A deviation from my rule: Tamiya A6M2 in 1:32

[al49]

Very neat work, what's your secret to getting such a defined and clean line!

Hi Vic,
for strips I use a normal Tamiya masking tape while for shapes, like the Hinomaru, I found a very nice product, called Ultra Mask, very similar to the one used by people like Montex, see here:
Masking Film | Artool Airbrush Templates
It's expensive but very good, at least in my opinion.
Cheers
Alberto

 

[Vic Balshaw]

Thanks Alberto, it would seem that the Ultra Mask product particularly the Hobby Mask is similar if not the same as Parafilm. Something which I have to pluck up the courage to try one day.

 

[Crimea_River]

Looks great Alberto.

 

[al49]

Hi everybody!

I finally gave a couple of coats of Future and added all decals suggested by instruction:

Now is time to think on how to add some weathering, not only in term of post-shading on panel lines etc, but also I would like to lighten a little bit the Ameiro color. I hope I will find the most appropriate solution.
Cheers
Alberto

 

[Shinpachi]

Your work looks more detailed than I expected.
Awesome!

For your knowledge, the word 'Ameiro' was a creation by Shigeru Nohara around 1980.
He predicted there could have been Ameiro(amber candy color) as a factory color but it was proved wrong later when the formal navy color specification sheet was found.

Attached photo: Ame(candy)

 

[Gnomey]

Good work!

 

[Crimea_River]

Very tidy Alberto!

 

[al49]

Hi,
today I did panel post-shading and I should be able to take some pictures tomorrow morning.
But, as I want to display a bird with a little wear as well, I was thinking to add some chipping on wings etc.
So I have a question for the experts: which color should show under the chipped paint: silver for natural metal or the Aotake protective?
many thanks in advance.
Alberto

 

[Shinpachi]

Sorry, Alberto, if my comment may interrupt your work but it had no Aotake on its surface but red-brown undercoat.

 

[al49]

Many thanks Shinpachi, in facts I saw pictures showing this red-brown undercoat, but on later model Zeros, with the dark green paint on upper surfaces and I wasn't shure if this was applicable to my model as well.
Thanks again, now I know what I should do.
Alberto

 

[al49]

A couple of pictures taken a few minutes ago, with just a pale sun that doesn't help to show contrasts:

Chipping, exhaust gun smoke still to be added.
For the panel work I tried something new for me: Brunt umber GOUACHES
Cheers
Alberto

 

[Crimea_River]

Fantastic! Nice and subtle - just right.

 

[Gnomey]

Looking good!

 

[Wayne Little]

You don't have to apply too much chipping, this was still an early model zero, which would have been primed (Red brown as Shinpachi states) before painting so minimal erosion of the paint would have occurred, later in the war the primer was not used as much if at all and much more chipping could be found on the "Green' aircraft exposing the metal surfaces.

 

[Airframes]

Very nicely done Alberto.

 

[al49]

Many thanks to all for your very nice comments!
About chipping, I think I will not do any, first because what Wayne said above is an authoritative opinion to be taken in full consideration, but also because I went on the web to see if I could find any example of that chipping on early Zeros and I found nothing.
Now I just need to wait for a sunny day (end of the week?) in order to be able to spray some oil color to simulate exhaust stacking.
Then the little details and will be done!
Cheers
Alberto

 

[Wurger]

 

[Wayne Little]

 

[Hotntot]

Christ - I've got some catching up to do. Brilliantly executed build there al49.

 

[zaxos345]

Awesome job Al!!!

John