Andrew's 1/48 Tamiya Raiden

[adt70hk]

Ok fellow MSC members, the cockpit is finally finished!

As you may recall I have decided to replace the radio that sat on the shelf behind the cockpit by scratching my own offering

The Tamiya offering was basically a small misaligned vague rectangular cuboid....in fact it was so bad I had no idea what it was meant to be until I did some research.

In researching what it was meant to be I  came across a build blog showing a very clear shot of an AM one.

Using this an an example I made one from styrene - the main structure was a 4x4mm rod cut to the appropriate length c. 11mm with thin bits of styrene sheet and circles stuck on it.  It's not a perfect recreation due to the limitations of the tools I have to hand but given that the control panel faces the back of the pilot's head rest, it will hide the worst discrepancies.

ATB.

Andrew

------------------------------------------

The Tamiya offering! 
Or at least the two halves......








The one I found online on another build.








My offering.
Sorry for the difference in shot quality and colouration...the camera would not behave....it is not as black as in the final shot.













In situ.....
Much better than the Tamiya offering I think you would agree.

[TJ]

Much better. I understand the technology was much different back in the 70's but some of these kits had no detail at all.

[ogrejohn]

Thats a lot better looking. Nice work!

[stikpusher]

Nice job coming up with a better radio for the shelf behind the seat. Much better than the Tamiya representation.

TJ, just compare Tamiya’s A6M2 and Rufe kits of the early 70’s to their A6M5c and Hamp kits of the late 70s to see how much Tamiya upped their game in a few years. Their cost barely went up, but their quality sure did.

[Medicman71]

It looks great!

[adt70hk]

Aug 28, 2023 13:41:55 GMT -5 Medicman71 said:

It looks great!

Aug 28, 2023 4:05:23 GMT -5 TJ said:

Much better.

Aug 28, 2023 6:30:48 GMT -5 ogrejohn said:

Thats a lot better looking. Nice work!

Aug 28, 2023 12:09:34 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

Nice job coming up with a better radio for the shelf behind the seat. Much better than the Tamiya representation.

Thanks guys and sorry for the late response.  Pleased you like the radio.  I was very pleased with it.


Unfortunately, the build is currently stalled. It's had a full coat of primer and it's clear the wing joins need more work....I knew that would be the case but at least the primer has helped my see it clearly. I'm just waiting on some tools to help attack them in a more controlled fashion!


Thanks again.

Andrew

[adt70hk]

Evening all

So last weekend I finally finished dealing with the wing root step join issue after a number of attempts and whilst it's not perfect it is a lot better and from a normal viewing distance should be ok.

The process went as follows - give or take:

• Get to where I thought it was vaguely ok and prime it knowing it was likely to need some work.
• Cry at the results....justifiably as you will see below! 
• Put it one side and think about how I could do a better job...

• Decide to by some Albion Alloys sanding needles.  I figured the round needle would help get more rounded join, as the flat sticks weren't cutting it......
• And I was proved right, if not perfect the join was much better after a good sanding...
• In order to finish off the much improved join in a controlled way, I laid down two strips of Tamiya masking tape either side of it and then carefully painted on a couple of thin coats of Mr Surfacer 1000 and let it dry
• When I pulled off the tape, I had a much neater join to work with than previously and it didn't take much to sand down the joint to a reasonably smooth finish.

As I said it's not quite perfect but from a normal view distance it looks fine.....plus it is after all a 50 year old kit that cost me less than £14.....so I was not expecting perfection......and I don't want to spend any more time on it TBH!


WARNING....for some reason the camera picked up the slightly satin finish of the black Vallejo primer as very light if not almost white!  In real life it is as black as the rest of it!


ACW as usual!


Andrew


---------------------------------------------------

As you can see from the exaggerated light reflection after the first coat of primer it was a truly awful job......embarrassingly so.....

 








My sanding stick saviours and my new book...found it very helpful already....







3rd attempt at dealing with the truly awful wing step/join....looking much better already....as you can see there was a slight step but it was pretty easy to deal with

And all primed.....looking MUCH better and far less obvious from a normal viewing distance than it appears.....you have to love the dreaded digital zoom!!

[deafpanzer]

Looking good! Glad you were able to take care of those. Sometimes it takes more than few attempts to make it right. That’s why I like to build armors… 🤣

[M1Carbine]

Andrew;

That Raiden is shaping up beautifully. Great job taking care of that seam on the bottom of the fuselage. Great job all around. Tuned in for the rest.

