Fine Molds 1/48 Claude
Just finished this one as a pretty quick build. Great kit - I really enjoy building FM stuff. Just wish they would make more kits 🙂
I build the FM Ki-10 "Perry" some time back, and this kit was just as enjoyable of a build. Nice to have some quality pre-/early-War Japanese models. This is definitely equal to any Hasegawa kit I have built. Fits together nicely, with just some very small amounts of putty needed in a few spots on the fuselage. Great surface engraved details. Very detailed engine and cockpit (I just added some Eduard belts). Nice to have the choice of open or closed flaps. A drop tank is included, but I chose to leave it off.
Used Vallejo metal paints for the first time on this. They are acrylic, have virtually no odor, and dry quickly. They took to masking quite well - I painted the red tail and blue band on top of the metal with no problems at all. I used 'aluminum' for the main airframe, with a different shade for the ailerons and propeller. The 'metalness' isn't quite as good as Alclad in my opinion, but since Claudes had a varnish over them I think it looks quite ok. I will be trying more colors in Vallejo's metallic range.
About the only nitpick I have on the kit is the lack of clear covers for the wingtip lights. This could easily be fixed with some clear styrene and a bit of cutting, sanding and polishing, but I just painted some clear Tamiya paints on them (with the aluminum undercoat) and then coated with Future. I did drill out the pitot tube and (unseen) gun barrels, and add some EZ Line for an antenna wire, but that's it. FM molded the wheels with a slot that allows you to slide them into the wheelpants after building (and painting). Most kits that have wheelpants have you trap the wheel inbetween the two halves of the pants when you assemble them. That makes painting more difficult. I usually avoid trapping the wheels and cut a slot in the wheels so I can insert them after painting. FM took care of that for me. Only downside to this method (for some) is the wheels are stationary. I don't tend to roll my aircraft around much on their wheels, so it works just fine for me 🙂
Decals are from Lifelike - they have 3 new sheets that work with either the FM or the Wingsy Claude kits.
After this it is back to another small diorama project.
Beautiful Claude, Paul. I love the silver. I have some Vallejo paints to try myself. I hope mine come out as nicely as yours.
thanks Jeff - I did undercoat with Tamiya gloss black (just do that automatically after using Alclad II for many years). Not sure it needed that, but the adhesion of the Vallejo was excellent. I should experiment with/without and undercoat to see if that made any difference.
Like Jeff stated, that paint job turned out super - looks fantastic, sir! 🙂
Very nice build! We just established the theme for our show next year - Japan: Rise & Rebirth - and I was thinking of doing a Claude, a Nell, and one other (maybe a Tony) for it. This is nice inspiration.
Outstanding build and I too wish Fine Molds would make more kits! Especially 48th other than Japanese subjects! Their kits are as good as the VERY best!
Luv your touch on this kit!
Bo
apparently they are coming out with a 1/48 Ki-15/C5M Babs soon!
Babs really doesn't raise my boat ... much. May get one just to support 48th scale kits.
Bo
This is a popular subject. We seem to see as many Claudes as Zeros, and you can see why. A beauty!
Nice job Paul. I’ve been toying with the idea of adding a Claude to the stash and I think you just convinced me. 🙂
Great looking build!
One beautiful Claude!
Nicely done Paul, I've never done an FM kit but apparently they're very good. As this one sure turned out well.
This is a great subject matter this is often ignored therefore great choice. I love the Claudes and pre-war machines from any country. You did a flawless job on this build and the Vallejo metallic is perfect. It is now my metal paint of choice. IMHO few war machines are perfectly buffed in bare aluminium like show machines so even if I used ALCAD I would probably tone it down to look more like a production line aircraft. I use all the Vallejo Metalic tones, they all have worked great for me, and like you mention, very sturdy. Thank you for info on FM models; I have never built one but want to.