Hasegawa A6M5c Zeke

[Greif8]

Following are some photos of my newest build.  I'll say up front that I was very tempted to not post these as this is not one of my better efforts, about a C- or D+ for both plane and pilot figure.  However, in the end I decided to show a build where everything does not turn out that well.  I wanted to try my hand at some heavy weathering as I normally complete models with light to moderate weathering.   I also wanted to tryout combining the sponge chipping technique with the use of silver pencils and pens; rather than using the hairbrush technique for fairly heavy chipping.  The end result is viewable, at best.  I spent a good bit of time researching chipping on Japanese aircraft; an area I knew little to nothing about prior to the build, and learned a great deal of interesting things.  One being that, as a general rule, IJN aircraft did not suffer from the massive flaking of paint that IJA aircraft did. Though they also tended to chip fairly badly, that chipping was centered around panel and rivet lines, as well as wear areas where ground crew and pilots walked/worked.  

 

The aircraft and pilot represent the one operating out of Kagoshima Airbase during the summer of 1945, flown by NAP 1/C Takeo Tanimizu; apparently a six victory ace.  It was a Nakajima built A6M5c "Zeke".  I mixed the IJN Green, Nakajima Grey, and Aotake (or Aodake, I've seen it spelled both ways), as well as the Nakajima Cockpit Green from my Tamiya paints.  Sources indicated the paint had a semi-gloss finish that faded to matt as it weathered, and I tried to show that process by leaving some areas of the upper surface with a slight sheen.  I'll let you all decide how effectively I did that! 

 

On to the photos!  The first few are the engine after construction and weathering.  I scratched the ignition wires, braces between the cylinder heads and the little handles on the front of the cylinders.  The ignition wires are painted a brownish-yellow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I forgot to mention that I also tried to do something different with the base as you can see!

 

 

 

 

 

[Greif8]

Some mid-distance shots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Greif8]

And some close up to finish off the photo series.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Wackyracer]

Well I would be very happy with this. Congrats really enjoyed the photos and build.

[Greif8]

On 2/19/2021 at 3:44 PM, Wackyracer said:

Well I would be very happy with this. Congrats really enjoyed the photos and build.

 

Thank you for the kind words! 

 

Ernest 

[Greif8]

Thank you Maru! I will look into posting some photos of the engine in the thread. 

 

Ernest 

[Troy Molitor]

Well done Ernest.   I like it!   

[Greif8]

9 minutes ago, Troy Molitor said:

Well done Ernest.   I like it!   

 

Thank you Troy!  To be honest I don't think I did the best of jobs with the sponge technique chipping.  While not absolutely terrible, there is a lot of room for improvement for sure.

 

Ernest