-Bob

[kyledehart5]

Nice work! Looks like those sanders were the ticket as that’s looking really nice now.

[adt70hk]

Sept 8, 2023 16:38:38 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

Looking good! Glad you were able to take care of those. Sometimes it takes more than few attempts to make it right. That’s why I like to build armors… 🤣

Sept 9, 2023 10:08:52 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Nice work! Looks like those sanders were the ticket as that’s looking really nice now.

Sept 8, 2023 16:56:54 GMT -5 M1Carbine said:

Andrew;

That Raiden is shaping up beautifully. Great job taking care of that seam on the bottom of the fuselage. Great job all around. Tuned in for the rest.

-Bob

Thanks guys!

Andy - this is by far the worst ever join I have had on a plane!  You should give them a try sometime!  I just needed to put it down and walk away and give it some thought.  Fortunately it paid off!


Kyle - Thanks.  For some reason I thought Albion Alloys were a British firm.....turns out they're Canadian....just very pleased they export to the UK!


Bob - in hindsight i could have paid more attention to the join on the bottom of the fuselage but at least it is not visible on the finished plane.


Thanks again chaps!


ATB

Andrew

[adt70hk]

Good evening all

So I realised earlier today that I forgot to post a picture of the finished prop and spinner last time.

Both the brown and yellow where home brew mixes but the instructions were not very clear......and I've just spotted a tiny bit of bleed the camera picked up....but it will have to do....

Also.....my wife happened to be in London today.....for those not in the UK, we're in the middle of a short heat wave (33C/91F today in London) and no breeze at all to take the edge of the classic humid British heat!


This of course meant I was duty bound to get the AB out....the heat made it slightly harder that usual but it went ok.....as you will see I have applied the pre-base-coat mottling on top of the primer.  I used Vallejo Model Air IJN Medium Grey 71.312).

With a bit of luck I'll get the light grey underside coat on tomorrow.

[buddho]

Good idea on the fuselage seam add ons. I used to do that on some of the older kits I mass produced back in the day.

You are knocking this one out and it gets better with each set if photos. Excellent progress.

[kyledehart5]

Looking even more excellent. This one is coming together very well. And that prop is really sharp.

[stikpusher]

I'm looking forward to seeing the camouflage colors applied!

[adt70hk]

Sept 9, 2023 18:25:29 GMT -5 buddho said:

Good idea on the fuselage seam add ons. I used to do that on some of the older kits I mass produced back in the day.

You are knocking this one out and it gets better with each set if photos. Excellent progress.

Thanks Dan.  Glad you're liking it.  I'm actually seriously considering buying another one to see if I can do a better job!  Bonkers I know.

Thanks again.

Andrew

[adt70hk]

Sept 10, 2023 1:20:13 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Looking even more excellent. This one is coming together very well. And that prop is really sharp.

Thanks Kyle!  Prop really is pretty good.  Just a shame I mucked up the process and so it took twice as long as it should have done!

[kyledehart5]

Sept 10, 2023 14:54:46 GMT -5 adt70hk said:

Sept 10, 2023 1:20:13 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Looking even more excellent. This one is coming together very well. And that prop is really sharp.

Thanks Kyle!  Prop really is pretty good.  Just a shame I mucked up the process and so it took twice as long as it should have done!

Ah, happens to us all. Matter of fact it happens to me far more than it doesn’t happen. 😂

[adt70hk]

Sept 10, 2023 1:30:27 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

I'm looking forward to seeing the camouflage colors applied!

Carlos.....thanks....and it seems like I must have been reading your mind.....see a shortly to follow post!

ATB

Andrew

[adt70hk]

Ok chaps!

Underside paint is on......in terms of the colour, this is my interpretation (using my own concoction of paints) of what was on the underside, which was apparently IJA #1 Hairyokushoku*** (spellings vary breaking it up into three words)...I have seen it as described as a grey-green.

Apparently the fresh paint is very close to RAL 7034 Gelbgrau (Yellow grey) and to my eyes appears to have been a grey with a slight brown tint....the weathered paint was more of a light-medium grey from what I can gather.

I'm still not sure If I'm happy with what you will see below....I was expecting something a bit lighter.  So maybe the coat of paint is too thin and the black primer and mottling is showing through too much, or it needs a light coat of a lighter grey over the top.

However, I will leave it alone for the time being and do the green top-side.  I will then have a look at how they look together and make a decision then.

