Jump to content

1/32 Zoukei-Mura Ta152H-0 White 7


Thunnus

Recommended Posts

Thanks guys!  Once I shift my focus away from the trouble spots and take a higher level view of things, I feel better about this build.  Stepping closer to the priming/painting stage, I am going to mask off the wheel wells using tissue paper.  This is a nice and easy way to mask off big recessed areas like wheel wells.  It doesn't work well in every situation especially if the recess is filled with delicate photoetched details but the Ta152H wheel wells are simplistic enough to not snag the dried tissue paper on removal.
IMG-7795.jpg

 

I start by stuffing a large amount tissue into the hole.  Water will reduce the size of this mass by more than 2X so keep that in mind.
IMG-7796.jpg

 

Using a paint brush dipped in water, I begin to simultaneously wet the paper and start compressing it into the wheel well.
IMG-7797.jpg

 

Separating the task between the two major shapes of the wheel well, a second piece is used to fill the narrower leg portion of the opening.
IMG-7798.jpg

 

It's pretty easy to get the paper to move where you want it to, even pulling it up to cover up to the edges of the wheel well.
IMG-7799.jpg

 

Very easy, no mess and no measuring or cutting required.  When the water dries the paper will stiffen and stay in place pretty securely until you need to remove it.
IMG-7800.jpg

 

The black areas around the exhaust pipes have been painted so I'm going to mask them off.
IMG-7801.jpg

 

Next, I'm going to mask the clear parts with the masks that Z-M provides with the kit.  The masks are made of a thin, translucent aqua vinyl-like material.  
IMG-7802.jpg

 

The armored headrest as well as the rear canopy guide are glued into place first.
[IMG-7803.jpg(https://postimg.cc/MnSqqYVz)]

 

The flat panels of the windscreen present no problem for the masks but I'm dubious about the curved portion of the main canopy.
IMG-7804.jpg
IMG-7805.jpg

 

Surprisingly, the main canopy masks seem to fit ok.  The trick is to line of the bottom edges first where the canopy is the flattest.  Once the bottom edge is aligned, slowly press the rest of the mask in place, working from bottom to top.  The edges along the top frame bubbled up a bit at first but seemed to press down completely with some gentle rubbing.
IMG-7806.jpg
IMG-7808.jpg

 

There is a chance that the canopy masks might lift over time so I'll keep an eye on that.  If that happens, I can scan the used mask sheet to create new masks with a sheet of Yellow Tamiya masking tape.
IMG-7809.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Brett!  It works better to use very soft paper like tissue or toilet paper, not paper towels.

 

Checking the canopy mask today revealed that it had indeed lifted along the top frame.  There have been times when I've persisted with this issue, tamping down the lifted areas temporarily right before spraying but it usually ends up with a compromised finish so off it comes.
IMG-7810.jpg

 

I scanned the Z-M mask and cut new masks using the Silhouette Portrait cutter.  Instead of the normal Oramask 810 material that I use for markings, I cut the masks on sheets of Yellow Tamiya masking sheets, which is a material similar to their yellow tape.
IMG-7811.jpg

 

Due to the lack of flexibility in the Tamiya masking material, I found out that I had to cut the mask in two parts to allow the mask to lay down properly, without wrinkles along the frame lines.  The Z-M masks MAY have benefited from this approach as well.
IMG-7813.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’ve been watching your build with great enthusiasm.  I have an H-0 on my bench and am relieved that you’ve experienced a lot of the same issues I have.  My biggest mistake was relying on the indentations in the lower wings when gluing the spars to them.  Turns out there was about a 1/16” difference between the left and right bottom wing locations in relation in the spar.  I found this out when I tried to install the center portion between the lower wing skins.  Luckily I was able to remove plastic from the parts and most everything fit close.  One wing is slightly bent but unless you’re really looking for it, it gets overlooked.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks guys!  One of the tougher builds I've encountered but I'm definitely over the hump and it should be more of a downhill glide rather than the uphill slog I've had to deal with.

 

14 hours ago, alaninaustria said:

Coming along nicely John!

looking forward to seeing her finished!

Cheers

Alan

ps. Is she a commission build or for your collection?

 

Alan...like most of my large scale builds, this one is for a commission.  I just don't have the desire (or room) to store my completed models.

 

I've got a coat of primer on her.  Very light and uneven... just wanted to get a look at the all of the surface fixes, panel lines and rivets and make any last minute repairs before I start painting.

 

IMG-7837.jpg

 

IMG-7838.jpg

 

IMG-7840.jpg

 

One area needs some attention...

IMG-7839.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've decided to group the prop into some sub-assemblies.  The prop blades have been glued into the individual blade mounts.  The cannon mounting plate has been glued onto the prop hub, trapping the brass prop axle within.
IMG-7841.jpg

 

I've scanned the Eagle Cal Ta152H decal sheet and have prepared four spiral masks.  The first two were used just to work out how the mask best fit onto the unpainted spinner.
IMG-7842.jpg

 

When I thought I had that figured out, I painted the spinner white and applied the mask.  It didn't go on as easily as I expected until I figured out to take advantage of the flex of the Oramask 810 material to pull the mask into the correct position.
IMG-7843.jpg

 

The black (Tamiya Black thinned with Mr Leveling Thinner) gave me a funky reaction that I had not seen before.  The paint seemed to pool on the areas where the mask had been... some unseen leftover adhesive?
IMG-7844.jpg

 

So that effort was scrubbed off using iso alcohol.  The second time around worked very nicely and I got a clean spiral right off the bat.
IMG-7846.jpg

 

In the meantime, the prop blades were being painted.  I used a sandy brown as a base coat since the Ta152H had a wooden prop.  Hairspray was used to do a little bit of chipping on the blades.
IMG-7848.jpg

 

The painted blades were given a couple of layers of salt fading to roughen them up a little.
IMG-7851.jpg
IMG-7852.jpg

 

I still need to weather the spinner but prop painting is essentially finished.
IMG-7854.jpg
IMG-7856.jpg
IMG-7855.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

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 account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...