1/350 Hasegawa Akagi Complete.

I'm really getting a kick out of seeing this all come together Steve. 

I might just do that

Thanks Art.

They can have one of the editors tweak things around if needed.  I'd get ahold of either of them to see about interest.

She deserves a feature.

Thanks GH, not much of a writer though.

I'm in awe of your abilities every time you put up more of the build.

You really should send in an in-depth build log and pics to FSM for a feature article.  Willing to bet Aaron and Tim will bite on this one

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.

Thank you Mustang. We'll see how she turns out. 

I'm working on the small boats at the moment. 

This build is massive. You sir....get the modeler of the frickin' YEAR award for tackling this and for all of your efforts thus far Steve. 

lovely work modelcrazy , agree with kev dog , nice work on the girder .

I'd go mad doing all those portholes!  Nice work on the girder

I had to order another set of portholes but I only have about 20 left . While I'm waiting for the last set of PE I wanted to replace the last plastic girder piller, or whatever they're called. I forgot to take a picture before cutting it out but I replaced it with a scratchbuilt evergreen girder. I'm going back to working on the rear deck and painting the small boat section aft of the hanger.

Also, the IJN carriers did fly off army units. 

I've been looking forward to seeing you get back on this one Steve.

scottrc

Captn Mac,

I forgot about the fact that IJN practiced seasonal uniforms.  Thanks for the info.

Not a problem.

Most Navies uses seasonal (or climatic) uniforms.

This is a handy reference to have:
https://www.amazon.com/Uniforms-Insignia-Navies-World-War/dp/1853670979

Captn Mac,

I forgot about the fact that IJN practiced seasonal uniforms.  Thanks for the info.

looking forward to this one ,

Oh My!

         Can I say" Holy piles of defecation?" My goodness. You are acing this build. Now you know why the outside of the ships I do is only a frame, for the inside work I like to do. I have a 1/700 scale Japanese Carrier. She has clear cloud shaped windows in the Flight deck to show the Hangar deck.

 Don't remember which one she is but I stopped when I had that mess trying to hand Brush the Tamiya paint I bought for it! I didn't learn till later you have to add retarder to hand brush the Crap. I don't think that's right. Not everyone, and there's a lot of us who don't want to airbrush, or for some reason cannot do it or afford the equipment.

     I have the equipment, but until recently didn't have a Booth to do my A.B.'ing in. Not a good idea to A.B. in a damp breeze on the porch!  Give me Model Master or Pactra or at least the Little Humbrol Tins?

Thanks Capt, that helps me sort things out. I also understand the the offices paid for their own uniforms so while Blue or white they didn't always match exactly trim wise. I think I have a good mix here. Luckly the crews in white and blue just need their faces and shoes painted. The air crew is something entirly diffrent

modelcrazy

Thanks Ben

 

 

DRUMS01

how are you going when it comes to getting it done for the Nationals?

 

 

Don't know. I have what? 8 months left? If I ever quit messin around when I get home and get on it I should be able to make it with time to spare. I just need to finish the portholes the paint the hull. The deck will require some more PE girders but That shouldn't be an issue. After the deck and Island it will just be the planes, guns and crew to finish (just). It dosen't seem like much but I don't get a lot of time on it so it will streach out. Add to that, I'm terrable at keeping to one subject. I think I have a litt ADD.

 

 

DRUMS01

What are you going to do next to one up this build? 

 

 

Don't know, maybe the 1/96 Victory. That won't be for quite a while.

 

CapnMac82

 

 

scottrc

At least the standard issue uniform for the crew was all white.

 

 

From memory, IJN used a mix that was a blend of both RN and USN style uniforms.  And worn to similar standards--white in summer months or tropical locations, and blue in winter or northern climes.

I want to remember that Flight Deck Crew had special white uniforms to be more visible while on deck during aircraft operations.

The tail on the white jumper (the bit that hangs off the back of the collar) was medium blue with white piping on the IJN whites.  The blues had a matching medium blue with piping.  Chief Petty Officers were all white or all blue with matching cap covers.

IJN blue uniforms were more indigo than black, too.  The white uniforms will probably render better as a very pale gray.  Close up they aer a distinct cream sort of color, but, that's with 70+ years of aging, too.