All comments welcome on the colour from any Japanese wingy experts out there....happy to be told it is wrong!

ATB

Andrew

*** apparently it started the war as 'J3 Special Paint'

**** Source for all of the above is www.aviationofjapan.com/ run by a Nick Millman

[mz3]

Sept 10, 2023 15:14:15 GMT -5 adt70hk said:

All comments welcome on the colour from any Japanese wingy experts out there....happy to be told it is wrong!

😳

Don't ever type those words on the internet ever! EVER!!!

He didn't mean it! adt70hk run, run as fast as you can! I'll try to hold them back! Avenge my death!!!

[kyledehart5]

Sept 10, 2023 15:32:12 GMT -5 mz3 said:

Sept 10, 2023 15:14:15 GMT -5 adt70hk said:

All comments welcome on the colour from any Japanese wingy experts out there....happy to be told it is wrong!

😳

Don't ever type those words on the internet ever! EVER!!!

He didn't mean it! adt70hk run, run as fast as you can! I'll try to hold them back! Avenge my death!!!

Ha! Those people are the original reason I haven't started my Eduard zero builds yet. Lol. Recently, it came to me that I just didn't care if I painted them the wrong color, so I've been thinking maybe I'll crack into them soon. 

[deafpanzer]

Mz3 has my respect... he practically saved your life! +1 karma for him and you of course!

The prop really looks great and fortunately I know nothing about Japanese fighters so it is safe for me to say that I like the color you have chosen!

[handiabled]

I caught up with this just in time for color going on. Looks great from here!

[Medicman71]

It looks great to me but I know ZERO (see what I did there) about Japanese aircraft.

[Joe Rix]

I'm a bit behind on getting caught up on your Raiden Andrew. Man, you have done some really terrific work. Looks to me that you did an admirable job on that wing root step. Those are such a bugger to get to look right. I am really impressed with your black base technique. Seems to be getting the desired effect. I have yet to try this technique. Maybe there will come a day when I give it a go. Mucho well done so far.

[adt70hk]

Sept 10, 2023 15:32:12 GMT -5 mz3 said:

Sept 10, 2023 15:14:15 GMT -5 adt70hk said:

All comments welcome on the colour from any Japanese wingy experts out there....happy to be told it is wrong!

😳

Don't ever type those words on the internet ever! EVER!!!

He didn't mean it! adt70hk run, run as fast as you can! I'll try to hold them back! Avenge my death!!!

mz3

I don't know what came over me...I really don't and so thanks for taking the stand for me...you will never be forgotten!

Sept 10, 2023 16:35:27 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Sept 10, 2023 15:32:12 GMT -5 mz3 said:

😳

Don't ever type those words on the internet ever! EVER!!!

He didn't mean it! adt70hk run, run as fast as you can! I'll try to hold them back! Avenge my death!!!

Ha! Those people are the original reason I haven't started my Eduard zero builds yet. Lol. Recently, it came to me that I just didn't care if I painted them the wrong color, so I've been thinking maybe I'll crack into them soon. 

Hi Kyle.....go radical and dare someone to challenge you just by painting it bright pink...!!

Sept 10, 2023 20:22:00 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

Mz3 has my respect... he practically saved your life! +1 karma for him and you of course!

The prop really looks great and fortunately I know nothing about Japanese fighters so it is safe for me to say that I like the color you have chosen!

Andy

He did indeed!  I will remember his sacrifice to the end of time!

I like the prop too......and if you're happy with the underside colour, who am I too argue, even if you have no idea what you're taking about!

Sept 11, 2023 6:35:40 GMT -5 handiabled said:

I caught up with this just in time for color going on. Looks great from here!

Thanks Brent!  Much appreciated

Sept 12, 2023 10:35:08 GMT -5 Medicman71 said:

It looks great to me but I know ZERO (see what I did there) about Japanese aircraft.

Thanks Mike, glad you're liking it......and no I have NO idea what do you did "there"....pray do tell.....us Brits can sometimes be a bit slow on the uptake!!

Sept 12, 2023 11:39:52 GMT -5 Joe Rix said:

I'm a bit behind on getting caught up on your Raiden Andrew. Man, you have done some really terrific work. Looks to me that you did an admirable job on that wing root step. Those are such a bugger to get to look right. I am really impressed with your black base technique. Seems to be getting the desired effect. I have yet to try this technique. Maybe there will come a day when I give it a go. Mucho well done so far.

