Japanese Ram-jets
Meng 1/72 Kayaba Katsuodori Ram-jets
It seems to be '1/72 Japanese week' on iM, so here's another contribution. These Meng kits come two-in-a-box, and are superbly moulded. The actual aircraft was a concept only and never got beyond one wooden glider prototype, so the decals provided for in-service aircraft are completely spurious.
With 2 kits, I decided to build one out of box, and add a bit of extra detail to the other. No provision is made in the kits for the actual ram-jet turbine - there's an intake at the front, but it goes nowhere except into the cockpit (must have been a bit draughty in there). I made no attempt to add any intake trunking, though. Instead some detail was added to the cockpit, including a plunge-moulded seat and some PE harnesses.
There are very few parts in the kits so I was quickly on to paint stage. Pre-shading has its fans and detractors, and I guess I'm ambivalent, using it sometimes and not others. The orange aircraft was primed with pink and the pre-shading applied with brown, as I felt black would look too dirty under an orange coat.
Painting the 'giraffe' camo on the second fighter with a fine brush was surprisingly enjoyable, especially since no-one could call me out for inaccuracies ๐ I used Vallejo acrylic for the green splotches, my favourite brand of acrylic for brush-painting.
Meng's kits are tiny when finished. Undercarriages are supplied, as are optional handling-carts.
These were great little kits. Perfect fit, nice recessed panel line detail, clear canopies and only a few parts. Being strictly what-ifs, the scope for painting and weathering is unlimited.
Rob Pollock said on July 29, 2015
Wow, what a treat. These look like they have great detailing, but of course can see the benefits of your additional work. Very nice, Mike.
Mike Grant said on July 29, 2015
Thanks Rob!
Craig Abrahamson said on July 29, 2015
They most assuredly turned out very nicely, Mike...more so given the size. And your hand-painting of the camo is excellent. Superb photography as well. A bang-up job all around, sir. Very nice indeed.
p.s. I think you may need to edit your article. It appears you seem to have saved a pic from a recent post and inadvertently added it to yours. ๐
Mike Grant said on July 29, 2015
Thanks Craig, appreciate the comment. Not sure what you're seeing with the article though, it looks OK from my end.
Rob Pollock said on July 29, 2015
Are you looking at the image of the drill with the underside of the wing? Agreed on second look it doesn't match the narrative re hand painting green camo.
Mike Grant said on July 29, 2015
Must be some kind of glitch in the Matrix. I'm seeing the image I uploaded - my hand, painting the camo. Perhaps Martin can help?
Craig Abrahamson said on July 29, 2015
I'm referring to the single image from one of your earlier posts - this one: http://imodeler.com/2015/07/french-double-decker/
Editor said on July 30, 2015
Unfortunately the system mixed up two files with the same filename. It's a bug - Hopefully I was able to resolve this one manually, and it should be fixed in the software (hopefully) before your next post :).
Mike Grant said on July 30, 2015
Thanks Martin, no worries. It's odd that I wasn't able to see the issue from my end, it all looked correct. I'll try and name my files with more original names than 'A', 'B' and 'C' next time...
Craig Abrahamson said on July 29, 2015
And I don't see any "drill" that Rob mentioned, either.
Rob Pollock said on July 29, 2015
Ghost in the machine...
Rob Pollock said on July 29, 2015
Weirdly, just had another look two hours later and now see Mike's tidy hand with a paintbrush where the 'drill' image was listed earlier.
Craig Abrahamson said on July 29, 2015
And now I see a WIP pic w/hobby knife where that "other" model was. I think Mike's havin' fun with us. ๐
Dmitry Stropalov said on July 29, 2015
Nice models!
Mike Grant said on July 29, 2015
Thanks Dmitry ๐
Mike Maynard said on July 29, 2015
Nice camo on the green version, you must have steady hands!
Mike Grant said on July 29, 2015
Thank you Mike!
