Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Sentinel Chicken on March 01, 2012, 06:56:32 AM
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(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120229.jpg)
These two kits are 1/144 scale and now that I have my model building room back in the new house, it's time to get high on solvents and go batty with endless rounds of PSR. I resolved myself that once I got a place again to build models I'd go all WHIFF or nothing. So there you have it.
Kudos to you if you can identify the two aircraft that are going to be frankenplaned by me.
I leave you with a colorful quote by our own sotoolslinger/Ron from last year's Scalefest:
"We don't win a damn thing at these shows because no one knows how to judge our stuff."
There may or may not have been an F-bomb in there, but I used one already in the title of this thread.
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Ki-44 and Ki-84? ???
Looking forward to this Glad you have the magnifier ready :o
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Ki-44 and Ki-84? ???
But which bits are going where? This is going to be good :)
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Ki-44 and Ki-84? ???
But which bits are going where? This is going to be good :)
Same here. Maybe a Tophe asymmetrical jitsu ! Make a Hayate nose and a 44 engine behind that as a push - pull pod and then use one or the other fuselage with tail on either side of that.
BTW- While I don't put the F bomb in thread banners...... I do most certainly keep them
readily on hand for any JMN's encountered !
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Like the semi-swept white wings. Recommend using them. And green four blade prop.
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Ki-44 and Ki-84? ???
Looking forward to this Glad you have the magnifier ready :o
Very good! These are the LS kits from the stash, the Ki-84 was part of a two kits in one box kit (damn that sounded redundant redundant). All I've built since 1993 has been 1/144, primarily because the kits are cheap, don't take up much room and there's not a whole lot of aftermarket stuff for them that jacks up the total investment made in the kit. Yes, I'm a cheap bastard.
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Same here, 1/144 is the way to go and I had no trouble building hundreds despite having a nearsightedness prescription and hands better described as Paws that wear out a keyboard in 12 months and practically need a scratching post.
One hidden benefit(s) of working in 144 are that small parts PSR easily, can often be shaped with sandpaper instead of blades and saws, and you can raid kits of all the other scales for big surface parts.
Only downside is kit selection, but resin makers are furiously correcting this.
If you would like to see examples of my builds, go to my deviantArt page and look up 7 big picture collages which only show a fraction of the completed ones, mostly the scratchbuilds. http://russc1.deviantart.com/ (http://russc1.deviantart.com/) and go to gallery and the aero replicas folder. You can do a lot in 144 even using paper, by scaling down printed pages of kits like Fiddlers Green or drawing your own.
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That's the definite plus on 1/144 kits, especially fighters, the PSR is much, much, MUCH less than with a 1/72 kit. I briefly contemplated going to 1/72 once I had the new room in the house, but I knew I would shot a big f-ing hole in my budget with aftermarket accessories and go insane with PSR.
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It's great to see you tackling some styrene again, Mr Chicken! You certainly picked some prime kits to work on! I've used both kits as base material in the past and I agree that 1/144 scale has a lot of advantages. I can't wait to see where you go with these!
Brian da Basher
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Go Doc, go!
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More work done tonight:
(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120302a.jpg)
Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki (Allied code name "Tojo"): fuselage, engine, vertical fin, inboard wings/underfuselage
Nakajima Ki-44 Hayate (Allied code name "Frank") donated the outer wings, prop, and horizontal stabs.
You can see that in 1/144 scale, there's no cockpit to really be arsed to deal with. When I put the Shoki's transparency on that section, you really won't be able to tell that there's no cockpit there. I may, however, put some scratchbuilt plastic card parts there to at least suggest the seat.
I don't think the Hayate's four-bladed prop is gonna cut it for what I have in mind for this frankenplane what-if. I may have to go raid the stash for a more imposing four bladed prop.
The horizontal stabs from the Hayate I cut at the roots at an angle so they're slightly swept. I cut off the outer wing panels of the Shoki- I want this whiff to have longer span wings for high-altitude performance. I drilled small holes to put small styrene strips in to provide an anchor point for the outer wing panels that came from the Hayate kit.
The outer wing panels were slightly too long in chord with where I cut off the Shoki's wings, so I cut back the chord from the tailing edge and sanded it down to taper it. I like the looks of the inboard wing section of the Shoki, so I had to keep that part.
