1/48 Hasegawa D3A1 "Val"

Dive Bomber

by Steve Workman

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This is the first 1/48 scale model that I have completed since I started back into building (I mostly build in 1/72 scale).  It is Hasegawa's JT55 kit which I made into a Pearl Harbor Akagi Val.  The only real issue I ran into was the wing-to-fuse fit, which was required some filing, styrene sheets, and filler to look decent.  For filler, I used pieces of shaved sprue melted with Tenax.  It was the first time I used this method, and I liked the results.  After the main assembly, all seams were sanded smooth.    

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For the paint, I mixed Model Master RML 02 Grey with British Interior Grey-Green and Floquil Reefer White.  This gave me a green-grey color which was close to color photographs of wrecked val parts recovered from Pearl Harbor.  Inside the cockpit, the gauges and controls were dry brushed with white and Future was added to the gauge faces.  canopy Masking was done with a combination of Black Magic masks and Tamiya tape.  The red fuse band was air brushed along with the black on the cowling.  On the decal sheet, tail markings for all of the involved carriers were included, so I used Akagi's markings according to a picture on the internet.  After a spraying of Future, panel lines were done by using an oil wash with MM Burnt Umber.  Exhaust stains were done with pastel powder, and everything was sealed with Dullcote.  I finished things off be adding an aerial antenna using "Invisible Thread" and epoxy insulators (another first for me).  This build incorporated a few new methods which I found on this site, and one of my best so far.  

Hope you all enjoy.  

Steve

Photos and text © by Stephen A. Workman