IJN Akagi, Dec 7th 1941

[modelcrazy]

I was asked to put up some of my ship builds, so I'm starting with the IJN Akagi, flagship of the Kido Butai.
This is the Hasegawa kit with the added photo etch suite, 5 sets of the Hasegawa Carrier Aircraft kits, a laser cut paper detail set from a guy in Korea and some scratchbuilding
The water was made with foam board, acrylic gel, cotton and toped with acrylic varnish.


 

 

[Tojo72]

Seems I've seen this beauty somewhere before,never tire of looking at it even though it makes me want to throw mine out.

[chromdome35]

What a fantastic accomplishment!!! That water looks amazing!

Do you have any pictures of how you did the water? I would love to see that process.

[garydavis]

Man...that looks AWESOME! I'm with chrome...I'd love to see a how too on your water technique. That whole build and detail is completely off the charts.

[`Boots`]

That is fantastic......i just wouldn`t have the patience.

[tcoat]

The Akagi had a crew of 1630. If we remove bridge and engine room personnel I am pretty sure everybody else is accounted for!
My poor old eyes couldn't do it anymore.

[modelcrazy]

Thanks guys.
I have my technique somewhere. I'll have to did them up and walk through it. It took me a few years to get it to this point, including some time on a CG Cutter just observing the wake. Water is very interesting. It has both a rhythm and mayhem, not just a sequence of equally spaced ridges and valleys, although those are part of it. My technique continues to evolve though.
Yep, she had 1600 crew members, 300 plus of which are depected on the deck, aa guns, bridge, off to the side watching the historic take off and generally wondering about on duty. The chak board, although being reduced to the unreadable, says in Kanji, "I fear all we have done is to awake a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve", along with a map of Oahu.
All that work was completely rendered a waste by the printer's inability to reduce to that resolution. Oh well, at least I know what it says.

[Joe Rix]

I am so glad you shared your Akagi Steve. It really is a masterful example of modeling. For the folks here, I have had the privilege of seeing Steve's Akagi up close and personal at the Las Vegas Nats. It is all that more impressive. The PE work alone is absolutely astounding. The aircraft and crewmembers are a true testament to patience and attention to detail.

Thank You Steve. I never get tired of looking at this.

[tcoat]

Apr 19, 2023 18:39:32 GMT -5 modelcrazy said:

 generally wondering about on duty. 

No doubt you meant "wandering" but having spent 14 years in the military with 7 of those as a naval reserve officer this is the most accurate phrase I ever read!

[modelcrazy]

Yep, meant to do that....
No, just the phone auto correct
Thanks for catching that.

[mustang1989]

WOW!! WOW WOW and some more WOW!!! There's just so much to look at here Steve. The detailing and paintwork on each and every little part is nothing short of amazing. I am curious as to how long this took you. I think you might have said elsewhere but I've since forgotten....however....it surprised me at how short of a time it took you to finish it.

[keavdog]

Love that build

[Tobi]

What a masterpiece! Amazing detail, so much to discover. Every museum would be proud to have such a model in its collection.

[robbo]

Outstanding

[armornutii]

   I only hope I can come close to your level with ...when..I do my ship builds. Without a doubt one of the reasons I am drawn to modeling GOOD GRAVY that is impressive.

[modelcrazy]

Thanks guys. It took me just shy of a year Joe. Not every day but a good 10 to 20 hours a week. Like I said, the guy who wanted to buy it would probably walk if I told him what I would take for it.
I'll get some other builds up as time passes. Heck I can't show what I'm working on but can show what I already completed.
My next ship will have some water explanation with it.

[reserve]

One can never hope to get out of a project like this the value of your time, which preversely, is why I think we do it. Here I see a great deal of time and effort; it surprises me to find out this was a year long project as I'd have expected it to be longer. This is one of the best things I've seen in years, I'm very favorably impressed.

[themongoose]

Also MC is soooo modest. People’s choice at NATS 2 years ago maybe? Am I remembering that correct Steve?

[406 Silverado]

May 9, 2023 14:42:03 GMT -5 themongoose said:

Also MC is soooo modest. People’s choice at NATS 2 years ago maybe? Am I remembering that correct Steve?

I don't doubt that one bit Chris.

[Leon]

WOW.. That is totally amazing and the detail is off the wall Steve!

[stikpusher]

Man I never get tired of seeing this build Steve! Such a beautiful achievement!

[modelcrazy]

Thanks guys.
Mongoose, not the Nats but a Peoples Choise at the regionals

[TJ]

I remember the wip on this. Stunning