Japanese aircraft group build.

Hey all, I know I didn't build it for this GB but it is a Japanese AC.  You can check out finished pics of my Zero in the aircraft section or the Pearl Habrour GB.

Now to start my Hayabusa!

Diggeraone- I had a thought that I am carrying over from the suggestions and feedback section http://www.finescale.com/FSM/CS/forums/542617/ShowPost.aspx

In a nutshell - Back in the BoB GB, I wanted to go back and see some finished pics of other's builds but had no idea what pages they were on.  For the Canadian GB (I am the moderator), when participants complete their build, I add a note that tells what page their pics are on.  I know some people keep their pics only for a short time on what ever digital image hosting website they use but it in the meantime it can help others view their pics (I like to keep my pics up for the duration of a build and a little bit afterward).  Just a thought?   

Baby steps forward. I finally commited to glueing the cockpit all together with the eduard ip installed. I also finished up the engine with extra solder and eduard pe wiring. How's everyone else doing?

Leon

Pics:

Nice details to the pit and engine!! Excellent work Leon, can't wait to see more.

Jerry

Looks like great progress Leon. 

As for my Hayabusa, I've got the cp complete, and the wings and fuselage together with the first coat of silver.  The kit is the one with the motorized propeller and I want to add the motor in so I have to leave the wing detachable so I can replace the battery.  The fit from the top looks pretty good actually.  I can't believe how fast this model is progressing, I might be able to put on the green camo tomorrow or Sat!  On Sunday night it was still in pieces on the sprues!.  For me this has been lightneing fast! If I keep up the pace I could be done in less than two more weeks!  Lately it has been averaging me 2-3 months to build a model!

Leon, this is an absolutely stunning kit!  I haven't built many kits but this is by far the nicest I have ever built.  Everything is falling together, now I know what guys mean by shake and bake.  I have not used any seam filler.  It helps that I am leaving the wings detachable but they still look good dry-fitted!  Pics on the weekend, I promise. 

The only downside of the kit is that there are these combat flaps and Hasegawa has engineered the kit for them to be out.  In all pics I have seen and reviews that I have read confirms this, they should be in.  To fix it means some minor surgery but right now I don't care and I'm going to put them out as per the kit instructions. 

Here are my progress pics (finally)!

I had a funny thing happen with the ija green.  I sprayed a coat on friday morning and I couldn't finish the entire fuselage so I started painting again on Saturday.  I didn't re-do the cowling as it was done.  After I was finished the wings and fuselage I set them beside the cowling and the greens are very different!  From the same bottle of paint too!  wierd... I ddin't go back and re-do the cowling.  The only thing I can think off is I must have mixed the paint better the second time?

Anyway here are the pics.

Looks good Jay. That is weird about the greens. I wonder if a different amount of thinner or something could effect the final color. I don't know why it happened, but it is a good heads up for me as something I need to watch out for in the future. I'm curious to hear if anyone comes along who can give the reason it happened. Anyway the cockpit and all look good. What did you use to mask the cockpit in the first picture? I can't figure it out, but am very curious.

Leon

I know what you mean about progress slowing. I haven't done one thing on mine since the last post (I have a couple others I am working on and tend to get excited about one and not too excited about another). Anyway, I'm glad you got back to it, and I look forward to the pictures. I'm kind of curious how many of us are still hanging out on this one...

Hope all is well.
Leon

I too am moving slowly, however, I finally started painting the Gekko. I've decided to do an Irving from the Atsuga Fighter Group, mainly cause it's the only J1N1 that had a two tone camo scheme that I could find. All the others were IJN green all over cause they're night fighters. Kinda boring, so I'm going with the two colors. Hope to post pics soon.

Great looking work Jay, especially the IP

Jerry

Well finally done, here it is and it only took me three weeks of actual building! I haven't built many kits but this one is by far the most exquisit and well engineered kits I have completed.  If you want a good build of a Japanese aircraft, I strongly suggest giving this one a try.

This is my Hasegawa 1:48 Ki-43I Hayabusa in the markings of the 18 victory JAAF ace, Maj. Tateo Kato (kit decals).  It is the kit with the motor in it but I don't have a battery yet so couldn't take pics with the prop spinning.

As usual, any comments/critism welcome!

Looks good Jay. It looks like a fun build. I imagine it was a lot of fun to pull up the paint for the chipped effect. Probably nice to have a mask pull up paint on purpose for once

Leon

Great work everyone!! I finally finished the Gekko so here's some pics. This kit was wonderfull.

Thanks to Digger for a great GB.

Jerry

OMG! Sometimes you open a thread and are just blown away by what you see. This is the case with your Gekko. It is amazing! There is so much about it that I really like and am impressed by - the cockpit paint job, the subtle panel fading, the subtle well done exhaust staining, the obviously well executed masking / painting. All very good. Thanks for sharing.

Oh yes, and the photography is excellent. It really shows off the good work.

Leon

gwaihir wrote:

OMG! Sometimes you open a thread and are just blown away by what you see. This is the case with your Gekko. It is amazing! There is so much about it that I really like and am impressed by - the cockpit paint job, the subtle panel fading, the subtle well done exhaust staining, the obviously well executed masking / painting. All very good. Thanks for sharing. Oh yes, and the photography is excellent. It really shows off the good work. Leon

Jerry