A5M2 Claude (Special Hobby)

[Hubert Boillot]

Very good-looking Claude, Nicolas !

 

Well done !

 

Looking forwad to see it completed.

 

Hubert

[mywifehatesmodels]

I hit the like button on that last post, only because I couldn't find the "Love" button. Man, I just set myself up for some teasing there, didn't I?

 

That looks FANTASTIC! And, I think you're being too hard on yourself over the hinomaru. I don't think anyone would notice, even if they stuck their nose to the model. I know how it goes, though. I know where all the smallest issues are on my builds that 99% of the population would never be able to find. Don't let it bother you, though. It looks great!

 

Also, the engine bracing (and engine, overall) looks wonderful. I found that to be kind of a tricky feature on my Craftworks Claude, but you seem to have captured it perfectly!

 

John

[Out2gtcha]

Lovely!!! I too think the patchy appearance in this context works really well. As John indicated, we all have issues like that with our models. As they (read ME here) say:

 

"What makes a great modeler/a great model, is not how well you make your model, but how well you fix the issues you have with it"

[Zero77]

Thank you guys !

 

My wife doesn't mind the repair, and barely noticed it. But each of you know that even if nobody notice something you did wrong, you know it's there and it is the most visible thing for you ! But i can live with that, and i will be used to more and more.

 

A few weeks ago, when the peeling paint issue happened, i put the model aside for some days, in order to make my mind, to find the better solution (as good as i can, but not too risky nor time consuming) and also because with a bit of time you can accept the simple idea of the defect. It's usually better to take a break (and take a breath ! ) than to rush and to make the problem worse.

Edited December 10, 2014 by Zero77

[Loic]

Wow !  Missed this one so far.... but it looks great !!

I love the varnish effect very much 

[EmperorKai]

Love how it's turning out- Every build has its own character, and it's inevitable to run into a feisty one.  You've handled it masterfully!  Roll with the punches and own it!

 

I like the effect you "discovered" with the tint.  Keep up the great work!

 

Kai

[Zero77]

Thanks for the nice coments guys !

 

Here are the last steps !

 

First, i added the small headrest just above the seat. It was not included in the kit, and it's pretty strange as it is present of all period pictures i've seen. I've made it with green-stuff putty (see in the first posts) and the button were sculpted with a small tube pressed on the putty. I've laid the putty on a piece of styrene so it was pretty easy to glue it on the fuselage.

 

 

Then i had to detailed the propeller hub, with the missing nut, not included in the kit, either. I have not any PE nuts, nor any hexagonal punch, so i had to make it on my own. I first tried to punch a small disc of styrene and cut it to shape with a knife blade. All i was able to get was a piece of s**t :

 

So i tried something different. I started with a bit of stretch sprue of a slightly oversized diameter, and gave it an hexagonal shape with a file. It was more easy this way. Then i sliced a nut, glued it on the propeller hub and sanded it to the good thickness and to get if flat and even :

[Zero77]

I have not shot pictures of the scope sight but it was a PITA to put on. I have made small holes prior to gluing the windscreen and painting and also installed a small strut inside the wind screen. But it did not work correctly as the scope cannot go through the windscreen with the small strut. So i had to unglue it and do it another way. Finally it was ok, but not perfect.

 

I firstly wanted to build the bombs supplied in the kit as they seems to be pretty good with PE fins. But the PE frame between the fins is very oversized and unusable. Or maybe it's me that has not build the bombs correctly? Maybe later i will scratchbuild this frame but i am not sure of it.

 

Then i glued the last small parts, pitot, actuators, arresting hook and bomb racks and rear wheel.

And here it is. I will shot new pictures lates for the "ready for inspection", with a better natural light. I may also add a light coat of tinted varnish on the actuator as they are just PE with absolutely no paint on them. It is not very noticeable, but i think it would be better, and would prevent them to tarnish because of any possible oxidizing.

 

 

Here is the finished propeller with its nut, and the engine with its struts and cowling (a pain to glue.... i had to add some styrene material to get it glue, and it is still very fragile)

 

 

 

You can see how the color change with the light direction. I like that !

[Zero77]

And some detail and other pictures :

[Zero77]

My display case is almost full. But happily i will have a new one in late january, bigger than this one, to welcome new big aircraft (Just in time for the Felixstowe !)

Edited December 14, 2014 by Zero77

[LSP_Kevin]

Fantastic work Nicolas!

 

Kev

[Zero77]

Thanks Kev !

 

Now i'll start my "Christmas vacation build". Either a Macchi M.39 or a Hughes H-1 long wings version. Or both.

[Guest]

My frind, she looks beautiful ! I have one in the stash and this is good refs for when I get around to mine !.........Harv 

[Zero77]

THanks Harvey !

It's a pretty good kit. Not very easy and with a lot of surprises and traps, but it looks accurate (though i'm not a Claude expert !) and with a good amount of details. A bit tiring, but when it's finished it you're even more happy !

[mywifehatesmodels]

I'm eagerly awaiting your RFI thread, but it already looks outstanding!

 

Also, I love your display case and seeing the Claude next to that F-4 really shows how big the case is and how big the Phantom must be. Wow!

 

 

John