forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
Modelers Lounge => The World of Scale Models => Topic started by: AngryJazz on November 30, 2024, 06:39:48 AM
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Hi guys
An update on what is on the bench :)
I have recently finished 2 armor projects and want to get back to airplanes. This kit have been on and off my bench for about 1.5 years or more. Its time to get it done or throw it in the bin. I don't like to have to look at this HUGE kit taking up shelf space while being unfinished.
This build log is to try and keep me motivated and finally get the project moving.
The reason I lost motivation multible times was all due to poor fit on the exterior parts. The interior was very nice, but maybe I made small mistakes that caused issues.
The gaps - sanding, filling, scribing was too much.
Luckily its been on and off the bench so many times that most of the work is done (seams).
Hopefully it will be better from now on ;)
To catch you all up with progress pictures
(https://i.imgur.com/OFf9Mxp.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/mC4ib0B.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/1zknQ9a.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/sqxal29.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/8Fg7mEh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xtpVdCZ.jpg)
HUGE kit :)
(https://i.imgur.com/TZi3p8u.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/95fPALy.jpg)
Current state of the kit - have since attached the tail and working on the landing gear area.
(https://i.imgur.com/1AhEcpp.jpg)
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Looking terrific! This seems like a very complex kit to Me. Especially compared to the OOB 1/72nd builds I am doing ::)
RAGIII
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Interesting. I knew these ZM kits had insane amounts of interior detail so it must be disappointing that the exterior parts are a poor fit. I can understand why that has slowed progress...
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Blimey AJ that's a big old chunk of plastic :o
Got to say I have a proper soft spot for the Japanese aircraft of this period though - some beautiful designs and interesting colour schemes with (in many cases) the opportunity to have fun with the weathering ;)
I remember falling in love with the old Airfix Dinah when I built it as a young lad and have enjoyed seeing others builds ever since
Paul
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Thank you all :)
And yes absolutely insane amounts of details! There's even moulded pistons inside the engines :o
From what I gather more people had issues with this kit, but some of their others should be very nice! But like WNW the tolerances are very tight, so im sure i caused a few of the problems myself.
I do like the colors of the Japanese planes, so like Paul says - its a good canvas for some fun :)
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One thing i forgot to mention about the way ZM does their kits. They want to teach you everything about the plane as you build it. See it's inner workings come to life. Every part is named as you build it in the manual. This is the regular gas lever etc.
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Finally the engines can be test fittet to the fuselage! Major milestone since it's the first thing you build when starting the kit.
Still need to be dusted off a bit better, but it's a nice feeling 😄
A lot of work has been made to get the wheel bays mounted. As anything from ZM - they are very detailed. You can see the engine details from the inside as well.
As you can see from all the filler - the underside is where I had the most issues with gaps etc.
However most is done and I took some time to fill and scribe a few other areas. I still need to fix a few more on leading edges and a panel or two.
Now to decide if I mount the engines and mask around or wait until after painting.
Waiting may result in more fit issues and i've already had many. It would be much easier to fill and sand at this stage.
I should mention that i'll be cutting a few corners here and there. I already accepted this project will have to be completed to a lower standard than usual. For me it's more important not to lose my motivation trying to fix everything. I just want a decent model to display on the shelf 😊
(https://i.imgur.com/QSzb7rn.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/qhunLEd.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/0Ujeq0E.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/NJk4dh5.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/7lvXeTB.jpg)
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WOW! Again, a lot of work but the Detail is amazing!
RAGIII
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An ambitious project you've got there, AngryJazz. I have one in the stash and I even looked at the sprues once :o
Despite the fit issues that you've had to deal with it looks like you're bringing this complex kit together masterfully.
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Thank you RAGIII and Vickers :)
Im slowly getting closer to primer. Just need to sort out the last seams and the canopy.
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After fixing quite a few issues I think its time for first round of primer :)
Decided to mount the engines at this stage. With the fit issues I had i want to eliminate any surprises that might show up trying to fit these later.
(https://i.imgur.com/YJmgP9j.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kHIaXXs.jpg)
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I think I'd enjoy doing a Z-M kit - probably the Skyraider as it's the most appealing type to me - so until I have the funds I really enjoy seeing others build them. Great work so far!
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Thank you very much Zac! I think you would enjoy them. I have a few ZM in the stash i really want to build soon. Like the 1/32 HO229 and HS-129 B3.
Most of their newer catalog should build very nicely!
Last night my wife wanted to do her nails so i got some extra time at the bench ;D
Managed to sort out a few more things and get the Ki-45 primed. Then a quick buff of the primer with a sanding sponge before adressing some seams.
Think im ready for the first color 8)
I may go for the more complicated "spotted" camo
(https://i.imgur.com/AlNjGXH.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/fag3JHT.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/e5ctwcA.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vxgqDKd.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/D0G77fj.jpg)
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Great progress on a beautiful kit. A joy to watch!
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Great progress on a beautiful kit. A joy to watch!
I Totally Agree! Looking fantastic!!
RAGIII
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Thank you very much both of you ;D
The Ki-45 is slowly moving along! Had a lot of trouble getting the cowlings to fit, so all locating tabs had to go. Lots of pressure, glue and filler... But it looks alright now 😄
I wanted to have a panel removable for the engine, but I guess that will have to be for another build.
