quang

OK pink for you. Amber, grey poupon, grey-green for others. At least one of you guys must surely be colour-blind! I really don’t see what you mean. Can you be more specific? Glad to see you’re not too mad at me. Otherwise you’d see me forced to add another entry to your already impressive array of surnames: Mad Max

I think it’s a chemical reaction of the paint. Next time, try wiping off the greasy stains with lighter fluid. Lighter fluid is very volatile. It won’t hurt your finish and it’s a great degreaser. HTH Quang

Thanks @dennismcc @PEYSSON Gilles Here it comes. First a quick recap of the Nakajima B5N Kate career in the IJN. -1938: the B5N goes to war in China as a land-based bomber in natural bare metal finish. -1940: the B5N2 starts practicing torpedo launching in provision of the PH raid. Still in bare metal finish but with LARGE digits added underwing to facilitate plane identification during the exercises. The number replicates the two last digits of the plane code: i.e. 16 for AI-316. -1941: getting ready for the PH raid, before boarding the carriers, ALL the participating planes received an overall J3 grey factory coat. The finish was adequately primed and fairly resistant to weathering. Plane codes were added to the tail together with the command stripes. - 1941: IJN task force en route for PH. During the 10-day cruise, it was decided to add a green camouflage to the upper surfaces of the B5N2 as a protection from enemy fighters. The new paint was added hastily without adequate preparation by the crew on everyone of the 6 aircraft carriers involved. That would explain why the added camouflage was different from carrier to carrier and also the peeling green paint after a few months at sea. With this info in mind, we can now have an idea of how our AI-316 looked in April 1942, four months after the PH raid. The plane is painted overall in J3 navy grey, described as ‘grey poupon’ (which is Dijon mustard for us in old Europe) or strangely ‘ grey-green’. The green paint on the upper surfaces peeled away revealing the weather-resistant J3 underneath. Not the bare metal as one may be tempted to think. Now for the light-colored outer wing panels, one may note that the difference starts exactly at the wing fold. Some think that the green camouflage was added when the plane was in the carrier hangar with its wings folded so it makes sense that the outer panels were not accessible. Backed with the above argumentation, I set out to work on the kit. Following the chronological order, I first did some basic pre-shading … … and gave the model an overall coat of AK RC303 Amber Grey. I found the Amber Grey too ‘amber’ (fuselage bottom) and swapped it for my own version of J3 grey: 50/50 AK RC328 Grey-Green + Gunze 336 Hemp (wings). I added the walkways and sprayed the markings expertly manufactured by my old chum Masker Max. Max also made the ‘16’ numerals for the wing undersides. Regretfully just after receiving the masks, I discovered this period photo of the ‘Hospital Kate’ downed at PH. The actual numeral is MUCH bigger than the one shown on the profile. I didn’t want to bother Max further so I decided to do it by hand. I hope my grumpy chap won’t mind. I know that my 6 is not perfect but I think it adds to the authenticity’. I’m astounded by the precision of Max’s masks despite the bumpy rivets. Chip ‘n Dale, next time ! Cheers, Quang

IMO the snail trails are caused by the underlying paint, NOT the white tack. I regularly use Uhu white tack on lacquer (AK, Gunze, Tamiya) and acrylic (Vallejo, Hataka, Tamiya) paints without any issue.

