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Guys and gals, This morning the friendly postman brought me these two parcels coming from opposing ends of the world. The first one is the infamous and wrongly-scaled Border Kate. The other contains some AK paints from their Imperial Japanese Navy line. That the two orders arrived simultaneously is what I consider a good omen. Please give me a few hours (days?) to regain my composure. I’ll get back to you with more details. In the mean time here are some quick shots for your appreciation. All the best,, Quang

As is my usual practice to start a new kit on new year's eve, I'll be starting this kit in a few hours. I had originally been planning a 1:32 P-38 Lightning for one of three projects I intend to take to our local event in September of 2020, but have changed my mind, and will be going this route instead. As long as I can avoid the temptation to spend any cash on AM stuff, this should be a breeze.

Were the propellers on the A6M's that attacked pear harbor, bare metal, with the back outer surfaces painted flat black? I can find nothing definitive in my references. I'm quite sure the spinners were natural metal though. Thanks a bunch for any help.

I've started my Tamiya A6M2b in my usual snail-like pace... Let's hope that this will be a project that will see completion! I know there are some minor things that need adressing to get this model more accurate. Luckily, the don't concern the shape of the model, but more details because of the workable undercarriage and details thet aren't quite correct for the timeframe and so on. Because I know that a couple of Tweak Lists were published about the A6M5 and A6M2 but couldn't find them I started this thread: Not only will Ryan Toews redo his tweak lists when his family-situation will allow it, this thread contains lots more invaluable info! Check it out! The box art shows the A6M2b of Lt. Saburo Shindo from Akagi of the 2nd wave of the Pearl Harbor attack: I feel particularly drawn to this scheme, though, the Zero of NAP1/C Tsuguo Matsuyama from Hiryu: Sadly, my first results have to be redone, since the double vertical attachment of compressed air bottles on the left fuselage side wasn't found on the A6M2 but rather on the A6M5...! Can it be seen anyway, on the finished model? Looks like the seat rather blocks any view into the aft fuselage! I think copying the single-bottle brackets also found in the Big-Ed set won't be too hard, so a single horizontal set-up should be possible! I already removed the massive plastic brackets Tamiya supplies the bottles with. Now to find out how the equipment on this shelf looked. Tamiya supplies us with something looking like a Sony CD-player and Eduard follows suit. That doesn't mean anything since Eduard states that it supplies extra details but doesn't supply corrections! Cheers, Erik.

The second kit of my summer '16 start with hopes to finish by 7 Dec for 75 anniversary. Pearl Harbor P36, P40B, A6M2b. Life hit the fan and bench time kept to minimum. My wrecked knee kept me from working at bench as it's 36" (91cm) high and I stand to do my work. Tamiya's very nice A6M2b will be base kit for my Pearl Harbor subject. IJNAF pilot Shigenori Nishikaichi's A6M2b "B11-120" will be the subject. I've always been fascinated about the story of the "Niihau Incident". Nishikaichi crash landed his aircraft after receiving damage during the second wave attack at Pearl Harbor. The events that followed for the next 6 days is nothing short of epic. Moral of the story, "Don't mess with the Big Kahuna". Nishikaichi was based on the carrier Hiryu. After crash landing on the island of Niihau Nishikaichi set his aircraft afire. This photo was taken 17 December, 1941. Fire damage is visible and well as some parts already scavenged. This aircraft is now on display at The Pacific Aviation Museum at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor. Ejector sink marks removed with putty and sanding pen. Following primer of Gunze 1500 Black I applied Gunze 127 Interior for cockpit area and tub assembly. Moving forward to detail paint and Aotake finish applied with mix of Tamiya clears (11 parts X19 Smoke, 10 parts X23 Blue, 1 part X25 Green). Heavily thinned then a few passes on a silver base of Alclad Aluminum. IP complete using kit decals and clear lenses.