Hasegawa 1/72 Ki-61 build

[CheekyRascal]

Here is a quick photo of my latest build in progress. The kit is Hasegawa's 1/72 Ki-61 combo set featuring 2 kits from the 244th Sentai.

 

I am going for a natural metal finish using Alclad II lacquer. The canopy has been masked and sprayed with the interior color. I will probably hit the canopy again with a clear lacquer gloss coat to protect the undercoat as well as provide a glossy surface on which to spray the Alclad II.

 

There was some seam clean up needed behind the cockpit and especially on the underside where the leading edge of the wings met the fuselage. I used Mr. Surfacer 500 for the seam work, and then sprayed the entire model with a well thinned coat of Mr. Surfacer 1500 to act as a primer for the Alclad II. Since the panel lines were rather shallow to begin with, the primer coat neatly made them disappear. To remedy that, I used a scribing tool to deepen the panel lines and make them a little more pronounced.

 

After the scribing was complete, I started to sand and polish the primer coat with micromesh cloth to reduce surface imperfections. . But more importantly, it has been my experience that one needs to have a glass like sheen on the surface in order to yield maximum results from Alclad II. I know it is recommended that one use gloss black as a primer for Alclad II, however it has been my experience that having a glass like surface is the most important factor driving success with Alclad II. The micromesh cloth polishing started with 6000, then moved to 8000 and 12000 respectively. In the photo, the starboard wing has been completed. The rest of the model remains to be done. Every natural metal finish attempt with Alclad is a new experience and I learn something each time. Hopefully this attempt will yield good results.

 

I am open to suggestions / friendly critique as always. Cheers!

 

[CheekyRascal]

Here is the post Alclad II picture:

[Blitz23]

Looking good so far, look forward to seeing the finished article.

[Peter Lloyd]

It is indeed all in the prep and the flatness of the surface. You have everything in place there for the magic to happen.

[CheekyRascal]

Here is a quick update. I have added some panel shading with different shades of Alclad II and Model Master Metalizers. I am pleased with the results. I have also painted the black anti glare panel and scratched thru to the bare metal in places for a chipped look.

Edited December 28, 2017 by CheekyRascal
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