6M5 and a Raiden on order.  Doing both in Sadaaki Akamatsu's mounts.  Got a to love a drunk fighter pilot... lol

I'm in a lot of group builds alread so if I clear out a couple I'll jump in.

Guys BIG THANKS to Rock Baker and Jack/Jgeratic for yet another amazing badge!!!

GS: That looks pretty darn good! Nice work!

And the Zero isn't too shabby either.