SPA Modeler

speedgraflex wrote:You are so making me want to find the Weekend Edition and build one! Great work, John! Is there some new evidence about the lack of leather on the wing canons? I could almost swear (and memory does play tricks) that a photo exists or a service manual exists that provides a clue. Please let me know how you reached this decision. Your modifications are wonderful!!!



I think that's Brown 4 lost in the woods...

Thanks Bruce! I had a discussion about this on LSP and decided to go the metal mount route after I had been told that there is no wartime documentation of fabric/leather coverings over the wing gun mounts on the Dora. I certainly couldn't find any. It helped that the metal mounts look much better than those vague lumps that Hasegawa provides. Oh... at one time, the restored D-13 had fabric covers over the wing gun mounts but that was to cover the missing guns. Photos of this configuration are featured in Aero Detail 02, which is a Japanese publication. The photo that I posted is of the D-13 in a more recent state with wing guns restored.

Yes, Brown 4. I still have the Big Tail Dora kit on the shelf for a future build and would like to do Brown 4 someday. I like the color scheme that the Mimetall factory put on its 500xxx series D-9's.

KennyX wrote:

What the Hell!!?? There *IS* a seam on the lower part of the engine cowing!!?? Well I’ll be a monkey’s uncle!!!

Yes, both the radial engine and inline versions of the 190 had a bottom engine cowling that was split in half down the middle and held together with fasteners to provide maintenance access.

You see the way the cowling hinges here, KennyX. Thank you so much for the information, John! Brown 4 is... yes. There is just something in the design of the Dora; aesthetic sense and performance.

This is some great stuff. I’m going to tackle me a Dora one day. Not any time soon, but some day.

KennyX wrote:This is some great stuff. I’m going to tackle me a Dora one day. Not any time soon, but some day.

You and me both partner.

Fantastic work John! Those new barrels look great!

Thanks guys! I heartily recommend the Hasegawa Dora kit to anyone who is interested in doing a 190D-9. It's a great kit, builds up easily and is less fiddly than the Eduard 1/48 D-9. Doesn't need much in terms of aftermarket upgrades but there is a lot available if you choose to go that route.

I'll have to take another pause in this build. I'm going to Hawaii for a week and will NOT be bringing my models with me!

Hawaii...

Are you bringing your fishing gear?

It's for a funeral, unfortunately. But it will be good to see my parents and my sister, who live there. I grew up in Hawaii and my best friend's father passed away. So going back home, in a way. My friend wants to go the Big Island for some golf after the memorial service so maybe I'll get to see some of the volcano action. He told me that we can go fishing too so I'm packing my little travel rod. Leaving Saturday and staying for a week.

jkim wrote:It's for a funeral, unfortunately. But it will be good to see my parents and my sister, who live there. I grew up in Hawaii and my best friend's father passed away. So going back home, in a way. My friend wants to go the Big Island for some golf after the memorial service so maybe I'll get to see some of the volcano action. He told me that we can go fishing too so I'm packing my little travel rod. Leaving Saturday and staying for a week.

My condolences for your friend's loss, John. Losing my father was one of the most challenging times of my life so far. The presence of friends during this time was incredibly important. A hui hou.