waikong, you Shinden looks great. Nice work.

I was ready for a speedy, trouble-free build, until i reached this point

The fit was practically no-fit

After a creative session of head-scratching, I sanded things down to this status

Then I tried to 'built-up' the shape of the nose with plasticard bits and plenty of cement.

Lots of sanding to be done next ...

I've built two Hasegawa 1/48 Zero's and one had minor fit issues, just a little filler on the front after I had a good fit in the wheel wells.  That was on the A6M1, the A6M2 was fine.  Weird.  The A6M1 had a different airscoop than the A6M2 so the kit had a second part to cater to that, as well as the A6M2 insert.  I guess I will see if my A6M3 is like my A6M2 or yours!

Ouch Zvezda! As John said I think all the Hasegawa Zeros have the under cowl air intakes fit that way. But I've never had one fit that badly. 

Looks like you've got things under control though! 

Nice recovery on that bad fit, Zvezda.  Looks like you made a great adaption.

I am nearing finish on the Tony, ladi down a green base coat the other day.

I have since added some paint chipping, orange markings, and the decals today...at the moment unpictured.

Really want to see if Finescale is going to let me on this GB. Hope so. Nice Tony - I did the Tamiya last year and it was very slick. If I'm in this thing, I'll build a Hasegawa 1/48 Oscar.

Eric Bergerud

Robert: That looks good, you're making great progress! 

Eric: Sure, you're welcome! I'll put you down now. Did you ask before and I missed you? If I did my apologies. 

It's been a long time.  I have two Japanese kits that I have not finished yet.  I'm sure at least one of them is a roll over from Japanese Group Build 3... (embarrassing, I know!)  Would it be too much of a stretch to let this procrastinator from hell jump in on this one and finish up with a small bit of honor???

Thanks for the consideration, Gamera-San!!

TAD

No Dave it's fine! Glad to have them! Just lemme know what they are, no way I can remember back to JGB III and way the site is now it's a pain to try to look it up. 

BTW: I really need to get more photos up myself. I found some nice 3D printed Japanese troops I've been painting to go with the O-I to show off the insane size of the vehicle. 

Started work on the A6M3 Type 32, here's the progress:

Looks good John!!! Nice work. 

Nice deail painting John, Especially like that side console!

I apologize for the hiatus, due to 2 weeks vacation and then madness @ work.

At least I managed to read on holiday among others, a nice book about the 3rd Kokutai, to keep my GB spirit up.

A lot of sanding, filling, rescribing and then more sanding were done on the Zero. 

I had a critical situation when I attached the rear canopy. Clear part was smaller than the fuselage width at that area. I resorted to grinding the fuselage part with the Proxxon, then sandpaper, some filler, again sanding, etc. After this was done, I vowed that I will finish this GB no matter what.

Clear parts were masked with a precut mask set. During the process, I realized my eyesight is starting to deteriorate... or maybe Hasegawa's canopy framing is too subtle...

The kit was primed with a Tamiya flat green. Then a mix of 90% Gunze H61 IJN Gray +10% H74 Sky was sprayed. I perforated randomly a piece of paper and sprayed through (very) thin shades of black, white, green & gray, but the effect turned out too subtle, anyhow I leave it as it is. Some thinned brown and gray was sprayed along some panel lines. 

Hinomarus and stripes were masked and painted on. This was the first time I cut  custom circle masks, they are not perfect, and are a bit oversize. I will find an historical context to cover this when (if) I finish the kit. Some slight overspray will be corrected when everything is dried up properly.

Got a chance to touch the Tony in the past few days. Just was able to paint the gear wells and assemble the radiator...

John admirable painting, I love how the instruments stand out clearly and the hue of the green.

cbaltrin nice assembly work. This is mr surfacer that you have applied?

Zvezda1980

cbaltrin nice assembly work. This is mr surfacer that you have applied?

 

I had to order some Mitsubishi Dark Green for the top color, so there has been a delay.  I did get the base/lower color done, using White Ensign Mitsubishi Grey Green. 

I have seen others have issues with fitting the insert that forms the middle of the gear wells and carburetor scoop.  I think I know how it might be happening.  If the wing is not exactly right where it fits to the fuselage at the leading edge, it may force this part out of position.  I suspect this is not happening to me because I put the insert in place before the wing root glue has fully set, and the insert then makes sure the wing elevation is correct.  This is the third Hasegawa 1/48 Zero I have built.

John this is a precious tip. Will try it on a zero type 52 i have in the stack

Those look awesome guys!!! Keep up the good work! 

Sorry about being an absent host but I picked up a stomach bug or flu or something and have been under the weather the last few days. I swear yesterday my head felt like it was going to burst. Thankfully I'm feeling somewhat better today. Hopefully I'll be back this weekend. 

A little more work:

Looks good John you're making great progress! 

I love the glossy black on the landing gear. 

Thanks, Cliff and Zvezda.

Anither update.  I put the dark green on as a dense mottle to replicate an uneven and worn field apllied finish.  The markings are painted on.

That looks great John! Love the mottling for the uneven finish. Looks like you're almost done! 

Nice John, that paint job is mighty fine.

I had this Tony sitting on the shelf far too long, so I buckled down and finished it up over the weekend:

Thanks for the GB Gamera!  Look forward to next year's iteration...though I still need to track down my build from last year still and get that finished off.

Nice looking Tony Robert!

Nice looking Kee61 Robert ! 

Great show Robert! Going to put you down and looking forward to seeing what you pull out. 

Thanks Guys!

Finally got time to put up the finished pictures.  As all of my Hasegawa Zero's have been, it was a trouble free build.  Thanks for hosting the GB, Cliff, and you can shoose whichever picture you like for the front page.