… and the beat goes on. THE KATE GOT PAINT! First, a few words about the choice of the machine (info courtesy of David Aiken). It would be AI-316, a Nakajima B5N2, type 97, model 3 from the Akagi Air Group in December 1941. This machine participated in the Pearl Harbor attack, carrying a 800kg bomb. It was part of the high-level bomber group which was personally led by Mitsuo Fuchida (AI-301). It was flown by shotaicho (leader of 3 planes) PO2c Yuichi Takizawa (pilot), indicated by the single red horizontal tail stripe. Position of AI-316 in the group during the PH raid Screen captures of AI-316 en route for Pearl Harbor: Artist’s impressions… The third profile is wrong in several instances as we will see later on. A few months after Pearl Harbor, AI-316 was also present in Indian Ocean, notably the operation ‘C’ against British navy in Ceylon (march-april 1942) as can be seen taking off from Akagi on these film captures. Note how after the few months active at sea, the green paint on the upper surfaces had degraded and peeled. The same spectacular effect can be seen on Fuchida’s airplane on the widely-published photos, wrongly attributed to the December 7th raid. Also note on the last picture that the outer wing panels seem to be devoid of the dark green paint. Obviously, the painting on the Ceylon raid machine is the more appealing (a-peeling ) but also the more challenging of the two schemes. Guess which one I chose? The CEYLON KATE! There’s still some controversy about what’s under the peeled paint (bare metal or underside grey?) and also the nature of the apparently bare outer wing panels. As nobody seems to have the definite solution, I took it to myself to decide what could have been and proceed. That is what we’ll deal with shortly in the next episode. Thank you all for looking. All comments and questions are welcome. Until next time, Cheers, Quang

Why motor sander? I’ve always elbow grease. Didn’t kill me (yet)

HPH kits always remind me of what’s called ‘dentist’s guitars’ in collector circles. Expensive guitars which only the rich (i.e. dentists) can afford and would never get played.

It all depends on the nature of the gap. Plastic Putty works well with hairline cracks. Otherwise you cannot avoid using files and sandpaper. Sanding is a lost art

Hi Thai As I understood it, you have finished the complete kit and are still working on refining the panel lines and other surface details. Do you already have the photos of the complete kit or do we have to wait until your website is online? As you would have guessed, your A1E project is attracting mucho interest over here in LSP and we’re most anxious to see the next step. Cheers, Quang

It’s no more the internet than the traditional brick-and-mortar store unable to deal with the myriad extra-niched accessories on the market nowadays. It started with special decals, then resin add-ons, ready-painted cockpits, ready-cut canopy masks, … Add to that the current trend of 3D designers trying to make a fast buck. How many of these a shop owner should stock to satisfy an ever-needing customer? Why model shops are closing all over the world? Look no further.

Happy birthday Dennis (and happy new lunar year of the Dragon to all at LSP)

Apple Music is a boon for boomers like me as I can listen to whole albums non stop. My current selection: Folk (June Tabor, Sandy Denny, Natalie Merchant), Jazz (Chet Baker, Helen Merril), Pioneer Rock (Roy Orbison, the Everlys, Brenda Lee), Chanson Française (Barbara, Léo Ferré) and a dozen more genres. I found a newly interest in modern Portuguese Fado (Carminho, early Ana Moura, Aldina Duarte). As a matter of fact, I think that modelling is just a pretext for being left alone… and listening to music.

I concur. Although there’s some difference between what you see in the photos and the real thing under natural light. Like always… Rest assured Max. Wait and it’ll come.

Primed, masked over and READY FOR THE PAINT SHOP! Note the spectacular wingspan. Fortunately the wings will be folded for display. I just realized I never showed the outer wings. Aotake brilliance Like on most IJN planes in 1941, the basic color will be the so-called J-3. AK Interactive produced 2 versions. Nakajima Grey-Green… … and Mitsubishi Amber Grey. Descriptions of the ‘Hospital Kate’ remains downed at Pearl Harbour during the attack called for a caramel or light mustard colour. Some mentioned a brownish RLM-02 influence. That wouldn’t prevent me to try a 50/50 mix of the two greys applied on the trusty Nieuport mule. I also added the obligatory hinomaru to complete the general effect. What do you guys think?