I painted the main colors for the top and underside (AK Realcolor 302 and 305) and gave the control surfaces a slightly different shade.
Next is a few highlights on both colors before I try my hand at the camouflage.
From the manual it looks like the grey has a bit of overspray from the green, so I will freehand the pattern and go back and correct the shapes afterwards. Should get me pretty close to what I want. The later weathering will also help to unify the colors - or so I hope 😅
The paint looks a bit more patchy on camera then in real life, not sure why. Also I will need to touch up a few areas on the wheel bay where a bit of overspray got in.
(https://i.imgur.com/Jt5owEd.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/I1LqbPW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/PcNOCEf.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/pZQBfLG.jpg)
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Wow! Looking gorgeous. Sorry to hear of the further fit issues. I am looking forward to the remaining paint /camo pattern!
RAGIII
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Sooo time to reveal my terrible airbrush skills... It was much more difficult than I had expected.. But then again I have never tried a complex camouflage like this before, so I always expected to experience a thing or two. Also tracing the shapes surprising difficult, trying to keep track of where you got to and what shape to copy next.
I think a easier way would be to cut masks with a plotter or maybe a photocopy traced unto tape. Then go back and soften the edges afterwards with the airbrush.
Then again it's also a huge task and I don't have a plotter.
Oh and as it turned out it was wasted time to do all the highlights etc on the top. I had to go back and mostly remove it all when defining the shapes of the camouflage. I guess it's good practice for next time 😂
I'm not quite sure I like the scheme or if it just needs a filter to look easier on the eyes.
Maybe it will help to look at it again tomorrow.
Enough rambling... Pictures!
Camo without any corrections
(https://i.imgur.com/FnqPZFo.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/hKEuLD9.jpg)
With correction and shapes more defined (current state)
(https://i.imgur.com/US739LW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZaNpKgs.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/0lGnLE9.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/lylt0Ct.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vGnVHGh.jpg)
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It doesn't look too bad to me, but then again I don't know the subject. I'd never try anything like this freehand with an airbrush, so I think you did well. As you say, filters, weathering, chipping and whatever (it's a Japanese WWII subject so I assume these are appropriate....) will pull it all together.
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It looks good to me - I think a filter or weathering over it will make it less contrasty (is that a word?) :)
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It certainly looks good to me, AngryJazz. That's a big canvas and these "chain link" schemes found mostly on Japanese and German WWII twins can be a real challenge. The colors that you used and consistency in the irregular pattern appear to be spot on.
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Just catching up here - your paintwork looks fantastic. Kudos for taking on a very challenging scheme. Also love the way you've mottled the colours to start with, adding to the overall look.
Cheers,
Gary
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Thank you Nigel, Vickers, Patrick and Gary :)
It is certainly a challenging build for me and I agree that some more weathering will probably pull it together. And I really appreciate your feedback!
However there was just something about the color that just did not work for me. I decided to basically redo all the green. Going in with a more yellowish green to change the look. Also toning down the grey just a bit.
After that I post shaded the model and I'm much more happy with the result now! 😄
Should be a good base for decal and weathering!
(https://i.imgur.com/YG0Hk8l.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/CnKIlx7.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/QLXMu8i.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/KuOpeKW.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/KjaPdtm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/DFNADf3.jpg)
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Your painting of the scheme looks outstanding to me! Looking forward to seeing the Hinomaru painted. Lovely model!
RAGIII
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I was going to say that looks better when I saw the photos, assuming some weathering had been done. Then I read you repainted it! That's commitment. It does look better, so worth the effort.
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Thank you very much!
Unfortunately I did not have the correct shade of red for the markings, so had to use the decals. Better get some with my next order-
Well I did only repaint the green ;)
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Finally the half build chunk of plastic is no longer on the shelf of doom - but on the completed list ;D
Im happy its done! And it does look quite nice now I think!
I kept the weathering and chipping minimal. I like the camo so did not want to add to many effects over it. Only additions near the end was a silver nickel tube for pitot og some wire for the antenna.
I have a few more ZM kits in the stash, but think ill do a few simpler builds first ;)
(https://i.imgur.com/8JEuRl3.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/09DEGIb.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/XQgSb7r.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/xrMRXRG.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/A09O5Bv.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/vyKmYsm.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/kF7CdNT.jpg)
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Congratulations on a stellar build, AngryJazz! You've done a great job on this demonstrably complicated kit. I think that you made the right call on the minimal weathering, especially since this one was based in Japan where there were more resources for cleaning and maintenance. The ones stationed in Formosa and the Philippines appear to have suffered much more than the home-based planes.
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Awesome! That has turned out really well, great build. The final finish looks great, well worth the effort.
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Spectacular work, Ben - looks fabulous. Your little weathering touches really set it off.
Cheers,
Gary
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Thank you all very much for the kind works ;D
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That is truly a very nice model. You did a wonderful job. I also have this kit in my stash of Japanese WW2 planes and will use your report as reference :)
Andreas
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Stunning results! Everything about the painting and construction is Beautiful!
RAGIII
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Thank you Andreas - that's quite an honor seeing how many great models you build ;)
Thank you RAGII - very kind of you :)