Sandlapper Posted October 31, 2018 Share Posted October 31, 2018 🤫 Ok... I’m actually an armor modeler. But I have a secret passion for WW2 Japanese aircraft. Keep this under your hats! Here we have the Nichimo Ki-45 “Nick” I’ve been working on it while my airbrush has been down and here is the progress so far: And a belly shot: I’ll post as we go! Any questions, comments, threats welcome! 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandlapper Posted October 31, 2018 Author Share Posted October 31, 2018 And “Nick” is on his feet! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigglesof266 Posted October 31, 2018 Share Posted October 31, 2018 Coming along nicely Sandlapper. I share your passion. Ki-45 was a pretty bird. I have Hasegawa's 1/48 in my stash. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandlapper Posted October 31, 2018 Author Share Posted October 31, 2018 6 minutes ago, Bigglesof266 said: Coming along nicely Sandlapper. I share your passion. Ki-45 was a pretty bird. I have Hasegawa's 1/48 in my stash. I have the Hasegawa kit too with the refuel truck. I have four Nichimo kits though. Since this is something of a return to the hobby I elected for the older kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigglesof266 Posted November 1, 2018 Share Posted November 1, 2018 Nice. I get that. I'm currently building an Academy 1/48 La-7 for the same reason. How does the Nichimo Toryu compare? I know I have some original oTaki kits too, and they go together fast and scrub up nicely stand off. Finishing off their Arii reincarnation of the N1K1-Ja Shiden in 1/48 now. They go together in a two or three easy days and can be finished to the display shelf within a week. Easy builds to completion to get the mojo back and use as a 'hand and eye back in' mistakes canvas. For Japanese subjects in the particular, Hasegawa do a good value fidelity feature balance IMV, and can be sourced at a reasonable price ex-Japan. The newer Tamiya 1/48 stuff, Ki-61-1, A6M3 & A6M5 type Zeros are certainly extra tasty, but the local etail and retail prices are getting a tad too stratospheric for me. My eyes don't really appreciate all that cockpit etch work in 1/48 any more. I'd rather fill it with a pilot as the natural eye magnet. Modelkasten's Japanese 1/48 aircrew are beautifully sculpted and reproduce outstandingly for injection moulded figures. Their Rabaul Pilots set is absolutely gorgeous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandlapper Posted November 1, 2018 Author Share Posted November 1, 2018 The Nichimo kit is respectable straight from the box as I am building it. It does not have the same level of detail as the Hasegawa kit but it is worlds above and beyond the Otaki/Arii kits. If one wanted they could lavish the kit with extra detail as there is little molded in detail to remove. Detail in the cockpit consists of electrical boxes in front and rear and some hydraulic controls. Of course there are two seats and an instrument panel with outlines for the gauges. I have some generic gauge decals that I had considered but since the cockpit would be closed decided against them. Landing gear detail is basic and could venefit from brake lines and a few bits and bobs here and there. The landig gear wells are devoid of detail. Fit wise it is a product of its day with the engine nacelles needing some shaping and filler. For some reason there were knock outs on the joining halves of the fuselage. The instructions are completely in Japanese , luckily I was a tenured professor of Medieval Japanese literature at the university of Kyoto and had a side job proofreading and editing documents for the Japanese atomic energy commission. ColoUr call outs are all in Japanese so some research is needed for painting. While the Ki-45 was a Kawasaki product most relic part from them were not the same color as the Ki-61 colors in the cockpit area at least. I painted mine khaki drab your taste may run differently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandlapper Posted November 7, 2018 Author Share Posted November 7, 2018 Since Nichimo’s decals are horrible I have masked the IFF bands and the homeland defense bands. IJAAF grey green being sprayed tomorrow!! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted November 7, 2018 Share Posted November 7, 2018 Looking pretty good 👍 ... After the Ki-61 these are my next favorite japanese type. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandlapper Posted November 7, 2018 Author Share Posted November 7, 2018 (edited) 7 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: Looking pretty good 👍 ... After the Ki-61 these are my next favorite japanese type. Did someone say Ki-61? 😁 Might do one next! Edited November 7, 2018 by Sandlapper Spelling 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandlapper Posted November 9, 2018 Author Share Posted November 9, 2018 (edited) I have started the green mottling and am having some self doubt. My Maru Mechanic book has an excellent close up of the nose of a Nick showing a fairly (actually very) sloppy application of the green. Im sort of trying to replicate that here. I am doinv the Green freehand. Have a look comments questions threats proposals and haikus all welcome! I think I may “flesh in” some of the green and connect some of the smaller sections. Edited November 9, 2018 by Sandlapper Added thought. One remaining! Make it count, Jon! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil5208 Posted November 9, 2018 Share Posted November 9, 2018 is thar a full wrap around scheme or just upper surfaces? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandlapper Posted November 9, 2018 Author Share Posted November 9, 2018 1 minute ago, neil5208 said: is thar a full wrap around scheme or just upper surfaces? Just the upper surfaces Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted November 9, 2018 Share Posted November 9, 2018 (edited) Looks pretty good to my older Mk.I 👀‘s . Edited November 9, 2018 by Corsairfoxfouruncle 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandlapper Posted November 9, 2018 Author Share Posted November 9, 2018 47 minutes ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: Looks pretty good to my older Mk.I 👀‘s . I had to run and buy a moisture trap for my airbrush i was getting water in the work. Do you think I should consolidate same of the green for a more tortoise shell look? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted November 9, 2018 Share Posted November 9, 2018 Personally i like the way it looks right now. You mentioned a photograph from the book ? If it were my build, I would go with the example given. I think these camouflage patterns were usually not perfect. However if you prefer the Tortoise shell look then by all means go for it. In the end you have to look at the built model and be happy with it. Dennis 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandlapper Posted November 9, 2018 Author Share Posted November 9, 2018 I couldn’t resist! I split the difference fleshed out the green and took the tape off as soon as the paint was dry to the touch.... 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturmovik Posted November 9, 2018 Share Posted November 9, 2018 Looks great. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted November 9, 2018 Share Posted November 9, 2018 Definitely looks great 👍 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Law Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 (edited) Looks really good. I have just done this on my A6M3 in the Pacific group build. I found it really nerve racking to do. Just one mistake and the whole thing goes west. I had one which was a headache to fix because my background colour wasn't the standard colour out on the bottle. I saved some for touch ups, but it wasn't the same colour anymore when I went to use it. Now the next question is what colour are you going to do the panel lines,? I think black it too dark on the light colour, so I'm thinking of mixing a dark grey. Edited November 10, 2018 by Greg Law 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandlapper Posted November 10, 2018 Author Share Posted November 10, 2018 12 minutes ago, Greg Law said: Now the next question is what colour are you going to do the panel lines,? I think black it too dark on the light colour, so I'm thinking of mixing a dark grey. Thank you Greg! I’m going with a dark grey for the panel washes. Weathering is going to be minimal on it too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Law Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 Sounds good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 3 hours ago, Greg Law said: I think black it too dark on the light colour, so I'm thinking of mixing a dark grey. Well id base it off the surface of the airbase the plane operated off of ? If compressed coral id use a medium grey or tan. If sandy soil id use a brown or dk. yellow. If tarmack or concrete dk. grey or black. I believe its the dust that catches in the joints that makes them stand out. Dennis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Law Posted November 10, 2018 Share Posted November 10, 2018 I'm not sure what Rabaul was as it in on a volcanic cone I belief. I will have to look into that. On my Zero I was thinking a medium or dark grey panel line with a overall final dusting of Buff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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