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1/48 Otaki Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa "Oscar"


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Hi All

 

Looking for something to build, I had to move this out of the way several times

DSCF9280.jpg

 

It's a child of the early 70's, British Racing Green, one careful owner.

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Careful, as in although some parts are off the sprues, they wrapped the canopy in tissue paper

 

The instructions are original Japanese but fully understandable as they're quite basic

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Those decals are most likely well past their BBE, so I'm going to paint the markings.

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I'm going for the lower one, I can't read where it's from, but it's an all over metal finish, no stencils and plain Hinomaru.

 

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Not many parts, and yes they're all there!

 

Lots of fine rivet detail, don't want to hide them under big thick decals

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It's finely moulded

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However, detail is chunky, with bullseye ejector pin marks on the side walls

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Not that it matters, as you'll probably not see anything inside anyway

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Same with the engine

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Could do with detailing, but unless you're going to be opening access panels, it's going into hiding

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I might tart the front up for a bit of interest

 

I took all the remaining parts off the sprues and dry fitted the cockpit together

DSCF9291.jpg

 

The pilot doesn't look to happy, perhaps because this is what he should be sitting on

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That'll have to go

 

Anyhoo, after half an hour or so of gentle sanding, the main airframe clips together

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You'll notice the absence of any sprue gate points on the upper fuselage join.

 

All detail shortcomings forgiven.

 

 

Comments and suggestions welcome

 

Cheers

Steve

 

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Hi All

 

The front seat got some Master Tools 3mm chisel action (and I've still got nearly all of my fingers!)

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A drop or two of TET just to take the edges off

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And some sticky back plastic masking tape

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No-one will ever know that it's there, or that the cockpit is the wrong colour

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Because it's all going to be hidden away

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:evil_laugh:

 

 

 

Comments and suggestions welcome

 

Cheers

Steve

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi All

 

The sides went together with no bother, the wings went on the same way

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And all the bits were rounded up for a blast of light grey primer

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The canopy was the first one I'd had with the framing on the inside

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Not to worry, it got masked and sprayed with the rest of it regardless

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The plan is for an undercoat of silver, paint on the markings, and final coat of Aluminium with no sealing between coats.

 

I'm suspecting some peeling and paint lifting during this process, and I'll try to include it in weathering.

 

Let's see how that pans out!

 

 

Comments and suggestions welcome

 

Cheers

Steve

 

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Hi All

 

Going Left Field, I found some sticky labels that were near enough the same width as the white backgrounds to the Hinomaru

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Using one of those beautifully engineered, stepless, circle cutters, I got these

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Stuck straight on to the Tamiya XF-1 White

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A quick blast of Tamiya X-7 Red

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The final masking

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An overcoat of Vallejo VA71.082 Aluminium

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Aaannnndddddd.........

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I'm happy with that  :thumbsup:

 

No paint has lifted, must try harder.

 

Bit of anti glare and wing walkway, leading edge yellow, then we're nearly there.

 

 

Comments and suggestions welcome

 

Chers

Steve

 

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Hi All

 

On 5/29/2020 at 3:47 PM, Biggu said:

"sticky labels"?? Who needs fancy masks? That turned out perfectly , I am most impressed with that trick !  The build is looking great....

Jeff

Hi Jeff, must admit I'm a little surprised and a little disappointed too.

Surprised that they were so neat to cut, easy to apply, left a clean edge, and came away without lifting any paint, and disappointed that they came away without lifting any paint.

I was hoping for some random chipping affect from cheap stickies on unprotected fresh paint, but it looks mint. Typical, innit?

 

 

Anyhoo, on with the final painting stretch.

 

Anti glare and cockpit needs to extend rearwards to the canopy open position

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Put on some Tamiya masking tape, draw round the canopy, cut it out

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I used Vallejo VA71.251 NATO Black as it has a slight blueish tint to it

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Wing leading edges done in Vallejo VA71.078 Yellow RLM04

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The engine got a not-quite-dry brush with Aluminium then a wash of Tamiya brown panel line wash, the prop got Tamiya XF-79 Linoleum Deck Brown (possibly should be slightly more reddish hue?), and both the tail stickers were applied

DSCF9445.jpg

 

I was going to leave it at that, but thought I'd experiment with the Aotake finish.

It's 50/50 Tamiya X-23 Clear Blue / X-25 Clear Green, a couple of drops of  X-20A, brushed on

DSCF9446.jpg

 

Slightly too blue perhaps? but close enough for a base to work from (and yes I know I should have sprayed it first then masked :banghead:)

 

Hey ho.

 

It's all had a coat of Pledge and is in line for some Flory action.

 

 

Comments and suggestions welcome

 

Cheers

Steve

Edited by ProfSparks
NATO Black
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Hi Steve,

 

Another lovely build!  I thoroughly approve of your methods re the insignia - a brilliant idea (as you'll remember, decals aren't my strong point!). 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi All

 

Time to get dirty!

 

A liberal application of Flory Grey

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Wiped down with a bit of rag

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Brings 'em out nicely!

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A coat of W&N Matt to even things off and into the Isolation Box to dry

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A couple of days later...

 

The landing gear is attached and aligned

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The fuel tanks fitted

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And the engine attached

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The exhaust cutouts must have been aligned with a different body

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But they're mostly hidden by the exhausts

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Mostly.

 

 

Anyhoo, the canopy is also less than a good fit, but I neglected to suss that out previously, so it is as it is

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The wash brought out the rivet detail well

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And with the aerial on I'm calling it done (don't look at the canopy fit)

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I'll get some RFI pics when it stops raining.

 

 

Thanks for the company, see you on the next one!

 

 

Comments and suggestions welcome

 

Cheers

Steve

 

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