Jeff's A6M3 (Hamp). The clipped wing Zero***Finished***

[jssel]

So in this installment I have airbrushed two thin coats of Tamiya Clear Blue on top of the Vallejo Light Green. Masking off the cockpit area which will remain green. The landing gear doors, inside of the cowl got the same treatment.






I think that it will pass muster in this case.

Pressing on with the cockpit now. I am sorting out a shoulder belt off the Eduard fret. The spent shell casing extraction chutes have been opened up on the lower wing piece.









I think I can start to get the main airframe together after I move some snow around outside.

[ShaunW]

A great start Jeff. IMHO these old Tamiya Zeroes are decent enough and certainly with a bit of TLC (such as your drilling out of the lightening holes here) will build up into good models.

[jssel]

More progress on the Hamp.

Engine completed with Tamiya NATO Black with highlights brought out with a silver pencil.




And the main airframe is together now with only a small patch of filler needed on the port wing/fuselage join, leading edge.

[celt]

Well tidy office.

[jssel]

This installment has the overall painting done. Tamiya Imperial Japanese Grey-Green. A little white was added for the fabric control surfaces. The cowl is Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black.










One area that was simplified was the wheel wells. Tamiya gives you extra parts for a gear up version and the pieces popped in and out perfectly and prevented gobs of masking.

[jssel]

Proceeding with the decals. Tamiya decals have a strong glue backing so get them into position as close as you can. Not much wiggle room. I placed them on. Tamped them down with a moist bud and put on a thin layer of solv-a-set. Finished sealing them with Future. Tonight's check was a very smooth finish. There is a slight out of register crescent of white. You probably noticed that the tail bands are a tad short after matching artwork for locations. Yellow paint will touch that up. There is a fuselage band and some code numbers left to do.









I see the end of the project looming now and feel confident that the end is in sight.

[DazDaMan]

Looking good, though.

[iggie]

That's a very nice looking build Jeff, and the paint finish looks very smooth indeed

[jssel]

Calling this one done. It was a real blast to build. I have to say that the sliding portion of the canopy gave me fits and I am not at all happy with the outcome. I filed and filed the edges and could not get it to rest properly. So it will go in the furthest reaches of the showcase and I will go onward and upward.











Glamour pictures to follow.

[DazDaMan]

Looks great, Jeff.

[MarkyM607]

Very nice. Always annoying when the canopy is a problem, not something that can be hidden on the model.

[jssel]

When the dust settles I think I will vac-form a replacement.

[iggie]

That's a tidy looking build none the less Jeff and once you vac a new sliding portion, well worthy of the front of the cabinet I'm sure!