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World War II: Japan
Aircraft of Japan in WWII.
Hosted by Rowan Baylis
Mitsubishi A6M5a - 1/48 Tamiya
alpha_tango
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Germany
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Posted: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 - 06:25 AM UTC
Getting there!

I am not too happy about the Tamiya masks ...



still a few things to do...

all the best

Steffen
Emeritus
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Uusimaa, Finland
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Posted: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 - 07:52 AM UTC
Looking great!
Seems like the kit goes together like a dream (well, apart from those wing inserts).


Quoted Text


I am not too happy about the Tamiya masks ...


They're the ones where the panes are marked but you still have to cut them out yourself? I haven't had the pleasure of working with them myself yet, but I can certainly see myself replacing them with pre-cut masks...

That's quite a puzzling approach to canopy masks indeed. I can't figure it out.
If the shapes are easy (like Bf 109 for example), it's not a big deal to cut out. But then, it's not hard to mask with tape in the first place.
And with more complex shapes, while they're probably easier to cut with the shapes printed out, but not that much easier than working with just good old masking tape and a hobby knife.
alpha_tango
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Posted: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 - 08:04 AM UTC

Quoted Text

They're the ones where the panes are marked but you still have to cut them out yourself? I haven't had the pleasure of working with them myself yet, but I can certainly see myself replacing them with pre-cut masks...

That's quite a puzzling approach to canopy masks indeed. I can't figure it out.
If the shapes are easy (like Bf 109 for example), it's not a big deal to cut out. But then, it's not hard to mask with tape in the first place.
And with more complex shapes, while they're probably easier to cut with the shapes printed out, but not that much easier than working with just good old masking tape and a hobby knife.



Hi Eetu

Well I am happy these are there because I think cutting 24 panels the old style (on the model) is pretty tedious but of course I would have preferred pre-cut masks. No, the real reason why I am not happy is because I had much leaking under the masks .. read these did not stick very well (already used others that were as good as Eduard masks) who knows what the problem was but it meant a bit of cleanup and it is not fully resolved .. but what the heck for a "totally wrong and [auto-censored]ed up model" (see GM's rants in several forums and even Mags, proven by 3 inet pix ) it turned out pretty well

all the best

Steffen

warreni
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South Australia, Australia
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Posted: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 - 09:33 AM UTC
Hi All.

Someone asked about the metallic looking primer? Gunze produce the exact colour in thier Aqueous colour range but it is at home and I am not so I can't recall the exact number.. It may be 65? I used it to great effect on my 1/32 Rufe for the Seaplane campaign.



Cheers!
alpha_tango
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Germany
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Posted: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 - 06:54 PM UTC
Thanks Warren!

there are many ways to replicate this I also used the Tamiya metallic blue, or a clear blue overcoat on aluminium paint. But Yoni asked how I did it this time and I answered that ..... interesting that they have still similar approaches on the real thing

all the best

Steffen
alpha_tango
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Posted: Tuesday, July 27, 2010 - 10:09 PM UTC
O.k. gang here it is finished except for the antenna - biiiig chance to screw up, so I am not sure if i will add it :












all comments welcome! hope i did not miss too much.

all the best

Steffen
alpha_tango
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Posted: Monday, August 02, 2010 - 10:47 PM UTC
Wow, not a single comment in a week...

Well I am happy with the model .. but if you do not like it I would also like to hear why?

Here is a few more pix Marc Toillie took yesterday when I visited him (together with Jean-Luc). It shows Atsugi Air Base early 1945 (o.k. the environment does not totally fit, but the rest does) All models Marc and Geoffroy Toillie (except for the Zero of course). Thanks to both for the diorama setup and taking the pictures!!!




















all the best

Steffen
doubtingthomas
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Wisconsin, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 - 07:08 AM UTC
Steffen-

I think that no one wants to point out that you've built the short-tailed Zero, when the specific aircraft in question was a long-tailed Zero.

ZING! I crack myself up.

But seriously, it came out very nice. There's no evidence of the canopy problem in the photos. I like the grey wash....will have to try that on a dark color sometime. I also appreciate that it is free of massive paint chipping. Good job!

(that diorama is really nice, too).
alpha_tango
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Posted: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 - 08:08 AM UTC
Cheers Tom

Thanks for your comment I really began to think the board is against me as there were some nice Zeros posted by David and he got a few comments, but nothing on mine ...

There is a problem with the canopy painting and I am glad you cannot see it in the pix ... but just ask Jean-Luc who was looking at it very closely yesterday ....

all the best

Steffen
Emeritus
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Uusimaa, Finland
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Posted: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 - 08:35 AM UTC
Turned out really nice.
Good to see a Japanese plane finished in a bit fresher livery once in a while. Not that there's anything wrong with the highly weathered ones though.

Yoni_Lev
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Washington, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 - 06:07 PM UTC
Those diorama photos are sweet! Your Zero looks good in the group...and there's a Mitsu Raiden in there, too.

-YL
alpha_tango
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Posted: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 - 06:34 PM UTC
Many, many thanks Eetu and Yoni!!!!

Really I do not need to be complimented every minute, but when I post pix of my finished model I am happy to read a comment ... even if it is a critique..

The diorama is intended to show Rabaul and thus is not fully suitable to match Atsugi AB in central Japan. But as I wrote the aircraft are all from the same time frame. The Raiden is the old Tamiya kit built by Geoffroy (rogue2332) ... not sure who of the two built the Tamiya Mid-Gekkko. Diorama and stuff is from father and son Toillié ...

all the best

Steffen
AussieReg
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
AUTOMODELER
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Victoria, Australia
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Posted: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 - 07:56 PM UTC
Hi Steffen. Congrats on the finish of your Zero, it turned out great mate !! As the other guys have said, it's refreshing to see a mildly weathered Japanese build amongst all of the trashed aircraft we have been seeing lately. I love the look of the heavily weathered units as well, they inspire thoughts of the activity of the time.

That dio is wonderful also, great detail.

Cheers, D
alpha_tango
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Posted: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 - 08:55 PM UTC
Cheers D.

prime member 007 ... hehehe ... so you have your paint "shaken, not stirred"

thanks for taking the time to comment! I really enjoy war battered birds from time to time but some that I see online are rather junk yard queens (not from the modelling point of view, but considering this were real aircraft)..

all the best

Steffen

AussieReg
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Posted: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 - 10:02 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Cheers D.
prime member 007 ... hehehe ... so you have your paint "shaken, not stirred"
all the best
Steffen



Steffen, I like the thought but knowing my luck I would shake the paint that I hadn't screwed the lid down tight on. I think I'll stick with the "stirred" option my friend.
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