Now to build the cockpit.

I have built an A6m2 Zeke before back in the mid 90's. It was the Tam kit. A good kit for the time, and long before any of the Hase kits came along. But now with much better and updated information we have today, which most didnt have 20 years ago. Even now there is still debate, Japanese aircraft still can be a mystery at times. Not so uniform like the Luftwaffe, The RAF and the US were more in keeping to same colors, (ok the Navy can get a little bit wild at times) interior wise. Japan, with Nakajima, Mitsubishi, Kawasaki and other aircraft producers using their own interior colors at times, field mods etc, can leave most wanting. The first Zero I believe I used Aotake (a metallic blue or blue coating over aluminum with a hint of green depending how heavy it was applied) for the interior. Anyway I used Tamiya cockpit interior green for this build. The Eduards PE color used is close. First building the seat attach the lap belts and installed the seat to the floor of the cockpit.

Next to work on the side panels. A little wash and install the PE bits.

Next to remove the PE side consoles and install them to LS cockpit side panel. Bend to shape.

Then to work on the rear bulkhead and install the lever.

Then place the assy in its spot on the cockpit floor and align. Also at this time I attached the RH side panel to help keep it aligned,

I also assembled the instrument panel and added the PE enhancement bits to really make it stand out. Again don't have that steady hand to pick out the details anymore. Though I do enjoy doing that.

Also about to add the gun stocks that protrude over each corner of the IP. Painted these black and dry brushed with steel.

Next to add the pedals and control stick and attach them to cockpit floor.

Before attaching the LH side panel, test fit the whole assy to the RH side fuselage, looks good.

Finally attach the IP assy and install the LH side panel. And this completes the interior.

Next to assemble the fuselage, and get to the wings.

More to follow.

Quick update on the Zero.

With the Zero portion well along time to get the Tomcat started. And as I normally do with swing wing aircraft, I start with the wings.

I have several Hasegawa kits in the stash. I have built a Monogram/Revell F-14D and an Academy F-14A in this scale. This will be my first attempt on the Hasegawa kit. I do not have any Hobby Boss F-14's and most likely won't get any but I did get a Tamiya F-14D recently and it's beautiful. Knowing what I will be looking forward too in reading the build reviews over the years of this kit. The heartaches of installing resin upgrades. This kit is fine as it is. Lots of parts in this kit. It is labor intensive as was the Monogram and the similar Academy(as it is basically a copy of the Monogram kit with engraved panel lines, though they did mess up on the nose profile a bit). You can buy one each of the Academy and Revell kit to one Hasegawa. And to this day still pricey. Though much better deals on these since the release of the Tamiya twins and the upcoming release of the AMK F-14D and probably a follow on after their initial release.

The wings can be built either fully deployed with flaps and slats hanging. Or fully swept back all closed up. As this is quite a large fighter and takes more space than a B-25 type medium bomber, I will configure this kit fully swept. The wing panels are 2 pieces upper and lower halves.

Being a newer re-pop of the F-14A, the molds are beginning to show their age. As there is quite a bit of flash on the parts. Very un-Hasegawa.

So after a bit of clean up. The wings are true in shape, no warpage. each wing are assembled.

The flaps are removed and again some flash needs to be trimmed away. The flaps are of 2 pieces, the main flap and then an insert over the flap actuators

To display the flaps in the fully close position. You first need to remove a part of the hinge on each actuator which allows to deploy in the down position. By cutting these off, it allows the flap to fully close into the wing in it's proper setting.

Once you cut these off you can then place the flap in position and then install the flap inserts into place.

Now the work on the flaps are completed. Now to start on the slats.

A review on the process of installing the flaps.

The slat actuators need to be cut off to display the slats in the fully closed position.

The slat itself has a bit of flash to trim away, otherwise for long narrow piece that can be subject to be warped was not and fits perfectly into the wing.

Both wings are assembled and Tamiya Gloss White has been applied to the under surfaces of the wings.

More to follow.

1 additional image. Click to enlarge.

Such an awesome build (and thread) Chuck. I've been out-of-pocket with all my grow'd up obligations and thought to check in and catch up with the group build, while I had a small window of time to do so. Holy schnikey! Progress has definitely been made. At first, I thought I'd get through ten or so of these threads, but this one gobbled up my evening—happily so btw—so just three threads will have to do. Well, back to being grow'd up. 😀

Don’t grow up, Chaz...it’s a trap!

Thanks Louis, the Zeke is progressing rather rapidly, and looking forward to finally painting it with the latest information compare to the ones built almost 20 years ago. Based not only on your new info but on the latest information from reliable Japanese aircraft websites that are quite amazing.

Really coming along. Isn't it fun going back and forth between the kits? This is a 2fer WIP in one.

On my iModeler at the Movies project, I find that I'm keeping my Mojo by jumping from one subject to another and back again, as I'm waiting for something to dry, get at the LHS or arrive in the mail. As I'm working on one kit, I'm thinking about how to do something on another.