(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120302b.jpg)
This gives you a better idea of just how small a WW2 fighter is in 1/144 scale. It's challenging to work in this scale, but on the bright side the dreaded PSR is kept to a minimum and the sections are light, so you don't have to worry about adding any reinforcements when you frankenplane something like this for shits and giggles.
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I really like your modifications, Mr Chicken!
Ironically, I'm using a left-over Shoki cowling on my next project. It makes me feel like I'm on a wavelength with you.
I can't wait to see where this project goes next!
Brian da Basher
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Very cool build. Slick looking AC right there. :-* Also your decision to work in such scales leaves more putty for those of us who need it ;)
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I had never thought about bashing scales that small ??? but you have me thinking now >:D
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Kids jerked my ass out of bed early this morning (I need a crowbar and an act of Congress to get them up at 0600 on school days but for whatever the hell reason on Saturdays they're up at the ass-crack of dawn without any prompting. Go figure.) and while they got in some Saturday morning cartoons, I did more on my Shoki-Hayate frankenplane kitbash:
(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120303a.jpg)
I was going to open up the front of the engine cowl put in some styrene rod to give the impression of the radial engine, but given that I'll probably raid the stash for a bigger prop and spinner, it may not even be visible.
Ahhh, the beauty of 1/144 scale.
You can see how the modified Hayate outer wing panels have basically given me a long-span Shoki.
(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120303b.jpg)
Underside view. I'll need to do some filling on on the wing underside where the outer wing panels join the inner wing of the Shoki. But hey! This is 1/144 scale! I'll be able to get away with a pea-size bit of putty, sand for 5 minutes and I'm done.
Ahhhhh, the beauty of 1/144 scale.
I rummaged around the spares box and found a drop tank from the 1/144 DML IAI Kfir kit. I used one half, cut it and bent it a bit to match the underside of the fuselage. This will be the turbosupercharger intake/exhaust. I used a needle file to thin out the intake and exhaust lips. I'll need to some filling here, but it should be easy.
Like 5 minutes.
Ahhhhh, the beauty of 1/144 scale.
There's a big gap under the horizontal tailplanes that I'll also need to fill in.
That should take 5 minutes.
Ahhhhh, the beauty of 1/144 scale. It leaves more putty for Ron's builds. I'm a real magnanimous and community-oriented kind of builder. Unless you're a JMN. Then you can piss off. (still waiting for the caffeine to kick in)
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Coming along nicely.
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If I can be allowed a Chef Emeril LaGasse quote - You could 'kick it up a notch' by adding a contrarotating prop. Or a 5-blader.
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Dang that is a sweet little plane. I like how you can see details in the pictures that I would not be able to see in real life :( ;) :-[ Nother reason I need big scale projects ;D
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(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120303c.jpg)
While Chicklet 004 was napping and Chicklets 001, 002, and 003 were helping the missus in the garden (their little project), I took the opportunity to sling some putty on my Shoki-Hayate frankenplane. I used Squadron White Putty and then a small brush dipped in lacquer thinner to smooth it out and get it to better fill the spaces to be filled.
The prop and spinner came from the Minicraft Hawker Tempest kit. The spinner's a bit big, but I think it will do for what I have envisioned for this kit bash.
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:-* :-*
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(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120303d.jpg)
Got in a little work once the kids went to bed tonight. Couldn't for the life of me find my rattle can of gray that I use as a primer but found an old can of Testor's Armor Sand. It'll do. Whatever color, it makes it easier for me to see where I need more putty-sand-repeat.
(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120303e.jpg)
Underside view. A lot of 1/144 models of WW2 fighters have craptastic wheel wells and landing gears on account of the small size. I haven't decided yet if I'll scratchbuild the wheels or just do what I can to make do with the kit set.
I'll just have to have another Shiner to think about it.
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Looking good! Does the longer wings and a honkin' great scoop under the rear fuselage mean that it's a high altitude fighter with turbocharger?
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Looking good! Does the longer wings and a honkin' great scoop under the rear fuselage mean that it's a high altitude fighter with turbocharger?
Indeed it will be!
Latest progress shot:
(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120305.jpg)
The Shoki kit's landing gears suck ass and a half. I wasn't in the mood to scratchbuild something that small and do it twice no less, but found that the landing gears and doors from the Hayate kit were a pretty close match (both aircraft being Nakajima products, it makes sense). The main difference is that the Shoki has a triangular extension on the aft side of the main gear doors which covers a linkage. Since the Hayate kit's landing gears were better looking, I took those and used styrene card to add that extension and then some thin bent strip to replicate the linkage. It's not 100% the Shoki's landing gear but it works for me.
