Hello, I got this one with a 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby a few years ago. Hey…remember when HL carried the good stuff?
Anyways, the last time I built the type 52 was the Monogram kit back when I was a small fry. This was right on the heels of seeing the F-14 tomcats “splashing the zeros” in the Final Countdown…just awesome!..and yeah, I’m aware those were not 52 models. Now that I’m done reminiscing, on to the build…
I started with the cockpit. Its beautiful, right up there with their P-47. A resin pit for this would be a complete waste. After an XF-1 Flat black coat for shadowing, I painted it the recommended XF-71 Cockpit Green. Of course it wouldn’t be me unless I doctored it up. I added a touch of XF-49 Khaki to brown it a bit. I just can’t leave well enough alone. The kit comes with a decal for seatbelts but I robbed an old Eduard P-51 PE fret and used that instead. I then hand painted the boxes and such then glossed everything. The IP has a decal and it worked great. Here’s were I’m at after a Detailer wash, post shade, and a Testor’s dull coat.
Thanks John. It’s just Tamiya paint on the end of a sharp toothpick. I touch it to the knob or dial and let capillary action do the work. Sometimes I use a silver metallic Sharpie for the silver knobs.
wow right into the next no down time for you. I built there 1/72 zeke a few months back they are scaled down versions of the bigger kits with just as much detail packed in. Be watching this one for sure
Thanks guys…I guess I better build a bomb shelter. Max, I’m relieved to know the kit builds as well as it looks. I too add XF-8 Flat Blue to XF-1 Flat Black for my own version of Mitsubishi Cowl Blue. It makes a world of difference.
Joe: I know you’ll enjoy this one- I’ll agree it’s one of the best engineered and detailed kits I’ve ever built. I built one a few years ago but got a bunch of decal silvering for some reason and put her back in the box instead of repainting her. I really need to dust her off and finish.
Thanks Gamera. It certainly looks like it will be more detailed than the Hasegawa versions, which are somewhat spartan IMO. Decal issues eh? Did you use the kit decals or aftermarket? I’ve been eyeing the Berna decals.
I had no decal issues when I built mine. I’ve found that Tamiya decals require the big guns… Mr. Mark Setter and Mr. Mark Softer. I feel like it’s specifically designed for the thicker decals that come with Japanese kits.
Sidebar: is it some sort of translation quirk that causes a lot of products from Japan to have the title Mr.? I was on a family road trip years ago and we saw a place called Mr. Waffles advertised on a sign near the exit. I joked that it was a Japanese waffle place, and sure enough when we drove past, the sign for the restaurant had a picture of a Japanese chef!
Thanks Max…I do have Solvaset and Mr. Mark Setting Solution (green bottle). I generally don’t use them because they’re so strong and I’ve had fairly good luck with Micro Sol… I have heard the Mr. Mark is good for Hasegawa’s decals, but I’ve never the nerve to try it in fear of another “Techmod Disaster”. Small decalsf like stenciling and IP dials are fine, but I prefer aftermarket for the insignias.
Thats funny about the “Mr.” moniker. I always thought they were just trying to be cute…or even a tad sarcastic. I wonder why there’s no Mr. Tamiya or Hasegawa?
I tinkered with the zero a bit last night. I sealed up the fuselage and added the plugs on the front sides below the gun deck and the gun deck itself. These fit fine without issue. i also decided to drill out the gun barrels too. The cockpit slipped right up from underneath and fit like a glove.
After the seamwork on the fuselage, I decided to toy with the fit of the wings to the fuselage. It looks like everything with be a nice fit. I also test fitted the cowl and used the open flaps, which is an option Hasegawa doesn’t give you. It certainly looks cool to me. Cripes, more inserts, I guess I have to decide on a specific version before I go any further.
Next I think I’ll work on rigging the engine then perhaps get the canopies masked so those are out of the way…
Joe: Coming along very nicely! You could always buy a couple more kits and build all the versions-hehehe…
I used a set of Zotz brand decals on mine. I have no idea why they silvered, I’ve used the brand several times before and always had great results with them. The decal I had the most problems with is a large one with lots of clear area linking together the kill markings of a Japanese ace. Just the type that tends to be a problem so I loaded the area with Micro-Sol but it still didn’t seem to really suck down in some places. I slit it and applied Micro-Set but it didn’t seem to really help. I’m thinking now of slitting it and painting some Future down in the nooks and crannies.
Thanks guys. Gary, I’ve heard the Hasegawa kit is nice…build it!. In for a brief update. It is hard to get bench time in this time of year. There’s just so much other stuff that needs to get done around the house. In the meantime, the Berna decals arrived. I have decided on 5 kill ace Lt. Commander Minoru Suzuki’s Model 52 Zero from Truk Atoll.
Last night I got the frame assembled. I truly hate plugs…regardless if they are Hasegawa or Tamiya. I just never seem to be able to add 'em and forget 'em. I always have to finnagle something. I mean how many tails did the zero have that made it necessary to come as a separate part? My wing gun panels needed to be filled and rescibed because some panel lines were too wide. Only me I guess.
The seams were then primered with Alclad Grey Micro. They came out ok. I did have the usual issue at the mating surface of the wing and fuselage joint. This required sanding, filling and rescribing. I replaced the rivets with a sewing needle in a pin vice.
I’ll probably switch gears and start work on the engine next…
