Engine on...

Engine Off again .. Haseagwa engine mounting design  not good. Need to figure out how to get it centered with cowl and perpendicular with firewall... 

Major componets assembled.

I was able to solve the engine alignment issue. I had to bore and oversized  hole through the firewall. Then I drilled a 1/16 inch hole at a 90 deg angle through some a section of 0.10 styrene strip, and inserted a section of brass rod of equal diameter through the hole.

This engine mount jig was then inserted through the firewall and the engine slipped over the brass rod. With engine and colwing in place and positioned correctly , I glued in place the styrene block. Once the engine is glued in place, the brass rod will be removed.

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There's nothing that can't be fixed if you have a hammer, a sharp instrument and determination! 

Gary

Nice workaround!  I have always thought that Hasegawa was one of the higher end brands, but honestly it seems some of their 1/72 scale kits leave much to be desired.  I assume they are from very old designs and molds.

Glamdring

Nice workaround!  I have always thought that Hasegawa was one of the higher end brands, but honestly it seems some of their 1/72 scale kits leave much to be desired.  I assume they are from very old designs and molds.

 

It's a perplexing kit. Scalemates indicates the molds are from 1972, yet exterior detail is nice with engraved panel lines and even some wheel well detail. Engine is decent. Overall the fit is good. No cockpit detail is provided. The only issue I have discover is the engine alignment...

I have a few of the early Hasegawa 1/72 Zeros and they are not what we are used to seeing today.  They tried to get several versions out of the same plastic even back then.  They are much better than the earliest Hasegawa kit in my stash which is the 1/75 F1M2 which is from 1965 and is numbered kit F-3.  F-2 was a P-51D in 1/70 scale released in 1963, but the interesting one was a transparent kit in the same scale issued in 1964.  I have a 1999 reissue, at least I bought it around then but it is an exact copy of the 1964 issue with no number anywhere unless it's in Japanese.  It looks like a faithful scale down of the Monogram 1/32 transparent kit in USAF markings but no operating gear, electric motor, or stand.  The moldings actually look nice in the Mustang but the Pete is very much on par with early Airfix with a nod to Aurora in the way of raised lines where the insignia go.

Major assembly,  filling and sanding is complete.

Cbaltrin: Ouch, sorry to see the issues you're having there. But clever solution, looks like you've got things in hand there! 

Gamera

Cbaltrin: Ouch, sorry to see the issues you're having there. But clever solution, looks like you've got things in hand there! 

 

Great work there on the masking! 

Best of luck with the yellow leading edge ID markings. I hate doing those! 

That Zero is certainly coming together very quickly, well done!

I started puttering about with the Ramen food truck over the weekend, and finished the kitchen portion.  Looks like most of it will not be visible through the serving windows, but I am content with it like this.

I also installed the wheels, please ignore the cat hairs in thhe middle...I didn't see them in time.

I admit the instructions of this kit and some parts are confusing me.  There are holes  in the middle of some parts that are not addressed in the instructions, nor can I see anything in the leftovers on the sprues that look like it should go there.  All I can think of is that these are for the other trucks in Aoshima's line of these.  I will probably fill them in or grab some random part from the spares box to fill in that space if in a visible area.

Robert: That looks cool! Nice work. 

I know they make at least three of the trucks, yours, a gaming truck, and a sushi vehicle. I'm not surprised as to different parts there but I'm I am a little surprised it's not noted in the instructions. 

Glamdring

That Zero is certainly coming together very quickly, well done!

If you are talking about my Ki-44, well then, thank you 

cbaltrin

 

 

Glamdring

That Zero is certainly coming together very quickly, well done!

 

 

If you are talking about my Ki-44, well then, thank you 

 

I stand corrected, the Tojo!  LOL

It has been awhile! I lost most of my interest in building models last year. I recently rekindled my interest by switching from armor to aircraft. 

I will join up with a Tamiya 1/48 Ki-84 Hayete (Frank) and a Tamiya 1/48 A6M5/5A (Zero). Will start the Ki-84 either tomorrow or Saturday. 

Welcome (back) Greysnake!

As for me, I need to get started on the G8N1 Rita, but I need to clean off my desk first.

This one will take some room!

Gary

GreySnake

It has been awhile! I lost most of my interest in building models last year. I recently rekindled my interest by switching from armor to aircraft. 

