Current builds start to finish 2024

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Finished rigging on all kits except for the F1M2. It should have been as easy finish before first coat, but it wasn't. It turns out that the upper wing struts ( all of them) are too short. When I tried to mount the pilot's canopy, it sat too high. That raised my blood pressure up became I spent more time on this alone than three of the kits combined. The other one which was very irritating was the A2N2. That is so fragile, you can't handle it anywhere without something coming off. When it comes to the F1M2 , the Tamiya kit is easy and solid. Interior detail is terrible compared to the Hasegawa, but it had way less issues than the Hasegawa one did. Detail overall is,great on the Hasegawa kit, but it does need extra work to make it a lovely chic. The A2N2 is just a pig in a dress with lipstick and a cheap wig.
 
I am pleased with the A5M4 decals from LifeLike, very nice decals. They were smooth, but maybe a bit bright in color. Here is the Mitsubishi from IJN Akagi flown by FC Shigehachiro Tokoro, Yokosuka AB, November 1939.


 
The Nakajima A2N2 was a nightmare all the way. The decals went on nice, but it's one I would have a hard time building again. Yes, I have two more in the stash. The Nakajima A2N2 type 96-II is Hokoku No.60 donated by Tobata Foundry Co., Ltd. 14th of April 1934 at foundry Tobata.

 
The Kawasaki Ki-10 was a delight from start to finish. It would have been nice to have a D3A1 or B5N1 or 2 made by them. Sigh. I went with the one I ran across in the Hikoki 'Emblems of the Rising Sun IJAAF Unit Markings 1935-1945" (1999). It's from the 1 Sentai, aircraft no.3 of the shotai, during the Nomonhan incident May 1939.

 
The F1M2 from Hasegawa needed work. The usual cockpit sanding and the wing struts being short were the only issues. I am not happy with the result, but I will need extra time for the next time I build one. This one is from Chitose flown by Flyer 4/c Kiyomi Katsuki and Flyer 2/c Michiho Takarada in the Solomons during October 1942. I still need to do more minor things to this, so it is almost completed, but I want to move on to the other builds.

 

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