Look no further, when you have paint seeping under mask, it means that you’re doing something wrong: either your paint is too diluted, your mask doesn’t stick properly or your spray angle is not vertical to the edge of the mask. You got to resolve one (or all) of these issues first. Sealing the edges with varnish is like putting a band-aid on a flat tire. But it’s only me

Haha! Thank you guys! Already feeling like Madame Butterfly … Before going further, I think it’s a good idea to check how the power egg fits into the fuselage. This is one area I dread the most with these trendy super-detailed, exposed engine. The assembly can be so complex that without knowing it, one can end up with an upside down engine or even worse, a slightly distorted alignment. The instructions have you complete the engine/cowling assembly first, then add the power egg to the complete fuselage. The complete power egg… The pessimist in me chose to do it in several steps : first install the engine alone, take my time to adjust the alignment then when everything is to my liking, add the cowling. The engine is attached to the fuselage firewall by a 6 pin-and-slot arrangement. Here how it appears onthe back of the engine… …and on the fuselage firewall. When the pins meet their corresponding slots, the assembly is secure and fool-proof. I chose to glue the engine at this early stage even before painting the whole airframe. The spaces between the cockpit openings are painted in cockpit green and waiting for their glass ware. The cowling is dry-fitted for the moment and will be securely attached at the end of the build. I couldn’t resist adding The iconic blue-black paint is Gunze Nato black with an overcoat of Tamiya Clear tinted with Gunze 326 Thunderbirds blue. Greenhouse closed (dry-fitted) Greenhouse opened That’s all for now, folks Thank you for looking. Until next time, Cheers, Quang

A neat showcase build like always!

I looked at the Infinity sprues. I don’t think their engineering is as innovative as Border’s. No, I won’t get the carrier deck. Albeit during my research for the Kate, I’m getting uncomfortably attracted by IJN aircraft carriers, notably the Shokaku. This is an instance when you buy a kit not for the subject but just for the sheer pleasure of building it. You should have seen how the 7 elements fit one inside the other like some matryoshka Russian dolls (sorry Jack). I’m discovering new details as I go along just like on a wild Easter egg hunt. Thank you all for your comments, Cheers, Quang

Thank @spyrosjzmichos @Reuben L. Hernandez for your comments. Glad you like it. There’s much more to this kit than meets the eye especially details you’re only aware when you start building it. Anyhow, the beat goes on…THE KATE GOT HER WINGS. Wing folds and wheel wells are painted with aotake. Basically an anti-corrosion paint, it was a clear varnish tinted with pigment so that it could be checked anywhere it was applied. Colours range from blue to green and anything in between. For my special brew I used a mix of Tamiya clear LP-9 + LP-81 Mixing Blue and applied it on a Mr Color 8 silver base. The leading edge is provided as a separate part thus ensuring a correct wing thickness while eliminating the usual unsightly seam. Fowler flaps (workable) added an inner wing assembled. The generous wing root is also a separate part and fit the fuselage with a perfect seam. Ditto with the underside… Tail feathers added. The Kate is ready for the final assembly and the painting… … yet not before masking (inside and out) the EXTENSIVE glasshouse which took me a whole evening. Primer added, ready to be installed for final painting. That’s it, folks. Until next time, Cheers, Quang

It’s Now Or Never

Definitely NOT Pearl

The build goes on as… the Kate got wings!

It will become even more obvious as I intend to finish the model with the wings folded. Although the minute features would not be readily apparent, hopefully the final result would be much more intriguing as it would take the zealous viewer some extra effort to pick up the details. Ah but it’s only me

As a matter of fact, there WAS a Prince Charming, a long-time friend, now sadly deceased, who’s grown an obsession for my cockpits. He traded quite a few of my unfinished models for NIB (new in box) kits. Until one day, one whom I long considered as my better half persuaded the weak-willed me to get rid of the newish kits for peanut prices at a local model show. So it goes!

Like Thierry and Max, I never bin. I put them to sleep. Many times after completing and painting the cockpit and doing the necessary structural corrections, I’m facing the issue I hate the most: engraving new panel lines and riveting. For some reason, I’ve never finished a Special Hobby kit even if I started quite a number of them. So no Shelf of Doom for me. Rather a cemetery of sleeping beauties waiting endlessly for a Prince Charming to wake them up.