Scratch Your Model: Hasegawa 1/32 Ki-84 Hayate

Hasegawa's big Hayate is a good candidate for model detailing. It is an excellent kit with finely recessed and raised surface details. The fit of parts is very good, and the parts count is relatively low. It is only the engine cowling parts that need a special attention because the panels are not entirely flush when joined. One way of mitigating the problem is to present the cooling cowls in the open position.

There are two ways of scratching your model. The first is the well-known detailing of part modification or making your own parts or entire model. With the Hayate, I added ignition wires, brake cables, hollowed the exhaust stack, gun barrels and stretched radio wires.

The second way of scratching is literally scratch off paint to demonstrate weathering. In this case, temporary dark green was applied over bare metal and weathered rapidly by contrast to painted markings that were known to last in the WWII Japanese aircraft. I used a fine silver enamel to create the base metal layer. The dry paint was buffed with a paper towel to create a very smooth layer. The temporary dark green mottle was a highly diluted enamel paint. Next, I removed the excess paint with a brush that has hard bristles. If the silver base layer is solid and smooth only the green paint will succumb to the brush. The advantage of this method is that the erosion of the green paint is gradual and fine, creating a more realistic effect than the traditional upper acrylic paint removal. There is more control in the paint removal process, not to mention that (rare) mistakes can be rectified by applying a new paint layer.

13 additional images. Click to enlarge.