Tamiya 1/48 A6M5 Zero dead

[handiabled]

I've used the raised rivet decals before and had great results. I look forward to seeing this come together

[406 Silverado]

Looking forward to seeing how these rivets come out MZ.

[mz3]

I'm planning on using the left over/optional panels for the a6m5a to practice on. I REALLY don't want to screw this up. There are 4 panels, all have separate decal sheets for them. I have 2 primed with mr surfacer 1000 grey and 2 mr surfacer 1500 white. The instructions call for 1500. I have several bottles of different color 1500. It also says to hit the surface with 4-6000 grit sandpaper, I only have 3000. I might go to a hardware store tomorrow before I start on these and see if I can find some higher grits. If not I'll just use what I have.

[handiabled]

Try looking into Micro-mesh, it's a great product for very fine sanding/polishing

micro-surface.com/micro-mesh-types/

[406 Silverado]

Jun 23, 2023 20:27:14 GMT -5 mz3 said:

I'm planning on using the left over/optional panels for the a6m5a to practice on. I REALLY don't want to screw this up. There are 4 panels, all have separate decal sheets for them. I have 2 primed with mr surfacer 1000 grey and 2 mr surfacer 1500 white. The instructions call for 1500. I have several bottles of different color 1500. It also says to hit the surface with 4-6000 grit sandpaper, I only have 3000. I might go to a hardware store tomorrow before I start on these and see if I can find some higher grits. If not I'll just use what I have.

Hobby Lobby has what you're looking for if you've got one close.

[406 Silverado]

Jun 24, 2023 6:18:23 GMT -5 handiabled said:

Try looking into Micro-mesh, it's a great product for very fine sanding/polishing

micro-surface.com/micro-mesh-types/

I haven't used this product before. I may have to check into it to see if it can be used for shiny automotive finishes. Thanks for sharing that Brent!!

[mz3]

Jun 24, 2023 8:21:37 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Jun 23, 2023 20:27:14 GMT -5 mz3 said:

I'm planning on using the left over/optional panels for the a6m5a to practice on. I REALLY don't want to screw this up. There are 4 panels, all have separate decal sheets for them. I have 2 primed with mr surfacer 1000 grey and 2 mr surfacer 1500 white. The instructions call for 1500. I have several bottles of different color 1500. It also says to hit the surface with 4-6000 grit sandpaper, I only have 3000. I might go to a hardware store tomorrow before I start on these and see if I can find some higher grits. If not I'll just use what I have.

Hobby Lobby has what you're looking for if you've got one close.

Ha, hobby lobby is the only hobby store near me and the only one with in 150 miles. Off to the lobby!

[406 Silverado]

Jun 24, 2023 11:36:55 GMT -5 mz3 said:

Jun 24, 2023 8:21:37 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Hobby Lobby has what you're looking for if you've got one close.

Ha, hobby lobby is the only hobby store near me and the only one with in 150 miles. Off to the lobby!

Lemme know if you find any.

[mz3]

Got them. Grabbed 2 just because. I'll start the test parts tomorrow morning.

[406 Silverado]

Jun 24, 2023 22:55:36 GMT -5 mz3 said:

Got them. Grabbed 2 just because. I'll start the test parts tomorrow morning.

Awesome. Sometimes it's hit or miss but it's more hit than miss it seems like. These work GREAT!! I usually cut them into one inch or so squares and then sand away.

[mz3]

Alright, tested 2 of the decals and found a small problem...








The decal for part e10 had an air bubble under the carrier sheet. A small amount of the rivets came off after lifting off the backer. I don't think it will be a huge deal, I can just use a needle and press holes in the missing spots if it happens again.

The instructions also call for mr mark setting and softener. All I have right now is old school micro set and sol. I went ahead and order the mr mark just in case. That's why I'm only doing 2 decals today.

The last concern I have, the rivets on e10 don't line up well. There's a line that goes over the round detail. I triple checked to make sure I used the proper decal for this part. If there's any other questionable placement of rivets I guess I can just scrap them off.

And thank you 406 for the heads up on that finishing kit. I've been in that store probably 20 times and never notice it before.

Edit- tonight I'll remove the carrier sheet and post whatever happens.

[adt70hk]

Hi there

Completely missed the start of this that is truly exceptional detailing you have added. The cockpit and engine are models in there own right.

Very well done indeed!

ATB

Andrew

[mz3]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[mz3]

Sooooooooo, I'm extremely glad I tested these things. I found some of the decal placements are wrong. Which explains the alignment issue from above. I found atleast 4 other decals marked wrong or whatever. Good to catch it now. The decals are for the parts used instead of these I'm testing with.





I also figured I'd go through the entire paint process on these. I used Vallejo aluminum metal color pre-thinned for airbrushing. Let it dry for several days while I was working on other things. Got lazy and sprayed tamiya gloss rattle can and it ate up the Vallejo. I'm just done with Vallejo garbage! DONE!

[mz3]

Back at it...

After all that above, I went back to tamiya paint and Alclad aqua gloss. Then a layer of hairspray then green tamiya. May or may not be the color I use for the upper.



