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Combo A6M Zero build ( Spiros' build of Saburo Sakai and John's build of HIYO fighter group)

Started by John vd Biggelaar · 211 ≡ · ↻ 2 years ago

Viewing 46 - 60 of 211 posts

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Spiros Pendedekas said 3 years ago:

Those masks look wonderful, my friend @johnb!
Looking forward to your painting!
capt. R said 3 years ago:

I'm worried about painting with glued canopy. If it didn't fit perfect, some paint can get in to cockpit. And it will be a nightmare.
John vd Biggelaar said 3 years ago:

@fiveten, thanks, first some grinding to do before priming.
@lis, the canopy is not glued yet. It was a dry fit and seems like all three parts fit nicely.
Pedro L. Rocha said 3 years ago:

@johnb
Those historical photos are new to me John. I said earlier that your livery option was a great one, now after seeing some actual photos of similar machines I’m truly convinced that it will be an awesome choice. You might tempt me doing mine using one in those photos as a reference when the time comes
Eric Berg said 3 years ago:

Really enjoying your combo build John @johnb with @fiveten now that I'm caught up reading it. I like the interaction going here between everyone who's commenting. Glad you posted those actual photos.
Louis Gardner said 3 years ago:

Hello again gents. This combo build is turning into a great build journal. I especially like the original pictures that Woody posted showing the various camouflaged A6M's. I have an A6M "kindergarten style" assembly line set up, but at the moment it has been placed on a temporary stop until I finish up my Korean War F-84 jet. Once it is done, then I will complete one of the A6M's possibly more.

I have built my fuselages up exactly how Spiros has done, allowing the completed cockpit to be slipped in from underneath. This method works very well. When assembling the fuselage, I also install the upper forward decking where the fuselage mounted weapons are installed just ahead of the pilot. This allows you to get a perfect fit, so that no filler is necessary.

When it was time to install the wings, I went a different route. I glued the upper wing halves in place first. This made it easier (for me) to get a perfect fit along the wing root area, and no fillers were needed. Here's a picture showing how it turned out.

Once I install the cockpit, I will then add the lower wing.

You guys are knocking it out of the park ! Please keep it going... I will definitely be watching for updates.
Spiros Pendedekas said 3 years ago:

Sanded smooth

Thanks for stopping by!
Spiros Pendedekas said 3 years ago:

Indeed, John's camo choice is awesome, I would also love one built by you, my friend @holzhamer!
Spiros Pendedekas said 3 years ago:

Thanks my friend @eb801, it is utterly enjoyable to build together with our friend @johnb!
Spiros Pendedekas said 3 years ago:

Thanks my friend @lgardner! Yes, your wings attachment method is a very ingenious one, will keep it in mind for future projects. Looking forward to see your F-84 finished, also your Zeros progressing!
John vd Biggelaar said 3 years ago:

@holzhamer, those pictures provided by Woody @wkubacki are indeed great and will be very helpfull.

@eb801, thanks Eric, well appreciated feedback and discussions are always helpful. The progress on Spiros' (@fiveten) his Zero really helps me a lot to build mine. I'm learning a lot.

@lgardner, the way the cockpit was installed by Spiros (@fiveten), is better controllable and I've chosen to do it the similar way. It works very well. The way you installed the upper wings is a good way to overcome the gaps, noted this approach in my notebook, thanks.

@fiveten, very smooth and ready to take some primer.
Woody Kubacki said 3 years ago:

@johnb @fiveten Excellent work guys, looks I will have to catch up. I opened up my A6M2 box yesterday (from the 3 plane Pearl Harbor boxing), and boy it is a dog! I will start a new build thread, but it looks like the the moulds weren't properly lined up. The tail was shifted ever so slightly, the cowl and misaligned moulds, the oil cooler piece fits marginally well, and the upper wings are too high. I spent a couple of hours last night dry fitting the fuselage, wings, upper decking, and oil cooler trying to figure out a game plan. In the end, I think @lgardner method of gluing the upper wings on first will work best.

So much for a quick build!
George R Blair Jr said 3 years ago:

Both builds look awesome, Spiros (@fiveten) and John (@johnb). Coming along nicely.
Spiros Pendedekas said 3 years ago:

Thanks my friends @wkubacki and @gblair!
Indeed, building with a friend is so exciting!
John vd Biggelaar said 3 years ago:

@wkubacki, @gblair, thanks a lot.

Reading back the thread in which Spiros @fiveten started his Zero, I noticed the remark of Woody @wkubacki that the color underneath the canopy should not be the interior color, but blue-black. Following Woody's advise, the results is as follows. Do you guys think it is sufficient blueish?

Viewing 46 - 60 of 211 posts

The Empire of Japan 1919-1946

Combo A6M Zero build ( Spiros' build of Saburo Sakai and John's build of HIYO fighter group)

Sanded smooth