Still no ribbon for this one. I like #2 of Pete's suggestions back on the first page (Nov. 16).

Michael

I'll put in another vote for ribbon number 2 (my second vote?). It's about all the information you can cram into 50 x 200.

I like Ribbon #2!

Another vote for #2.

Bob, what do you think? If you're good with #2 I can get posted.

Michael

I like number 2 too!

I like #2 also.

Done then! Thanks Pete and Bob!

Michael

Hasegawa 1:48 Ki84 “Frank” TAIC

I finally got a start on this campaign. I haven’t built any Japanese planes yet so I’m going with Hasegawa’s Ki84 Frank. It seems to be a pretty straightforward kit looking at the sprues, with very few inserts for a change. For a Hasegawa kit anyway.



In keeping with my USAAF/USN aircraft collection, I’m going with one that was captured and tested by the Allies. Rising Decals make an aftermarket set for the Technical Air Intelligence Unit, who evaluated the aircraft in 1944. After testing in the Philippines, the Ki84 was shipped to the US on the CVE USS Long Island.





There are several photographs of S-17 on the net, in different stages of paint and equipment. I am going to base my build on the photo of her sitting on deck aboard Long Island. It appears the nose and gear covers had some additional paint work compared to others; I am assuming red is a safe bet.

The cockpit tub is well detailed and goes together smoothly. I cut up the kit instrument decal and swapped in several dials from Airscale’s excellent IJA/IJN set to spruce it up just a bit. The kit decal is monochrome while my references show that several gauges involved some colors.



The pit with some Eduard US late war style belts added. There was plenty of detail here to satisfy me, all it needs is a wash and some dry brushing to make everything pop.

More to come soon.

Lovely work Paul.

Me too, Gary!! I'm building Academy's I-16 in 1/48th, largely as a quick (mostly) OOB build to keep myself in the hobby during the final push of med school

I'm going to have to take a pass on my first picture for right now. I'm sure other folks are finding out about Photobucket's troubles too, and I need a bit of time to set myself up with a better image hosting site

Hasegawa 1:48 Ki84 “Frank” TAIC

Two updates in one day! What is the world coming to?

I made some more progress so took another quick pic. I drilled out all of the lightening holes in the wings, it should look great with the flaps dropped.



Aotake!

I’m not sure if that’s accurate or not but I love the way it looks. There aren’t exactly definitive rules with Japanese paint schemes so I decided to go with a bit of artistic license and use it here. It should be an interesting contrast with the NMF.

The cockpit tub is put together and the fuselage closed up, once I clean all of the seams up I should be good to finish the major assemblies. Then the fun of polishing the plastic for all of those metal tones.

Paul, great progress so far, the Frank is such a cool looking aircraft, like a japanese p-47 in a way. Im interested in seeing how the kit goes for you, tempted to add it to the list.
camo is down! I used mostly tamiya paints mixed and thinned heavily with MLT, a stencil was used for the dots on the lower rear fuesalage. Thinking about it this is actually my first luftwaffe aircraft since getting back into the hobby some 10 years ago.

@Robby, I gave up on Photobucket 2 years ago when they ransomed all of my pics. Switched over to Imgur. Sadly all they're offering is cropping and resizing. But the price is right, free.

I'm in with this A6M3a from Tamiya. Scale 1/48.

Damian that looks like a really fun kit, are you going to mask the canopy by hand or get a set?

I didnt realize the panel behind the exhaust was painted black on the 190, so some late masking and a quick touch of Nato black does the trick, Im going to give it some healthy exhaust staining after all the decals are laid down

cheers!

Eric, the canopy mask is included in the kit. It is Tamiya's style, so you have to cut it out by yourself. Choosing the kit I've been in the deep dilemma between this one and A6M5. Classic wingspan and OOB markings have made my choice.
I think I'll start it very soon, once Meng's Jeep is finished.

ah nice! its great Tamiya have started adding those

Hasegawa 1:48 Ki84 “Frank” TAIC

Making more progress. I laid down a coat of Tamiya AS-12 Bare Metal Silver as primer/base color. Kudos to Spencer Pollard for an easy method of doing NMF. Next is a lot of tape for the various shades. If you Alclad makes you nervous, you really should give this technique a try. It is far easier.

Seems like some opposition is needed for all the Japanese fighters in this tread.

I am joining with the royal class Eduard 1/48 Hellcat. I have damaged the decals with water some years back. So I am going with one of the earlier three color schemes.

More to follow soon

Nice choice Jesper, looking forward to your build. It seems we could've done 2 campaigns: Radial Fighter-Allied and Radial Fighter-Axis.
Take care,
Don "Lakota"

True, Don. Maybe that’s an idea for 2021? I have a lot of radial axis fighters in my stash.

For now those axis fighters better check their six

Let's start it.
One word - Tamiya. All cockpit part went together flawlessly. Now it's time for painting.

Looks great, Damian. Tamiya quality never fails you. Looking forward to see it with color on.

I think ive got a handle on this build, calling it 99% done.



Ill post some final pics here once i go over it and clean up any tiny details Ive missed and put the 2 in the album.
It was everything Id want out of an older Tamiya build, quick and easy!
cheers everyone
-Eric