Last of the "practice" builds. I decided that for each build I would try something new to challenge myself and make up for lost time (the last 15 years). For this build I would continue to improve my chipping and masking skills. I wasn't too impressed with my attempts to preshade, especially with my A6M3, so I decided to try preshading.

Like with all builds, it all starts in the cockpit. I didn't like the kit radio so I scratchbuilt a new one copying one I saw online. Now this wasn't a real radio I copied, it was from an Eduard aftermarket set, so I don't know if it's that accurate, but it definitely is more interesting than the kit part. I had a bit of an incident with the IP decal, which tore, so I ordered and Eduard PE set to replace it.

Belts were added and the interior was painted AK RC306

5 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Next I painted the IFF bands and AK Xtreme Metal Aluminum and then Mr Surfacer 1500 black. Take heed and don't do this. The aluminum should have been painted overtop of the primer and it was nearly impossible to chip the paint afterwards (hairspray chipping), in addition to waiting too long to chip the paint.

I blackbased freehand with a sky blue but stuck to the panels/panel lines, which gave me the pre-shading effect I was trying to avoid. No matter, it was great practice with the new-to-me air brush (bye bye Badger 150, hello Iwata HP-C plus) with respect to airbrush control and properly thinning paints.

8 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Finally come the hinomaru. I ditched the Tamiya tape and bought a 6' roll of Oramask 813 for $6. It isn't too sticky and the film is malleable enough conform to curves and it is transparent so tracing a pattern is very easy. I sprayed a highly thinned (about 80/20) coat of off white at low psi, shooting perpendicular to the mask, and then sprayed a custom mixture for the red.

Gear bays were painted aluminum and final odds and ends were painted and glued on. Weathering was done with Tamiya panel liners and my first attempt at oils. I definitely needed to refine my oil work but it was a start.

16 attached images. Click to enlarge.

Yes, they really do look better than the old kit decals, that's for sure. I purchased Mr Color 327 and then C385 for the red marking colour in lieu of the paint mix that I used in this build. I would like to paint all my markings, but sometimes the tactical numbers are just too small to cut out by hand and so I just use the kit decals. Although a Silhouette would be nice to get...