I got this very old dis-continue kit from Hobby Focus few months back, a 1/32 scale Zero... my fav WWII plane. The kit itself is not of high quality with seams everywhere and inject moulding marking that i try my best to remove. There are some major gaps (fitting problem) on the fuselage and wing section that will require alot of work but i'm still not into that section yet. I found out the fiting problem when i try to dry fix them using tapes...

Here are some pics i have on the extra work i scratch build in the engine and cockpit area...



Engine scratch built cables from modelling putty

Floor panel

mini dails hand painted using magnify glasses

Control panel

Seat belt putty set and painted in flat green







One last look before fuselage are sealed

cheers

Good Gods, man! That is some awsome work. I especially love the seat and harnesses. I love the Zero as well. Nice clean lines, ect. Is it gonna be gray or green? Good luck with the rest of the build!

Thanks mate!

Fuselage Assembly...

The gaps are a real work here. I'll fill it with liquid putty before sanding them off. I use masking tape to taper the area that need to be puttied that will narrow down my sanding area without removing much of the details on the fuselage... but nevertheless, some details like rivert are sand off. I use a sharppin to re-create the riverts i had sand off due to working on the gap. Now my dilemma is to whether to manually rivert the whole plane or to just leave it? The reason is i realize that the rivert on the kit are very weak and will not be visible after a few coat of the paint but to re-create all rivert will mean a hell of a work for me.

What do you experience modeller here will do if you are me? Pls advice

Below are some pics...


Gaps inside the engine crowling area that need to be fix

img]http://images.stonely0.multiply.com/image/3/photos/16/orig/27/gaps3.jpg?et=9sDaivN08DAX%2CVEWLitWMA[/img]
Around the top area that need attention too



re-created riverts


Anothe viewof my re-created rivert... not that great but it certainly look better than the original ones... Shall i re-create all the river for the whole plane???? Am i serious? pls advice how do you guys handle this situation

cheers

I have drop the idea od re-create the rivert for the whole plane unless i have a proper tool fro riverting. They are avail online from oversea. Yes i agree that Hasegawa have very good kits but this kit i bought is really old. the manual and decal are all yellowish. it's kit number CH016:5500 any idea on the history of this kit? It include a upgrade alloy parts.

It's badly mould and the number on the stem are barely visible on some parts. Also, the riverts are not balance. They are clear and sharp on the wings, under-carriage & tail wings but not on the main fuselage. But for the price i pay it's a good buy. all i need is a whole lot of time o restore it.

Below are some more workbench pics


First coat of primer and the imperfection on some area immed shows up. This coat allow me to somemore correct area that i have overlook.


After some final touchup i'll polish the sanded area. Will not re-apply another coat of primer as i think the primer will actuallu=y drown out the details if more then one coat are apply. How you guys reckon?


Before the gap filling and sanding work


After the re-work on the gaps

cheers

Looks great, Stonely! You could simply pencil in the rivets. Thats what I usually do. The important thing is that you filled the gaps. That's gonna be a sweet looking Zero-san. Post more pics so we can see how it turns out!

Hi guys, finally manage to completed... except for the bombs attachment... below are 2 pics taken from my mobile phone cam, i know they suckz big time... pardon me for the low quality shots as digicam are with my brother now... will post some decent shots when they come back





Now!!! looking for my next warbird... i'll put my F16 (1/32) on hold first... Thinking of building up the collection of Pacific Teather warbird. Any idea where i can lay my hands on a 1/32 Vought F4U-4 Corsair locally?

Lookin' great, Stonely0!
You might try to pick up the Trumpeter F4U-1 kit.
It's kinda costly, but I haer it's really good.
Or, you could go for the old Revell kit.

hey sarge! i got that kit.... i can't stop thinking of it while at work and immed after i knock i head down to my local hobby shop and not only had i got myself the trumpeter F4U (Kit #2221) i also got another P40B with Pearl Harbour fleet marking (comes originally in RAF camo and marking) and all in sweet 1/32... loads of details!

now i'm figuring which one o begin with... and also, i need reference... all the reference i can get. Any place to recommend for reference online with actual planes?

cheers