J2M3 Raiden Tamiya 1/48

August 23, 2020 · in Aviation · · 6 · 2.1K


I finished this kit recently, it has been a really fun project. The Tamiya kit doesn't have too many details, the wings had recessed panel lines and the fuselage halves had raised details, so I had to re-scribe them. The canopy was a single piece, so I divided it into sections, but the main part was damaged, so I did one from a clear plastic pack where the cheese comes from, heating it up enough to deform and giving the shape I needed.

The cockpit's pretty flat, in order to improve it, I had to scratch build many details as the instrument panel, some levers inside the cockpit, details on the cockpit floor, walls and the radio behind the pilot seat.

I also riveted the whole model to give another level of detail, the Hinomaru's were masked and painted on the wings and the sides of the fuselage, the kit itself fits pretty decently for being a mold from 1973.

Overall, an easy, cheap and fun kit with lots of room for improvements 😉

Reader reactions:
8  Awesome

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6 responses

  1. Hi Rene!
    You did a wonderful job on this classic kit, improving it at the sections where it fell behind. Your improvements were great.
    I loved your painting and weathering too!

  2. A great build, René.
    You did a wonderful job on detailing and weathering.

  3. Really nice work, beautiful paint work! Really Nice Work!

  4. Well done Rene' especially since you took the time and effort to open that canopy. I like it.

  5. Looks great! Love the detail and paint/weathering work. Really lovely.

  6. Rene,
    Great build. I like the restrained paint chipping, particularly across the wing Hinomaru.
    I have two of the Hasegawa kits that I'm keen to build - but I have a few kits in progress that I have to finish first.
    Liked very much.

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