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Erich Goldbach
24 articles

Hasegawa's 1:48 scale Mitsubishi J2M3 Raiden

July 28, 2013 · in Aviation · · 8 · 2.4K

This model is the 1/48th scale Mitsubishi J2M3 (Thunderbolt) Allied code name “Jack” and represents an A/C belonging to the 332 Naval Air Group, based at Naruo Air Base Dec 1945. The model was built OOB with the addition of homemade seat belts, aerial wire added from pantyhose nylon thread and AeroMater decals (#48-287). As for painting; this was one of my first attempts at using Model Master Buffing metallic Aluminum as an under coat to the base colors (AeroMaster IJN green and grey) followed by using making tape to pull away the base colors to simulate the extensive peeling and chipping seen on many Japanese AC during the war. Other weathering was done with lightened base colors and finely ground earth tone chalks. Sorry in advance about the crummy photo quality

Reader reactions:
3  Awesome

6 additional images. Click to enlarge.


8 responses

  1. I used the same method on the Mavis. Good job !

  2. Excellent job on the finish, the flaked off paint is very realistic.

  3. "...the extensive peeling and chipping seen on many Japanese AC..." - I've always wondered why that was so prevalent...gotta be either no primer or poor primer - surprising given the fact the Japanese were /are so brilliantly technological. A very nice job on the Raiden, by the way.

    • This was evident on many WWII aircraft, and no fault of anyone. The paints available during that period just didn't adhere very well to aluminum. Any flexing of the metal caused the paint to flake away.

  4. Erich,
    As usual you did a magnificent job on this model.

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    said on July 29, 2013

    Brilliant Erich! The paint deterioration displayed here is right on the money. I like how its travelled onto the markings too. Amazingly clear canopy too. Very nice 🙂

  6. Not sure about the "crummy" photography, Erich, the picture from the RH side of the cockpit is terrific, as the finish on the model.

  7. Excellent work on the paint job.

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