 

CapnMac82 you sir are a wealth of knowledge. Wouldn't surprise me if the next FSM How To compendium was a CapnMac82 Answers Your Questions issue...Followed closely by a GM issue no doubt 

scottrc

At least the standard issue uniform for the crew was all white.

From memory, IJN used a mix that was a blend of both RN and USN style uniforms.  And worn to similar standards--white in summer months or tropical locations, and blue in winter or northern climes.

I want to remember that Flight Deck Crew had special white uniforms to be more visible while on deck during aircraft operations.

The tail on the white jumper (the bit that hangs off the back of the collar) was medium blue with white piping on the IJN whites.  The blues had a matching medium blue with piping.  Chief Petty Officers were all white or all blue with matching cap covers.

IJN blue uniforms were more indigo than black, too.  The white uniforms will probably render better as a very pale gray.  Close up they aer a distinct cream sort of color, but, that's with 70+ years of aging, too.

Thanks Ben

DRUMS01

how are you going when it comes to getting it done for the Nationals?

Don't know. I have what? 8 months left? If I ever quit messin around when I get home and get on it I should be able to make it with time to spare. I just need to finish the portholes the paint the hull. The deck will require some more PE girders but That shouldn't be an issue. After the deck and Island it will just be the planes, guns and crew to finish (just). It dosen't seem like much but I don't get a lot of time on it so it will streach out. Add to that, I'm terrable at keeping to one subject. I think I have a litt ADD.

DRUMS01

What are you going to do next to one up this build? 

Don't know, maybe the 1/96 Victory. That won't be for quite a while.

Boy, you sure are milking this easy build (just kidding!). Looking at what you've done already boggles the mind (and the wallet). 

These figures look much better than the Tamiya one dimensional ones. I was wondering if you were going to paint the pupils of the figures? (just kidding again). 

On a serious note, how are you going when it comes to getting it done for the Nationals? I hope I'm able to go to see it in person then.

What are you going to do next to one up this build? 

Ben

I love those Tory Factory guys but they don't have very imaginative poses. Most of them look like they are modeling the next line of IJN uniforms. I guess you get enough of them intermixed with the ones from Northstar and they'll look alright. The ones from Northstar are almost impossable to remove without breaking though. I noticed that some of the crew (other than the officers) have dark blue uniforms with whitw hats and white gloves. These guys seem to be on the AA guns. I can't get definate information confirming this. I know the deck and ships crew wore mostly white and the officers were either dark blue or white as well. 

There's a mess of guys in white and blue. I 'll have a mix of everything. Planes with engine started with crew, Zeros with wingtips folded (maybe) Kates wings folded (again maybe) crew attending the planes, gunners in some of the Kates, aircrew around the island for the last brefing along with some officers, guys lined up along the sides of the deck. General organized mayhem.

modelcrazy

I was really too far to decide to do the portholes but I'm making that work... kinda.

Alrighty, here are the crew. I still have 177 more figures coming. That will give me a total of somewhere around 600 air crew, deck crew, AA crew, officers and bystanders, which Is probably right. Now to set up the assembly line. The aircrew with the broken legs are assigned as Kate gunners and will be in their aircraft.

 

At least the standard issue uniform for the crew was all white.

I like Mopar's idea about subcontracting. 

goldhammer

My friend, you were too far in as soon as you opened the box.....grin.

The same way I'll be when I open that Dragon '43 Scharnhorst.

 

LOL  This is why I am avoiding 1/350 scale. 

Mopar Madness

Or you could volunteer 600 people to paint one figure each! 

 

Or you could volunteer 600 people to paint one figure each! 

I was really too far to decide to do the portholes but I'm making that work... kinda.

Alrighty, here are the crew. I still have 177 more figures coming. That will give me a total of somewhere around 600 air crew, deck crew, AA crew, officers and bystanders, which Is probably right. Now to set up the assembly line. The aircrew with the broken legs are assigned as Kate gunners and will be in their aircraft.

My friend, you were too far in as soon as you opened the box.....grin.

The same way I'll be when I open that Dragon '43 Scharnhorst.