Hasegawa Hamps X 3

[mywifehatesmodels]

I have three buddies that I fly online flight sims with. We've been doing it for over seven years, now. A while back, I decided to give them a gift, as a tribute to some of the thousands of hours we've spent together. These three A6M3s will be modeled after planes that we flew in an online campaign (in the IL-2 series), at one time. With that in mind, some of the colors/details may not be historically accurate, but they reflect the planes that we flew in that campaign. The markings will also reflect our own, personal markings. The kits are the Hasegawa 1/48 scale A6M3.

 

Starting out with the cockpits, I added wiring, plumbing and PE belts. I also drilled out the holes in the seats.

 

 

 

I was also able to get three sets of Moskit A6M3 exhaust pipes. The internal pipes on the backs of the engines had to be notched out to fit these in the cowl, but that won't be visible when completed.

 

 

Doing everything, times three!

 

 

 

Here's the only one I have the base paint on, so far. I masked part of the canopy on this one, but that's where I got held up. The framework is so fine on these, that it's difficult to mask. I'm currently in search of the proper mask sets, so I can continue.

 

 

 

I'm hoping to get these knocked out and display bases made for them, before Christmas. We'll see how it goes.

 

Happy Modeling,

 

John

[LSP_Kevin]

Nice project John. I think I'm going to start building some of my 1/48 kits in groups like this, just to speed things up a bit, and try to get some of that stash actually built. Imagine that?

 

I'll be interested to see exactly what schemes you've got cooked up for these 3.

 

Kev

[Out2gtcha]

Great looking ships John!

 

 

I have three buddies that I fly online flight sims with. We've been doing it for over seven years, now........... flew in an online campaign (in the IL-2 series)......

 

I flew several flight sims in the past but never found one (or anyone else to play) that had the total realistic (as in fly together on line..........in a campain........or on missions like bomber escort or ground attack) package, nor people that were interested in playing.

 

I used to fly COOP missions in a Do335 and an Me 262 on an older MS combat sim I had (cant remember the name now.. ) but I would be VERY interested in joining you guys if you still play...........finding out the best sim to get, and picking it up as long as its still XP compatible.

 

Definitely not trying to invite myself in anywhere, but if you guys still do fly missions like that online could you send me a PM and let me know what the latest and greatest combat flight sims are?

 

Brian

[mywifehatesmodels]

Thanks, guys.

 

Brian,

 

The "best" WW2 sim is still the IL-2 series. I have not been involved as deeply in the last year, or so. However, my buddies and I used to own/operate the biggest/best "Full Real" Servers in the world; Warbirds Of Prey. It was a full time job, plus overtime, but that's another story. They still have a pretty good online community, but most of the old hands left after the game was hacked and modded by third parties. It's a long story with a lot of politics, but don't let that turn you away. If WW2 is your thing, then IL-2 is THE sim, at the moment. If "full realism" is what you're after, nobody equals Warbirds of Prey, as far as online servers. In the old days, it was not uncommon to see 40-80 players on either server (ETO or PTO) at any given time. The numbers are a little smaller nowadays, but still enough to have a lot of fun.

 

My most recent venture is with "Rise Of Flight", which is a WW1 sim. I was on the beta testing team, before it was released. However, I only recently came back to it (in the last couple weeks), because of too many other hobbies keeping me busy. It is major fun. Even though I'm still a "noob" at it, I've never had so much fun getting shot down!

 

 

I'll be interested to see exactly what schemes you've got cooked up for these 3.

Actually, the paint you see above is pretty much it. However, the tails will have the profile of a horse's head (think chess knights) in various colors. They will also have a fuselage band, outlined in white, in the corresponding color. Colors will be red, black and white (my personal color is green, but I'm not building "my" plane. Maybe I should!).

 

Cheers!

 

John

[mywifehatesmodels]

Here's some IL-2 screen shots. Over the years, I've collected thousands of screen shots and probably two thousand tracks of online missions. I can't seem to find the ones that I was looking for, at the moment. Probably on another drive. All of these pics were taken online, in missions that I was flying. All the planes you see are piloted by humans at their computers. No computer piloted (AI) aircraft.

