Hasegawa’s Kawanishi N1K2 Shiden-Kai in 1/48.
Before we get to George…A big thank you to iModeller for my Random Draw prize kit. I chose an Eduard Spitfire (you can never have too many Spitfires!) which arrived the other day.
Today’s offering has a very long-winded name, so you may call it ‘George’. I built this model a few short years ago & noticed at the time that although Hasegawa’s kits invariably have excellent moulding detail, their kits of Japanese types are just that little bit better, which is quite understandable. This one was an absolute pleasure to build & I took extra trouble with the weathering by painting a silver undercoat & then making real chips in prototypical fashion with the edge of a modelling blade. I was quite pleased with the result & resolved to try it again when I get around to their Zero. I hope you like it.
Cheers,
Tony.
7 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Jack Mugan said on April 3, 2014
Looks great Tony, very hard to get the chipping to look right like that.
Simon Whitney said on April 3, 2014
Nice one Tony, I like the look of it.
The paint chipping looks just right, I may try this idea out on my Group Build P47.
Well done sir.
AL HOFFMAN said on April 3, 2014
Looks very realistic. Looks more like paint losing adhesion than airflow erosion. I believe you got the look right.
Well done.
Rob Pollock said on April 3, 2014
Looks great. The silver-under-camo is also my preferred method of wear, either lacquer under enamel or acrylic, or enamel under acrylic.
Josh Patterson said on April 3, 2014
Love the paint chipping effect! Much more realistic than putting silver over the paint! It looks just like pictures I’ve seen of them in service! Was the camouflage on these hastily applied in the field on top of bare aluminum or silver top coat? It seems like the paint never lasted too long. (On our stuff too at times!)
Mike Maynard said on April 3, 2014
nice clean build. Superior job on the paint wear, just looks very prototypical!
Chuck A. Villanueva said on April 3, 2014
Tony, that technique is pretty much spot on. Pretty much how the paint came off on the Japanese airframes in the PTO. Something I tried to simulate as well. I have seen some photos where the paint came off in sheets not chipped. So I am thinking they painted right over the natural metal without prepping and primer. Your George is something we don’t get to see much so thanks for sharing a well done model.
Chuck
Fly Navy
George Williams said on April 4, 2014
And I thought chips were a British invention! This looks terrific, Tony, a very realistic technique.
Erich Goldbach said on April 4, 2014
Tony-stellar build quality on your George and I really like the paint scheme as the chipping looks just right.
bob mack said on April 4, 2014
looks really great tony
Rick Wilkes said on April 4, 2014
Tony, at first glance I thought you’d mastered “salt” or “hair spray” chipping, but to read you did that one pick at a time with a blade is amazing. One of the best representations of a late war Japanese aircraft that I have ever seen. Well done, sir.
Frank Cronin said on April 7, 2014
Tony,
I wholeheartly agree. Masterful work wi excellent results. I like it.