At first I thought the rivets were completely covered with paint. I couldn't see them at all. They are very small! After messing around for a bit lightly sanding the parts brings them out. But only slightly. I used my riveting tool randomly on the 2 ruined parts, just for comparison. Now I'm not sure which way to go. The decal rivets don't replace existing rivets in the plastic, so I'll have positive and negative rivets. Which will look weird. But adding rivets with the tool will add a ton of work. OCDD sucks

[deafpanzer]

I like the look of weary rivets on the top part!

[mz3]

Update....

Filled in all the seams and sanded down everything for the first shot of primer.




Black mr. Surfacer 1500. I need to rescribe a few panel lines here and there. There a few small details I think look wrong, mainly on the underside of the wingtips. I'll get these all done soon and get to the rivets this weekend. I'm still not sure about them, but at this point I just want to get to the painting and weathering, you know the fun stuff!

[406 Silverado]

Never got back to this one either. Sorry bout that MZ. Looks like you've negotiated the issues with the rivets pretty well and this birdie is starting to look like a plane. I have never used any Mr Surfacer but like what I'm seeing here with it on your build.

[mz3]

I've actually started spraying it through my airbrush just recently. I used to just use the rattle can. The overspray and fumes were too much. Even with my over powered spray booth.

[mz3]

Here we go...




It's a bit of a pain to line them up. The film is thick and it makes it so you can see under it. I tried cutting them as close as I can, but there are small areas where the rivets don't line up. Kind of trying to fine a middle ground. I'm not going to rush it. Just doing a few at a time.

I'm not too worried about alignment. The paint will cover any place that's out of whack.

[mz3]

How 'bout some light...






Looks like some rivets were lost/moved around. Not a huge deal.

[406 Silverado]

Man.....this is intense!!  Now THAT........looks like a LOT of work MZ! I can tell you this, the results are truly worth it. What a difference that makes on an otherwise lackluster surface and it kind of reminds me of the old Monogram kits with all the rivets on them. At least Monogram got that part right. lol 

[mz3]

Well, I said I wasn't too worried about alignment. I guess HGW models wasn't either because DAMN!!! I'll post some pics in a bit.

[deafpanzer]

Loving this!!!

[stikpusher]

Great looking rivet work MZ! 

Jul 29, 2023 6:14:56 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Man.....this is intense!!  Now THAT........looks like a LOT of work MZ! I can tell you this, the results are truly worth it. What a difference that makes on an otherwise lackluster surface and it kind of reminds me of the old Monogram kits with all the rivets on them. At least Monogram got that part right. lol 

Joe, Monogram usually got the exterior shapes quite right, and the raised rivets on their old kits were more accurate than todays insistence that all rivets be recessed. If you ever see some of those old aircraft (B-17, C-47, SBD, F4F) in person, you'll see overlapping skin panels and raised rivets, instead of butt joined panels and flush rivets.

[mz3]

Update...

I didn't put arrows on it, you'll just have look...









To start, I'll admit there is some not good placing by me. But, the rivets seem to be a little off in every direction on each decal. When you align one side up where it should go, another side is out of alignment. Finding a happy medium mean a third side is out of whack. I was expecting this from the test pieces I made. At this point, if they line up badly, I'll just scratch off the offending rivets and replace them. There are single line of rivets on the bottom of the sheet and I can still us my riveting tool.




I got the whole upper fuselage and wings done before I had to stop because my eyes were starting to hurt. The pick above was half wayish through. Like I've been saying, I'm not too worried about the alignment. The paint and weathering will cover most of them and they will barely be seen.


I completely sanded the cowl. The rivets were bad, you can kinda see it in the pic posted earlier. The set comes with 2 cowling decals, so I just started over from scratch.

[406 Silverado]

Dude.....you are tha MAN for going all out with these rivets. I've gotta say, I think I'd take my chances with Monogram kit that already has all the rivets and then upgrade it with goodies before I tackled the feat I you doing here. I truly admire your patience and diligence with these MZ. This is all beyond any words I can describe to salute your efforts.

[mz3]

I went ahead an bought a Monogram. I found the least expensive kit on ebay, $17. The shipping was more then the kit. I'm curious to see how the rivets will look compared to this. I've been waiting for Eduard to put out a a6m5. Their a6m2 looks amazing, with rivets.

[406 Silverado]

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Jul 30, 2023 10:36:51 GMT -5 mz3 said:

I went ahead an bought a Monogram. I found the least expensive kit on ebay, $17. The shipping was more then the kit. I'm curious to see how the rivets will look compared to this. I've been waiting for Eduard to put out a a6m5. Their a6m2 looks amazing, with rivets.

Ya know…..I forgot about the Eduardo offering MZ. And those are detailed out right outta the box!!

[mz3]

I'm sick of rivets










Done with the decals for now. I still have to do the cowling and flaps. There are some areas that need small runs of the single line rivet decals, but I'm like screw that. Just hit those areas with the rivet wheel. I stiil have to wait a bit to remove the film, then done with this step. Fun times ahead!