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.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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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
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