I've just started this monster of a kit after having it on the shelf since my father-in-law sent it to me from Japan upon it's release two xmas's ago. I say "monster" coz it's quite intimidating. :-)

I've completed the engine, though I'm not particularly happy with it. This is the first time I've fully assembled a component before painting it...usually I'm very anal about painting every part seperately before assembly. With this engine I airbrushed the completed block with matt-black, which looked cool. Then came the detail-painting...what a pain. Then added the wiring and exaust-stacks (ok, so it wasn't FULLY "fully" assembled). Final black wash after going at it with fine wire-wool. An organic procedure...I hate regimented technique, which is why I generally suck at modelling. As soon as I find something that works I ignore it and look for an alternative.

Anyway, here's the pic. I would have posted earlier shots but I finished it before I registered here. Yes, I know the cowl-frames are the wrong colour...I imagine a maverick ground-crew was on the Nihonshu one night and had fun with a spray-gun.

Don't know much about airplanes but the engine looks impressive. Love to follow your progress on this build

I fall into this category as well. And to me this looks intimidating and impressive at the same time! How many parts build this engine?? Think I´ll stick to armor!!
Good luck with the rest of the build........ and it is nice to see in-progress shots. We might learn something!!

Siggi

Wow! The detail is incredible on this piece. What a challenging build, which you have obviously met. I wouldn't have the patience.

Congrats and thanks for the pic.


Steve

The number of parts come to around 180, including scratch-built items. The breather-tubes, for instance, that connect the heads of each piston were made up from a piece of steel rod and a tiny segment of wire-sheath on each end. In other words there's little skill involved with this engine, it's pure grunt-work on tiny bits. Mechanical patience makes the difference on something like this imho. Which means anyone who can bear to stoop over a desk for a couple of hours at a time, crossed-eyed and numb-fingered, can achieve the same result. :-)

EXCELLENT WORK SIGGI - CONGRATS

ROBERTO

EXCELLENT WORK SIGGI - CONGRATS

ROBERTO

Siggi

That radial sure looks good. Bet it took quite a bit of time to put together.

Yah, I nearly gave up on this yesterday. I knocked over a full bottle of PlasWeld and a couple of plane assemblies were caught in the flood. Despite my instant grab that stuff already started to go to work...tail-hook assembly, drop-tank nose and the radio all got a blast. Fortunately no serious harm done, though the desk lost acres of varnish and I got high on the fumes.

Anyway, I've been busy wiring the cockpit. Much drilling of holes and what-not. A quick pic then, just to keep the thread alive.

I also fall in the categori Armor and Wooden boat but it look pretty impressive like to see more picture of your progress.
Nice work anyway. keep posting

The cockpit's just about done. There's about ten hour's work in it so far. Ooh, me eyes, me back! #:-)

The harness is made from vinyl and etched metal. I think I should have made my own from lead foil, the vinyl looks a bit bogus. So far the parts fit with incredible precision. This is Tamiya at it's best imo.

amazing

wow looks great, very nice work, nice big kit, gonna have to try a 32nd kit they always have the nicest details goin, I guess there is more room to play with......

Bender

You have done this before haven't you. This looks fantastic. Would it be asking too much if I could have the knowledge that you are storing in your little finger? LOL You produce outstanding work,thanks for sharing it

I did this model about 8 months ago and did it straight OOB. It's one of my favourites and the detail is spectacular but it doesn't look as good as the job you're doing here!

It's the ground-in dirt(?) that amazes me the most. (I assume that's what the dusty brown color is.) How did you do it? Pastels, airbrush, or what?

Thanks for sharing, and keep posting the pics. We'll all follow with interest, I'm sure.

That is absolutely amazing!

The dusty brown effect is achieved with powdered pastels and a medium-soft brush. Dab some onto the brush, jab it in and work it. It goes on top of a wash (dried) and lead-pencil edge-highlights (Grade-B). It all kind of blends together with enough elbow (finger) grease and either comes up looking good or turns to crap, depending on my luck.

Powdered pastel also makes an excellent gun-polish (can't really be seen very well in the following pic, the flash wipes a lot of shadowy effect). Silver base, matt-black on top. Rub down gently with wire-wool to get some silver showing. Black wash, allow to dry and then work over long and firmly with a medium-hard brush & black pastel powder. Final gentle polish with a soft cotton hanky. The resultant sheen/shadowing is a joy to behold.

:-) Impressive, I will have to get one of these. In this scale I would have to go that extra mile, and a half. I hope that when I do I can approach your standard
Mal

Siggy,
I don't know almost anything about planes, but that they navigate troughout the seas, lakes rivers, etc., but this ting it's really impressive!!! Is it in 1/1 scale?
Bravissimo!!!
Ciao

WOW! Really great stuff. I love the weathering on the yellow tanks in the last pic.

I likee :-)

I'm hooked more photos, more, more, more.

Very nice work, looks great. I have started my cockpit and this kit really is amazing.

Scott

Aye carumba, nearly two hours to do the canopy masks. Pre-cut would be A VERY POPULAR MOVE FROM TAMIYA! :-)