I also took the Tempest spinner and drilled out the center portion which will be for a cannon.
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(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120309.jpg)
Home sick today from work with a nasty respiratory bug of some sort, I was well-enough for part of the day to start painting my Shoki-Hayate kitbash. I'm trying to get my airbrush all cleaned up and fixed (20 year old Aztek, hate to part with it as I have a ton of accessories for it), so it was brush painting for this little bad boy. The paintwork needs more touch up, I'll get to that after this initial coat dries.
Hopefully I'll have my airbrush back up and running when it comes time to paint my Messerschmitt Bf 110 floatplane what-if kitbash.
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That camo scheme looks great, Mr Chicken!
Brian da Basher
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Got home from our spring break Gulf Coast road trip Saturday and got some work in yesterday on my Shoki-Hayate kitbash:
(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120318a.jpg)
Up on the wheels now. Did a touch up to the camouflage- I was going to break out the airbrush, but it still needs some tweaking and truth be told, it's been so damn humid I'd be asking for trouble to use the airbrush. It's been ages since I brush painted a model. Oh well. I am trying out the Model Master Acryl line. Previously I used the enamels, but the ease of clean up and thinning on the Acryl line has me intrigued and I'm using the line for the first time on this model. Jury's still out, but the water clean up of the brushes is a plus so far. The prop and spinner is on there just for the pic, I'll glue it into place when finished. I still need to craft a cannon barrel to protrude out from the center of the spinner.
(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120318b.jpg)
Underside view. I used styrene strip to create the undercarriage retraction linkages. Easier said than done in 1/144 scale and my 40+ year old eyeballs. Fuck. Inboard gear doors are from the Hayate kit, they fit the Shoki's inner wing just fine (translation "Good enough for me"). Tail wheel came from the Shoki kit with strip styrene gear doors. I probably could have used thinner styrene there. Oh well, looks good enough to me. Thank God for a magnifying glass and thin point brush do paint the wheels. This build has me thinking about investing in reading glasses!
The oversized spinner on that cowl reminds me of the Hawker Sea Fury, no question this kitbash had it existed in real life would have had serious overheating issues, but that fits in with my backstory of this being an experimental prototype pressed into combat service.
(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120318c.jpg)
This shot gives you an idea how small this plane is. I tried to thin out the cowl flaps but only succeeded in thinning out a layer of skin on my fingers. Ouch. So plan B was to paint it with black paint to give the optical illusion that the cowl flaps are thinned. I'm not thrilled about the brush marks on the camo finish, but that should look better once I add a few layers of clear coat, gloss for the decals and then a final layer of flat when done.
You can see one of the advantages of this size- little to no cockpit detailing to be arsed with!
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Wow ! thats tiiinnnnyyy !
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small and beautiful :)
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That's some nice progress, Mr Chicken! I really like how the camo sets of the yellow spinner. This build reminds me of something Focke-Wulf would come up with.
Brian da Basher
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Great work! That is crazy small :-\
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SC, you have the skills of a Swiss watch maker. What a beauty!!!
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(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120324a.jpg)
Finally got my airbrush all cleaned up and working again. This is the model all masked up for some airbrush work. Some modelers use Tamiya masking tape, me, I'm a cheap bastard so I use painters masking tape from any home improvement store. I cut small strips and use those to mask off the area and then use that putty-like adhesive tack to protect areas from overspray.
(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120324b.jpg)
Airbrushed Insignia Yellow for the fuselage band and also the tips of the underside of the wings. By now it should be pretty obvious who's markings are going on this model. I have to do some touch up work with a brush, it's been a while since I had the airbrush in hand and like all things, it takes some practice. I had a beat up old model that I did few practice runs on, though.
I used Testors Model Master Acryl, I must say it airbrushes nicely right from the bottle with no dilution.
(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120324c.jpg)
Underside view showing the yellow areas airbrushed on the underside of the wings. One other advantage of 1/144 scale for fighter aircraft, it doesn't take much paint and airbrushing is pretty quick. Down side, you have to really watch the paint flow through the airbrush on areas this small or you get a big blob mess.
After some touch up work and the paint is well dried, the next step will be the a shot of gloss for decals. I'm considering using Future for the first time. Anyone have any experience with it on models this small? I'm a bit hesitant as I don't need a heavy coat, just enough to let the decals sit well without any silvering.
