Evil_Toast_RSA Posted May 4, 2022 Share Posted May 4, 2022 (edited) Not going to lie. My mojo is waning on my F-2 trying to get that intake trunk seamless. Tonight it cracked along the joint, again, whilst sanding, so putting it aside for now. Time for this bad boy! Lots of plastic goodness inside! Usual Tamiya quality, with plenty ejector marks to deal with. Decals look surprisingly decent for a Tamiya kit? Will see. And got some resin barrels. Got a mask set on its way, but for the "Early" kit. Pretty sure the canopy remains the same. Also have some Eduard PE belts, hopefully they have some ones I can use on this build. One thing I'm finding interesting is the canopy framing. It's very, very fine by the feel of it. Can barely feel how it's raised like normal if that makes sense? Anyway, found a build on Hyperscale by Gregg Cooper I will be referencing, and I really want to try his method of replicating the Aotake finish. Edited July 31, 2022 by Evil_Toast_RSA Spellingz 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil_Toast_RSA Posted May 5, 2022 Author Share Posted May 5, 2022 And started filling the ejector marks. Being the paranoid person I am, filled them all. Chances are good most won't even be seen anyway. Eh. Some of the fully visible internal parts are molded with the back end hollow, used some plasticard to blank them off. Drilled out the pilots seats lightening holes too. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helios16v Posted May 5, 2022 Share Posted May 5, 2022 More twin engine goodness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterB Posted May 5, 2022 Share Posted May 5, 2022 Nice to see another Gekko as it is not that well known. Starting life as a proposed "heavy fighter" eg Bf 110, and then switching to reconnaissance as the JNAF equivalent to the JAAF Ki-46 Dinah, it then was turned into a reasonable night fighter for use against bombers over Japan. I built the old Revell 1/72 kit back in the 1980s but it did not have the radar like yours. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil_Toast_RSA Posted May 6, 2022 Author Share Posted May 6, 2022 11 hours ago, PeterB said: Nice to see another Gekko as it is not that well known. Starting life as a proposed "heavy fighter" eg Bf 110, and then switching to reconnaissance as the JNAF equivalent to the JAAF Ki-46 Dinah, it then was turned into a reasonable night fighter for use against bombers over Japan. I built the old Revell 1/72 kit back in the 1980s but it did not have the radar like yours. Pete There's a funny story attached to this kit. My local plastic crack den has the other 2 boxings of this kit from the early naughties I guess. Been eyeing up the Early version and slowly getting little bits and bobs for it, why I have the guns but the early masking and insignia set is on it's way to me. Wind back to late 2020. A guy on a local group hit a razor blade in the candy floss of life and needed a compressor sharpish. I had one I hadn't used for months, so I passed it on with the only proviso that he cover postage. He received it, was happy and life went on. Just after Easter I get a message from him. He's packing up and going back to blighty, would you like this kit gratis as thanks! So yeah, got it Wednesday afternoon and got started that night! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted May 7, 2022 Share Posted May 7, 2022 welcome along with build #2 and it is great to see another Gekko in the build..........and one that is probably a bit easier to build!! The Tamiya model is a very nice one, I have been looking over builds and instructions of these on-line for mine. Going plastic would have made life much easier than going resin! Tamiya is normally pretty good at hiding injector marks.......unlike other who shall remain nameless! You should be fine with the canopy and the masks. I just looked at both sets on instructions and they are exactly the same. I actually may even buy the early version myself it looks really cool (I have a thing for nightfighters) and the 2nd canopy will solve my current canopy dramas....maybe! Anyway, good luck with the build, she's an awesome looking model and can't wait to see it in the gallery. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil_Toast_RSA Posted May 12, 2022 Author Share Posted May 12, 2022 Small minor update of sorts. Have the Aotake a bash. Basecoat of Tamiya XF-53 Neutral Grey (guess XF-24 Dark Grey could of worked too) and a heavy drybrush/stipple of Tamiya X-11 Silver enamel. Then a layer of a custom Aotake mix (went with X-23 Clear Blue and a small amount of X-24 Clear Yellow for moral support) thinned with MLT. I think it looks okay? Thoughts? 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted May 12, 2022 Share Posted May 12, 2022 1 hour ago, Evil_Toast_RSA said: Thoughts? Think you did a damn fine job mate, I'd be more than happy with that Cheers, Stew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil_Toast_RSA Posted May 19, 2022 Author Share Posted May 19, 2022 Cockpit done, need to get it all assembled and can move on. Most of the sub assemblies are done, usual Tamiya stuff, leave the parts next to the glue and poof, assembled. Added some Eduard IJN belts. