Ok guys I’ve finally begun to make my ascent out of the modeling doldrums after about 9 months worth of aww [censored] it and have decided to get jiggy wit a Hasegawa 1/32 scale Frank first issue. I’ve got my decals, got the paint on the way (could be right could be wrong probably will be in a couple of months) geting ready to order the Eduard Photo-etch set, already ordered a couple of books and am getting the steam up to whoop dis puppy out! How many of you folks have started/finished or are working on this sweetie?
I’ve always loved the looks of the Frank and wanted to do this particular one ever since I saw a book about 25 years or so ago on Camoflage of the Japanese Army Airforce. Yep it’s the one with the blue arrow up the side of the fuselage.
Next up to bat, a couple of Oscars (KI-43II) in wicked nasty camo I hope!
Come on you companies keep those 1/32 scale kits rolling!
I’m working on that same kit as i type, waiting for paint to dry[(-D], but i’m at a standstill at the moment while i wait for Eduards PE to arrive in the snail, So far i’ve got the engine and cowl assembly done, and the wing assembled. About the only shortcoming’s i can see are the innacurate seat, and the cowl gun opening’s needing to be drilled out, as far as the seat goes the pe set include’s a real nice one from what i saw on their web site. www.eduard .com. Well like i said i’m[banghead]ing my head against the wall while i wait for the snailman .
Sounds like a good start to a good kit so far. I’ve found that on the new hasegawa 1/32 scale kits that an added touch of trial fitting and trimming does wonders for not having to use putty or having to sand more than needed. Watch out for little bumps and the likes on the mating surfaces. Also if you get around to their FW190 a/f series in 1/32 the cowl looks a bit gappy at the fuselage attachment point and maybe you might want to add some shims or such. well don’t it’s right, there was a good gap between the cowl and the fuselage. Spent about 3 hours one night going over pictures on it. it basically will be a gap just over 10 thousandths if an inch or so on the top and a little bigger going towards the bottom.
Anyway good luck on your Frank hoepfully we can compare results in a few weeks. Yes I’m slow at building but I get there LOL
So what you’re telling me is I have to dig the incomplete beast out of the boxes from my recent move and see if I can manage to figure out how to post pics here too huh? Man your alot of work LOL
I did the 1/48 Frank. I found some good pics of this plane on www.warbirdphotographs.com. The one with the arrow along the fuselage was a special attack squadron. They do have decals for that bird at Aeromaster.