1/48 Arii (Otaki) Ki-43 Hayabusa (Finished!!)
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mate....that's looking pretty damn good...!
SANCER
Senior Master Sergeant
Wow !!, first of all, thanks for sharing the fine detail of the process and the clear and precise way to explain it.
From the experience with the colors and paintings of the scheme, the tires, the gear legs and the gear covers.
This is something very entertaining and enriching, Chad, ... and what is still missing makes you look forward to it soon.
Saludos amigo
From the experience with the colors and paintings of the scheme, the tires, the gear legs and the gear covers.
This is something very entertaining and enriching, Chad, ... and what is still missing makes you look forward to it soon.
Saludos amigo
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Nice work all round.
Looks good so far!
- Thread starter
- #106
- Thread starter
- #107
Finally another update! Time at the bench has been scarce lately making for a lengthy time between updates.
Been fiddling with it here and there and I figured I finally had enough to report on my progress. Without further ado...
I modified the landing gear legs by shortening them about 1mm. I used the gear covers as a gauge as to how much to shorten them.
I modified the kit prop and spinner by scribing a panel line forward of the blades. I drilled out the center and added a hucks starter hub from plastic rod that I drilled out to match my references. I added styrene and putty behind the blades to enclose the propeller blades and give the proper impression of a hub back plate. There are three holes, one between each blade that was for being able to spray deicing fluid on the prop pitch control parts. This detail was absent also so I marked and drilled them out.
The landing gear covers were glued to the legs and the pair received a coat of gloss black enamel followed by alclad airframe aluminum. After drying they received a generous coat of future finish applied by brush. The oleo boots were painted raw umber. I added brake lines from .010 beading wire and lead wire. The connectors I made from plastic cotton swab sticks stretched over a flame to the desired diameter then cut to size. This is exactly the same technique used to stretch sprue. I have no hypodermic needles or microscopic brass tubing so this comes in very handy.
I made the Type 100 reflective sight from pieces of styrene, copper wire and soda can aluminum. I counted 23 separate pieces total to make it!
This part was definitely a test of patience but I think it was worth it. The most tedious part? Making the cross hairs for the ring and bead backup sight out of copper wire! I used future to glue them together as anything else would have filled in the ring.
That's it for now. Things are wrapping up, I am already in the beginning stages of weathering. See you guys next time, hopefully sooner than later, and thanks for looking in.
Been fiddling with it here and there and I figured I finally had enough to report on my progress. Without further ado...
I modified the landing gear legs by shortening them about 1mm. I used the gear covers as a gauge as to how much to shorten them.
I modified the kit prop and spinner by scribing a panel line forward of the blades. I drilled out the center and added a hucks starter hub from plastic rod that I drilled out to match my references. I added styrene and putty behind the blades to enclose the propeller blades and give the proper impression of a hub back plate. There are three holes, one between each blade that was for being able to spray deicing fluid on the prop pitch control parts. This detail was absent also so I marked and drilled them out.
The landing gear covers were glued to the legs and the pair received a coat of gloss black enamel followed by alclad airframe aluminum. After drying they received a generous coat of future finish applied by brush. The oleo boots were painted raw umber. I added brake lines from .010 beading wire and lead wire. The connectors I made from plastic cotton swab sticks stretched over a flame to the desired diameter then cut to size. This is exactly the same technique used to stretch sprue. I have no hypodermic needles or microscopic brass tubing so this comes in very handy.
I made the Type 100 reflective sight from pieces of styrene, copper wire and soda can aluminum. I counted 23 separate pieces total to make it!
This part was definitely a test of patience but I think it was worth it. The most tedious part? Making the cross hairs for the ring and bead backup sight out of copper wire! I used future to glue them together as anything else would have filled in the ring.
That's it for now. Things are wrapping up, I am already in the beginning stages of weathering. See you guys next time, hopefully sooner than later, and thanks for looking in.
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SANCER
Senior Master Sergeant
Nice job in that R. Sight.
Crimea_River
Marshal
You, sir, are amazing.
Looking good so far!
- Thread starter
- #112
Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Excellent !
fubar57
General
Great job on the gun sight. Thanks for the tip about the Q-tips. I've had success with the empty ink tubes in Bic pens as well
- Thread starter
- #115
Thanks Geo! Thanks for the tip on the ink pen tubes as well. 
Small update today guys.
I made the headrest cushion as well as the fuel warning buzzer on the side of the headrest from milliput. The electrical cable for the buzzer is lead wire.
I made the pitot out of tube from a stretched cotton swab tube and a piece of wire. I wrapped Tamiya tape around the back to get a snug fit into the wing. I used calipers to measure the pitot in my Hasegawa kit to determine the correct size.
Here it is test fit into place. It still needs to be painted of course. Hopefully it will be snug enough yet still removable to minimize breaking during transport, plus easily replaceable if damage does occur.
That's it for now. Slowly but surely I'm getting closer to the finish line. I have to respray some of the alclad on the wings and belly where I got too agrees removing the oil wash I applied. More updates to come as things get done.
Chad
Small update today guys.
I made the headrest cushion as well as the fuel warning buzzer on the side of the headrest from milliput. The electrical cable for the buzzer is lead wire.
I made the pitot out of tube from a stretched cotton swab tube and a piece of wire. I wrapped Tamiya tape around the back to get a snug fit into the wing. I used calipers to measure the pitot in my Hasegawa kit to determine the correct size.
Here it is test fit into place. It still needs to be painted of course. Hopefully it will be snug enough yet still removable to minimize breaking during transport, plus easily replaceable if damage does occur.
That's it for now. Slowly but surely I'm getting closer to the finish line. I have to respray some of the alclad on the wings and belly where I got too agrees removing the oil wash I applied. More updates to come as things get done.
Chad
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Looking good so far!
Crimea_River
Marshal
Beauty.
JKim
Senior Master Sergeant
Wow... inspiring work on a vintage kit, Chad! Proficiency at (or even just being comfortable with) scratch building is a skill that few possess and it looks like you are one of the few. I remember those Arii/Otake kits back in the day. I want to say that I built one... a Ki-100, I think. Great stuff!
- Thread starter
- #120
Thanks much John! I am humbled by your kind words because I often find myself looking over your builds for inspiration. Scratchbuilding is a blessing and a curse. I often find myself adding things to my models because I say to myself "Hey I can make 'X' part", but this inevitably drags out my builds to ridiculously long build times.