Greg Kittinger said on July 29, 2015
Very nice Mike! I like the orange color you got with the Tamiya paint. I've tried to brush Tamiya years ago and decided never again - does it only work with airbrush? (I know you didn't hand paint the orange - was just asking for my benefit).
Tom Cleaver said on July 29, 2015
Tamiya can be brushed if thined properly, but it works much better through an airbrush.
Mike Grant said on July 29, 2015
Thanks Greg, I was just thinking how much I like the orange on your Grace; I've no idea which is more accurate ๐ As Tom says Tamiya can be brushed but it's difficult to get a smooth brush-painted finish and needs several coats. However Tamiya do offer a retarder to slow the drying time, and I have seen some amazing work by Japanese modellers who have brush-painted Tamiya acrylics.
Simon Whitney said on July 29, 2015
AHH so Mike, a fine pair sir fnar fnar.
Serious good work mate.
The Giraffe camo looks great.
Well done mate.
Mike Grant said on July 29, 2015
Cheers Simon!
Tom Cleaver said on July 29, 2015
More Mike Grant masterpieces! (Is there any other kind?)
Mike Grant said on July 29, 2015
Thanks Tom, you're too kind ๐
Morne Meyer said on July 29, 2015
Well done Mike. The duo sure looks great and a true testament to your high standards of model building. I wish we could have more of these Jap '46 designs!
Mike Grant said on July 29, 2015
Thanks a lot Morne! Meng do another 1/72 Japan'46 subject, the Ki-98:-
http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/kits/meng/kit_meng_ds002.shtml
Milan Vukovic said on July 29, 2015
Both are fantastic, I really appreciate you posted some images in progress. I never would think of pink color as base for orange, good idea. I also like giraffe cammo.
Well done.
Mike Grant said on July 29, 2015
Thank you Milan. I've found pink works well as a primer-colour for yellow, too, warms it up nicely.
Phil Steele said on July 29, 2015
Very KOOL !
Mike Grant said on July 29, 2015
Cheers Phil!
Marc Barris said on July 29, 2015
Wow, Lovely.
Mike Grant said on July 29, 2015
Thanks Marc ๐
George Williams said on July 29, 2015
Clever marketing trick by Meng to get you to buy two models! Very informative build article, thanks, Mike.
Mike Grant said on July 29, 2015
Thanks George! The kits were reasonably priced so I didn't mind buying two at once...
Arawasi said on July 29, 2015
Both look amazing Mike but I particularly like the orange one. The result with the pre-shading is excellent.
Mike Grant said on July 29, 2015
Thanks Arawasi!
neil foster said on July 30, 2015
Amazing work as usual - thanks ,N.
Mike Grant said on July 30, 2015
Cheers Neil. What are you working on at the moment?
Bernd Mรผller said on July 30, 2015
Rather strange looking but very well build and painted kits. Amazing work, Congrats ๐
Mike Grant said on July 30, 2015
Thanks a lot Bernd ๐
David Mills said on July 30, 2015
Super work and great subjects!
Mike Grant said on July 30, 2015
Thanks for the comment, David!
Editor said on July 30, 2015
Mike, you make me want to get back to 1/72 scale... you talent in making such a small models come alive is amazing.
Mike Grant said on July 30, 2015
Thanks Martin. Come back to the One True Scale... you know you want to...
P.k said on July 30, 2015
Nice "What-if" japan jet .
P.k
Mike Grant said on July 30, 2015
Thank you P.k.
Bryan W. Bernart said on July 30, 2015
Terrific little builds. Really like them both.
Mike Grant said on July 30, 2015
Cheers Bryan!
Roberto Silva Cuevas said on August 2, 2015
Blown away...GREAT JOB!
Mike Grant said on August 2, 2015
Thanks Roberto!
Scottie Haab said on August 31, 2015
Its engine is copied from HeS001 Type A ram-jet engine of Germany. The armament is a pair of 30 mm cannon on the both sides of nose.