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Airbrushing future (although I have not done it personally) Is much more forgiving, than say rattle bombing a gloss coat (which Is what I usually do, but my models are much bigger) Use light coats and you should be just fine :) Future also self levels so it will be more consistent as well
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Nice work, Mr Chicken! I really like the paint scheme and the swept horiz. stabs.
I'm told you can brush Future on by hand as well, which is a nice option to have.
Brian da Basher
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SC, I use Future all the time, airbrush and hand applied.
When I hand brush it, a flat, wide brush works best for me. Try not to overload it too. Just like doing it with a ab, light coats are key. And watch leading/trailing edges and things of that sort. The Future will run to the backside and create a bit of a 'puddle' if you got the brush too loaded.
Practice padawan, and with it over time, you too will enjoy the glory that is the power of Future................ :icon_jedi:
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Looking good
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(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120406a.jpg)
(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120406b.jpg)
Canopy's in place now and painted with a very fine tip brush. This morning worked on the weathering. The easiest method that works for me is to use a Q-tip and some gray/black artist pastels. I rub the Q-tip on what I need and then apply it to the model. You'll need several applications and some rubbing (heheheheheheheheheh). I'm trying to get most of the weathering in place now as I plan to clear coat it with Future to apply the decals. Then some weathering over the decals, and a shot of flat topcoat to finish it off. I also use an artist's nubbin (I think that's what they're called) to apply weathering streaks.
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Damn that is looking good.
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Looks like you're in the home-stretch, Mr Chicken! While everything about this little model is fantastic, for me it's your treatment of the canopy that really pulls it together.
Brian da Basher
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DONE DAMMIT!
(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120506a.jpg)
(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120506b.jpg)
(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120506c.jpg)
(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120506d.jpg)
(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120506e.jpg)
(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120506f.jpg)
(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120506g.jpg)
(http://www.airlinebuzz.com/chickenworks/Buzz/Build_120506h.jpg)
For a frame of reference, three of the squares on the base I used to shoot these pictures is about an inch.
Everything was brush painted with the exception of the yellow theater markings on the aft fuselage and underside of the wings, those were airbrushed.
The decals were aftermarket 1/144 scale that I picked up off eBay. The carrier film was bit thick, but the decals were nicely printed and durable.
From the previous pics I posted, I airbrushed the model with Future. This was the first time working with Future and was very pleased with the results, I'll be using it on all my subsequent builds. After airbrushing several coats, the finish was nice and glossy and because it was self-leveling, it definitely evened out a lot of the brush marks. Not all, but enough of them. In applying the decals, I would first soak the decal in water to get it to slide on the backing paper. I then blotted out the excess water and then dipped the decal in Future before applying it. They went on without a hitch- no decal set or Micro-Sol needed and absolutely no silvering at all if there was any imperfections on the gloss coat underneath. I used a Q-tip to blot out any excess Future so the decals would stay put. I think brushed a quick coat over the decals and let it cure overnight.
The following day I rattle-bombed it with a coat of Testors Flat, just enough to further seal the decals and dull the finish to the desired flat appearance. Last thing I did was attach the prop and the guns- one on each wing and one in the spinner, those were just simple styrene rod painted steel and a dab of black on the tip.
The right landing gear angles out more than it should, Chicklet 004 conducted a nuisance raid on my workbench and that was the best I could get with my repair efforts and my 41 year old eyeballs. This is 1/144 scale, after all.
Markings are generic and not specific for any Luftwaffe unit, but my back story would be Nakajima engineers being dispatched to Germany to work with Focke Wulf on a Shoki-Hayate hybrid with a supercharger in the belly that would have the performance to take on the B-29 Superfortress at altitude. Operational testing might have been done in Germany but the war situation meant that the prototypes and Japanese team never made it back to Japan before the end of the war.
This was my first build after being away from the workbench for several years, it feels real damn good to finish something, learn some new tricks (Future) and was a total blast. No more real world shit for me unless I'm dying to have it. It's WHIFF or nuthin'. :icon_jedi:
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Interesting! this would have given the Later Tempests and Furies plus the P-47N some competition. Looks more Lavochkin than Focke-Wulf.
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Very nice. :)
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A mini marvel !! :)
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Looks great
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That's just too cool! :)
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Talk about an excellent finish in every sense of the word!
Outstanding, Mr Chicken!!!
Brian da Basher