I will join up with a Tamiya 1/48 Ki-84 Hayete (Frank) and a Tamiya 1/48 A6M5/5A (Zero). Will start the Ki-84 either tomorrow or Saturday. 

 

Cool - I'm doing the Frank as well.  I ordered this set of decals - still not sure what markings I'll end up doing

 Leaning towards the last one - Yojiro Obusa, 50th Sentai.  He was an ace with 19 kills.

Ohhh that's cool Greysnake! I'll put you down. 

As the guys said there's a boatload of cool marking schemes there. 

Started on the Ki-84 this evening. I do like the box art 

IMG_7710 

There aren't many parts.

IMG_7705

Cockpit detail is well there isn't much detail. I will be putting the pilot in the make up for some of the lack of detail. This does make make me want to get the Hasegawa kit one day since the detail is so much better.

IMG_7706

The gear doors have some nasty injection pin marks that needed filled. 

IMG_7711

After about ninty minutes here is what I have. Some of the parts needed some careful cleaning, the landing gears being really nasty. 

IMG_7712 

Next will be giving the parts a bath and panting the interior parts. It took some research but I guess the cockpit, gear wells and landing gear should be a green color which I am using tamiya XF-71 cockpit green for. Visiting the hobby shop Tuesday so going to make sure I have plenty of paint for the base color. 

So far this has been an okay build for a 1972 era kit. Test fitting shows there is going to be some filling needed when the wing joins the fuselage but nothing dire. 

Great start Greysnake! 

Love that old box art, you just can't beat it! 

And the lack of detail to the cockpit is a little annoying but with a pilot in there you won't be able to see much anyway. 

As just a weird aside a lot of army pilots flew with their swords strapped to their hips. Couldn't have been too comfortable! The funny thing is most navy pilots left their swords with their ground crews when they got into the plane. 

Gamera

Great start Greysnake! 

Love that old box art, you just can't beat it! 

And the lack of detail to the cockpit is a little annoying but with a pilot in there you won't be able to see much anyway. 

As just a weird aside a lot of army pilots flew with their swords strapped to their hips. Couldn't have been too comfortable! The funny thing is most navy pilots left their swords with their ground crews when they got into the plane. 

 

The box art is what got me to first build the model when I was twelve years old, okay it being $13USD also helped out! 

Flying with swords does not sound comfortable. 

I worked on the cab over the weekend, spartan details and I don't plan on busying it up.

You can see one of the mysterious holes in the middle of the two seats.  It's not addressed in the instructions and there is nothing in the sprues that would look like a fit.  It does align with another hole in the roof which is pictured in the instructions, but is not used for anything.  Since it is in a rough area to putty fill, I am thinking of ordering a set of 1/24 soda or water bottles and making it into a cup holder, or maybe shrinking and printing down a couple manga comic covers to cover it up with.  For the one in the roof, I am thinking of a flashing light or something rather than filling it.

I like your idea Robert, actually a cup holder would look just right there! 

Slow progress, but we are getting there.  

The top signs are installed and the body is painted: 

And my chef/driver is a Starbucks drinker:

Looks great Robert, love the seats! 

Looking good Robert.

I made Aoshima's festival truck five years ago, and yes it is the same base body with special sprues for each version. I do have the kitchen in my spares box somewhere...

Gamera, here is my offering after a few years out: Hasegawa 1/48 Tony custom racer:

And started with the interior painted ready for weathering

lostagain

Gamera, here is my offering after a few years out: Hasegawa 1/48 Tony custom racer

Hi Lostagain. Cools subject -- Still need to finish mine from last years GB  BTW,  Did you say custom racer?  What's a Ki-61 Custom Racer?

Also, Very nice festival truck!

Piers: Ooohh, that looks cool! Will put you down. 

And thanks for reminding me, I knew someone had built the food truck but I couldn't remember who. 

Glamdring> Nice food truck!  Coming along nicely!

Lostagain> Love the Tony!  I also wonder about the "Racer" part?

Gary

Thamks guys!  

Lostagain - interesting build from the past, I don't recall that variation being available from the online shop I bought mine from.  They are kind of fun kits, if I didn't have to much to build as it is, I'd circle back and snag a couple others.

Got the Ramen Wagon decalled up and sealed, so I feel comfortable starting installation of all the non-gloss internal and  external components.

Getting close to the finish line now....