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted May 20, 2022 Share Posted May 20, 2022 Looking very nice mate The kit has options for a version with the radar dipoles on the nose and a couple without, is that right? Have you decided on a markings scheme yet? Cheers, Stew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil_Toast_RSA Posted May 20, 2022 Author Share Posted May 20, 2022 2 hours ago, Stew Dapple said: The kit has options for a version with the radar dipoles on the nose and a couple without, is that right? Have you decided on a markings scheme yet? Yes it does. 1 with radar and technically 2 without. I'm leaning towards the radar option, but am not 100% fully committed to that just yet. I do have plans for getting the "Early" version too, so that will definitely be the clear nosed version I want to do from that boxing (the "Prototype" Dark Green over Light Grey one). 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil_Toast_RSA Posted May 27, 2022 Author Share Posted May 27, 2022 Primer down and time for the exciting stuff! Went with the radar option. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted May 28, 2022 Share Posted May 28, 2022 Aw that's looking dead good mate, nice work and a lovely primer coat Overall dark green? Should be a nice easy painting job then, best of luck Cheers, Stew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil_Toast_RSA Posted May 28, 2022 Author Share Posted May 28, 2022 3 hours ago, Stew Dapple said: Overall dark green? Should be a nice easy painting job then, best of luck Yup, going to use Tamiya's XF-70 as the dark green and use straight XF-3 to do unspeakable things to it if needed. Then C125 for the cowlings and C58 (I think...) for the leading edge ID bands, but need to see if those were used? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted May 28, 2022 Share Posted May 28, 2022 gee those inside panels look really good, will have to remember how you did that. She is a nice model, I've just acquired the early version, mainly for the spare canopy which I will now use on my resin one. The Vacform one is/was crap! Looking forward to seeing the paint job one her. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modelling minion Posted May 29, 2022 Share Posted May 29, 2022 Really nice work on this. The cockpit is superb, your method gives a very realistic finish. 🇺🇦 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil_Toast_RSA Posted May 29, 2022 Author Share Posted May 29, 2022 34 minutes ago, modelling minion said: Really nice work on this. The cockpit is superb, your method gives a very realistic finish. 🇺🇦 Need to stress, not my method, I just saw and copied someone's else work! Thanks though! Anyway, the main colour is down. Suitably futzed with to make it slightly more interesting. In a break from tradition, I applied a basecoat of XF-70 IJN Dark Green #2 to work off of instead of the black primer. Then added increments of XF-3 Yellow to the green to get the above. Then a very dilute layer of XF-70 & a small dash of XF-3 was applied over to tone things down. Going to let it cure overnight, and then into the ID bands, Hinomaru's and other various bits and bobs I'm going to spray instead of using decals. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil_Toast_RSA Posted June 4, 2022 Author Share Posted June 4, 2022 All the markings I cam spray have been. Used C58 Orange Yellow for wing ID stripes C125 Cowling Color for (shockingly) the cowlings C385 IJN Red for the Hinomaru's and tail markings. Gloss coat, a few decals and onto panel lining and weathering! Nearly done! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 That really is a good-looking aeroplane and you've done a great job on it Cheers, Stew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roberto Posted June 5, 2022 Share Posted June 5, 2022 Great looking progress! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thom216 Posted June 6, 2022 Share Posted June 6, 2022 One truly handsome looking Gekko! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted June 10, 2022 Share Posted June 10, 2022 wow what great progress!!! I love the paint finish. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evil_Toast_RSA Posted July 31, 2022 Author Share Posted July 31, 2022 Jeez, got a bit sidetracked since last I posted, but the Irving is done! Nothing special done, usual oil paint and pigments to make it look a bit used, some 0.01mm rigging I finally got for all the aerial wires etc. Will post the rest of the poorly taken pics in the gallery. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickyrich Posted August 4, 2022 Share Posted August 4, 2022 well done on completing her, she looks amazing!!!! You've done a really nice job and the finish is perfect. I am now really glad I bought a Tamiya one. Thank you for joining use here, great build to follow and i hope you enjoyed it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now