1/48 Wingsy Ki51 Sonia
Finished... good. Not my fav build but glad it's done. Looks pretty good to me. Wingsy 1/48 IJA Type 99 Ki-51 Code named Sonia by the Allies. 27th Hikosentai, Burma 1942. . It's very possible it was my fault, but I had alot of trouble with this kit in the cockpit area. Decals tore very easily as well.
In the end it came out ok though. Thanks for looking.
11 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Tom Cleaver said on April 7, 2020
It wasn't your fault - the kit has become notorious for having a cockpit interior that is "too big" for the fuselage unless you know to thin the fuselage sides down to where you can see light through them. This is why I ended up telling them that as much as I liked their Claude, I wasn't going to do a review of this kit, and they should be happy for my choice. I'm sorry, life's not long enough any more to waste my time on kits that, no matter how much effort you put into them, are going to come out bad because the guy who designed it messed it up in the computer before it ever went to plastic. I have no problem with fixable kits, but kits where you fix everything and it's still messed up? Naaaahhhh. Not me. Not any more.
All that said, you did a great bit of work with this - a triumph of persistence and stubbornness over plastic.
Paul van Acker said on April 7, 2020
That's actually good to know for me personally as a builder. I couldn't work out where I went wrong. Nice to know I didn't. But a pretty serious mistake.
Thanks so much mate. Hope you are going well through all this.
Bill Koppos said on April 7, 2020
Greeeeaaaattt…..another friggin' DOG in my stash. Still can't get over the AZ Lily.
Paul van Acker said on April 8, 2020
I did the Lily a few yeaes ago. It was far more enjoyable than this. Its on my blog here if you'd like to see. 👍
dale travis said on April 7, 2020
Thanks for this info. I was going to buy this, not now!
Spiros Pendedekas said on April 7, 2020
Notorius job at this model, Paul! Great pic coverage, especially regarding the camo.
All the best!
Paul van Acker said on April 7, 2020
Thanks very much. 😊
Tom Bebout said on April 7, 2020
That is one heck of a paint job Paul. I believe you've conquered the beast.
Philip A. Stelzer said on April 7, 2020
Nice one Paul! That's the first one of those Wingsy Ki-51's I have seen built up. Thanks for the in-progress shots...It looked like a big pickle! Striking good finish when done though!
Haslam Yeoman said on April 7, 2020
Really like that colour scheme. Sorry to hear it was such a trial to get that far. Sounds like the old Nichimo kit might be a better option.
Tom Cleaver said on April 7, 2020
Scratchbuilding a cockpit in the Nichimo kit is far easier than figuring out the interior of this kit, from the commentary I have seen around the 'net.
Greg Kittinger said on April 7, 2020
Very interesting scheme - I'd not seen that one! Well done.
dale travis said on April 7, 2020
Nice work and a really cool paint scheme Paul!
Robert Royes said on April 7, 2020
Nicely done!