 

Some Rufes, preparing to take off:

 

 

 

 

Taking off:

 

 

Forming up:

 

 

 

 

These are from one of our "Bomber Nights". Once per week, we tried to get as many guys as possible to fly level bombers on a mission developed by our map-making team. This particular night, we had something like seventy five players, with approximately 30 of them in G4M Betty bombers. There were a couple of flights of A6M2 for cover and the defending fighters were P-40Bs and Buffaloes. IIRC, I was flying wing on the leader of the Betty formation. He eventually got shot down and I took up the lead spot, just a minute or two from the drop. One of my favorite Bomber Nights, but they were all fun.

 

Forming up:

 

 

Spotted!!! Bandit! 12 O'clock High!

 

 

Tracking a bandit from the top gunner's position:

 

 

 

I'll have to find all my pics and tracks. I've made several movies, too. Unfortunately, YouTube deleted all the music, or I would post them. I used to do promo movies for upcoming missions and special events. I miss those days!

 

John

[Out2gtcha]

My most recent venture is with "Rise Of Flight", which is a WW1 sim. I was on the beta testing team, before it was released. However, I only recently came back to it (in the last couple weeks), because of too many other hobbies keeping me busy. It is major fun. Even though I'm still a "noob" at it, I've never had so much fun getting shot down!

 

 

Oooooooo Ive been running a WWI mod of Battlefield 2 (series of maps actually) and although Im sure the flight dynamics and characteristics are different, It is hella fun.

 

Wont hijack any more of your A6M3 thread. Ill have to check out RoF 4 sure

 

Brian

[mywifehatesmodels]

Not a problem, Brian. I'll talk flight sims, anytime, anywhere. You're not "hijacking", in my book!

[Lud13]

Hello John

 

Those three Hamps are in perfect formation :) I bet once u finish them it will be perfect , but u will have to add yours too or it would not be complete

 

I fly Il-2 online since the very start, made a little brake last year but back in the cockpit again Lost a bit of touch but slowly regaining touch again. I am sure that during all those years of online flying our paths must have crossed few times My nick is I./JG53_lud13

 

Dejan

[mywifehatesmodels]

Hello John

 

Those three Hamps are in perfect formation :) I bet once u finish them it will be perfect , but u will have to add yours too or it would not be complete

 

I fly Il-2 online since the very start, made a little brake last year but back in the cockpit again Lost a bit of touch but slowly regaining touch again. I am sure that during all those years of online flying our paths must have crossed few times My nick is I./JG53_lud13

 

Dejan

Thanks, Dejan!

 

I think I may have seen you before. If I recall correctly, you and your squadmates were regulars on our "Spits vs. 109s" server?

[MikeMaben]

Are those clouds 'real'? Can you fly through them and/or hide in them ?

I used to fly online back in the Airwarrior days. It was a huge kick.

I remember tho that the clouds were always in the distance.

The newer MMOGs have really come a long way.

[mywifehatesmodels]

Are those clouds 'real'? Can you fly through them and/or hide in them ?

I used to fly online back in the Airwarrior days. It was a huge kick.

I remember tho that the clouds were always in the distance.

The newer MMOGs have really come a long way.

Most certainly, Mike! As a matter of fact, some of the most hair raising dogfights have centered around low laying cloud banks. Good fun!

 

John

[MikeMaben]

Ahaa, thanks John. Gonna have to have another look at this.

 

Wunna these days

[mywifehatesmodels]

Another update! I was hoping to get more done on these over the last few days, but I've been pretty busy.

 

I finally found some Eduard canopy masks. I got all the parts masked and painted (it seemed like a million windows, but I'm glad I didn't have to do it the old fashioned way!). I also painted the rest of the planes with the base color (Floquil's IJN Green. Did I mention that I absolutely LOVE the smell of Floquil?!?! ). Then, I mixed the base 80/20 with flat white and "faded" the panels. The flash in the pics make the fading stand out more than it does in real life. It's actually more subtle.

 

 

 

 

My next step will be to paint the fuselage bands and the tips of the vertical stabs. One aircraft will have a white band and tip and the others will be red and black with white outlines. Then, I've got some decals to make and I'll also be using the kit hinomarus and stencils. These are starting to come to life!

 

Thanks for following along,

 

John

[mywifehatesmodels]

I got the fuselage bands and tail tips painted (the white, at least).

 

 

 

[LSP_Kevin]

Nice progress John! A lovely trio of Zeros.

 

Kev