Joe

No problem at all, we're all very busy.  Thanks for the support and the wing root is not bad is it....the only issue is that with all the sanding I lost a bit of detail and also as the plastic was sanded so smooth, it reflects the light a more than the surrounding areas....plus it's not completely perfect!

I like blackbasing a lot.....a simple technique that gets great results.  I was introduced to it on the other forum I am on, not long after I started doing some wingy things.  I then had look on YouTube liked what I saw and gave it whirl on only the third plane I'd used an AB on, and was hooked.  In fact I have never yet used the more usual pre-shading technique along the panel lines!  Perhaps I should give that a whirl on my next plane build!


Thanks again as always for the support chaps and sorry I have not responded before but getting forum time this week has been very challenging!

ATB

Andrew

[adt70hk]

Good evening all.

So the upper surface green and off-black anti-glare patch are done!

As you may have seen from previous posts I have been consulting a site for this build called Aviation of Japan run by a chap called Nick Millman (www.aviationofjapan.com/).

I must admit I had not heard of this site or Nick before starting this build but it seems very well researched, a lot of people seem to rate it and from the short exchange I had with Nick on something he seems a decent enough chap.....so in for a penny, in for a pound!


For this whole build and as usual, I have been largely been using Vallejo Model Air in particular their IJN Colours Pre-war to 1945 (71.169).

The following are some of Nick's not wholly enthusiastic thoughts on the set:

• "...the Vallejo colour descriptions do not fully correspond to IJN paint colour designations. This makes it more difficult to reconcile them without direct comparisons..."...that is something of an understatement and I found his site when trying to reconcile this exact problem when looking at the kit properly.

• In is opinion, Vallejo get the colours of the black greens wrong way around.  Vallejo attributes Dark Black Green (71.325) to Mitsubishi and the other to Nakajima (Black Green 71.322)....in his opinion the colours are a better match the other way around.

• Both theses colour apparently suit more weathered paints than a fresh coat but that is ok as I'm doing a slightly weathered coat.

• The anti-glare paint on the cowling is not pure black but a blue-back....apparently similar to RAF 'Night'.  This lines up with Tamiya's instructions.

Source: www.aviationofjapan.com/2017/04/vallejo-ijn-colors-set-visual-appraisal.html?m=1


So the kit was painted as follows:

• The green you will see below is IJN Black Green 71.322.  This was done over a mottle coat of IJN Medium Grey 71.312.  The initial finish looked a bit too mottled and not in line with the underneath and so I ended up giving it a second light coat.

• The anti-glare coat on the cowling was done use a 3:1 mix (as per the instructions) of Black 71.057 and the nearest blue I had, RLM24 Dark Blue 71.266

Oh and just a minor faux pas on my part.....I applied the pre-decal clear coat this afternoon.....before I painted the exhausts!  DOH!!  So I'll have to deal with that later.


All comments welcome as usual.

Andrew

-----------------------------------------------


Before the anti-glare coat went on.













And just some minor masking ahead of the anti-glare coat on the cowling....you can't be too careful after all!!







All in all very pleased with it, even if the anti-glare coat is very slightly off-centre.

[TJ]

Nice paintwork. I have a blue black paint from Mr. Color which I think is spot on for IJN cowling and anti glare

[adt70hk]

Sept 16, 2023 17:47:26 GMT -5 TJ said:

Nice paintwork. I have a blue black paint from Mr. Color which I think is spot on for IJN cowling and anti glare

Thanks TJ! I like the effect too!!!



However..........

Two issues......as well as forgetting to paint the exhausts, I have also forgot to paint the wing leading edges yellow.....so another post decal paint job!  

More importantly....I have almost certainly painted it the wrong shade of green.....

Anyone who has ever complained about German wartime Luftwaffe RLM colours and not done a Japanese plane.......DON'T!!! Really RLM colours are a walk in the park compared to the dark art of Japanese greens!!!

There are the D1 and D2 greens, there are the N1 and N2 greens......and shades in between.......that has you chasing your tail in endless circles!

PLUS...the Raiden green was apparently it's own special colour.......so whilst the colour I chose may have been an ok-ish match for the usual Mitsubishi green, it is seemingly wrong for the Raiden.

The Raiden green was apparently was a more muted green with a definite tinge of blue to it.

It is too late now to correct it and if any rivet counter complains I'll just put my hand up and agree with them....that said it is only a £14 kit and I still like it!!! My model my rules!!   

ATB



Andrew