Nakajima B6N2 "Tenzan" (Jill) Hasegawa 1/48th by Jean Barby

 

 

 

  

Japanese Aircraft Online Model Contest 005 - Prof. NEMISIS GOOSEHABIT

This is the old (1967) Tamiya 1:50 scale "Pete". Straight out of the box build. I used this build to learn and see how I would weather my later Hasegawa (1:48th) offering. The weathering has all but disappeared in the photographs but is quite distinct when viewed in daylight. 
As a learning tool it was a fun build and showed how much Tamiyas, engineering has improved over the 50 years since they issued this kit.

I also found the colour scheme interesting as it was from a profile showing the only "Pete" that featured an all black cowling. Every other picture I could find had an overall green or grey. I also liked the idea of the unpainted center float.

Hopefully I'll be able to finish my "Rufe" before the deadline and if anyone knows more about the cowling colours on the "Pete" I would be most interested.

- Prof. Nemisis Goosehabit -  http://plasticnostalgia.blogspot.co.uk/

 

 

Japanese Aircraft Online Model Contest 005 - CARLO REITA

Here's my entry for the contest. I wasn't sure if I should submit it as the quality is well below par compared to some of the other models in this contest, but at least it's something out of the ordinary: the 1/72 Kawanishi E8K1 by Choroszy Modelbud. It is my first resin kit and I assumed it was easier.....

The build was complicated as the parts, although very detailed, are very fragile and the instructions sparse. I ended up using a lot of putty and lost some of the details. The interior is also detailed but once finished practically invisible. The only two photos I found were black and white and as I didn't have anything else to go by I painted it according to the instructions: aluminium (XF-16 by airbrush) nearly everywhere and black. Used the Gunze cowling colour for the cowling and the Hinomaru were obtained by masking and spraying an equal parts mix of H3 and H86.

 

- Carlo Reita -

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kawaguchiko Motor & Zero Fighter Museum

Visited yesterday the Kawaguchiko Motor & Zero Fighter Museum which is open to the public every August. We heard that Harada-san had almost finished restoring a "Hayabusa" so we wouldn't miss this chance to see this beauty from up close. 

Harada-san first saw the cockpit and parts of the main wing at a British museum more than 20 years and after lengthy negotiations he managed to purchase the parts in 2013. Since there are no surviving blueprints of the type he worked with three engineers and many war-time photos to recreate as accurate as possible designs based on which the missing parts were fabricated. The restoration of the cockpit and the main wing was completed last summer with the rest of the aircraft last month. The result as you will agree is absolutely stunning!!!  

We hope to see the aircraft finished in some cool camouflage scheme and markings.

 

Japanese Aircraft Online Model Contest 005 - MICHAEL FURRY

1/48 Hasegawa E8N1 Dave

A Dave from Hasegawa? I did not expect that but it was a nice change from their continuous re-releases with different decals.

 At first glance one notices that this kit has multiple insert pieces and that usually means trouble. Not so, dry fitting has proved thus far that the engineering is quite precise. The directions have you assemble the cockpit tub then fit this into one fuselage half and finally, close up the other side. Doing this would have left noticeable gaps between the fuselage sides and cockpit sidewalls. I glued the cockpit sidewalls to the fuselage halves using clamps(this made paining easier too). Dry fitting proved that the floor and bulkheads can be sandwiched between the fuselage halves and more or less "float" without using glue. I made a bulkhead to blank off the rear of the fuselage and used Eduard photo-etch seat belts. I did not spend a great deal of time detailing the cockpit since very little can be viewed, even though it is an open cockpit. I pre-shaded the cockpit parts black then mixed RAF interior green with some dark green for the cockpit color. I used a mix of green and black water color to highlight the shadows, then dry brushed light gray and finally dark gray to simulate some wear.  

Thank you for looking,

Michael Furry, Harrisburg, PA, USA

 

WIP Pt#2
First off, a thank you to George! This kit was a prize from the previous contest and is very generous. 
The engine is a simple assembly that basically requires careful painting. I added ignition wires and deepened the exhaust openings to enhance the overall look. I painted the pushrods black and the rest of the engine with gunmetal metalizer. The exhausts were painted gunmetal as well and then treated with brown, orange, blue, and tan pastel chalk.The cowling is in three pieces and you must trap the engine inside. Test fitting shows that engine and cowling fit quite well together. The other photos show what the cockpit sides and floor look like since very little is visible once the fuselage halves are closed up. As stated in my previous update, the engineering is very well done with this kit, the only tricky areas are some of the sprue attachment points. Some of these are in areas that could result in damage to the part when removing them from the sprue.

 

 

Japanese Aircraft Online Model Contest 005 - PAT DONAHUE

Hasegawa 1/48 Mitsubishi F1M2 "Pete"
Scratch built details, Colorcoats and Xtracolor enamels
Hasegawa P/E parts used for rigging

 

Pat Donahue - U.S.A.