SPA Modeler

Man I don't know where to start - that is just bloody awesome!

Great to see such deep thinking on this build, I love the Akira reference.

Bro, I love that stuff. All the old anime like AKIRA, Ninja Scroll, Ghost In The Shell, Metal Skin Panic. Have since I was a kid. So I have all that’s stuff in my head, and it all influences what I do with this project.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what my Psychotherapist taught me about how the brain works- the neural pathways and so forth. I have a hypothesis that when we deal with something we’re, say- 50% familiar with, our brain fills in the blanks with information from existing neural pathways which it considers to be similar. Maybe. Also, neural activity. What memories spring up into waking consciousness when I think about the Zero. Stuff like that. Even animals, like with that hummingbird and my previous Zero. It’s like, my brain takes all of these things into account whenever I think about the aircraft and builds the vision of how I want to project to be like from all of these things which may or may not be related in any kind of logical way, but are relatable in a meaningful way to me. So I guess, when it comes to my particular style, I’m more interested in making what’s in my brain appear as the finished product as opposed to something which represents “reality.” Which for me dovetails perfectly with Buddhist logic because really- when we perceive reality “around us” what we’re actually looking at is a representation of it created by our brain, for us. And that’s the kind of stuff I like to think about and explore.

And thank you my man for the kind words!

Dang I missed the Akira and Ghost In The Shell references. Love both of those and have them all on DVD.

Two great animated films!

KennyX wrote:The actuators are installed, man.



I took the easy way out, here, opting for Tamiya’s cowling flaps which I sanded down, instead of using Eduard’s PE flaps. I’m 100% comfortable with that decision. I’m not good enough working with this PE stuff yet for such delicate exterior details. My skill will improve while I add the various fiddly bits that complete the engine.

Oh- a word about the PE. I changed up how I prep it. This time around I wiped the frets down with Mr. Leveling Thinner, then rinsed them real well, and then gave them an acid bath (with white vinegar) for a half an hour. Hopefully this’ll beef-up the paint adhesion.

Those fiddly bits must have been.. fiddly !

I lift my hat for your patience, not at all sure I would have fixed that ..

- Kari

Well, after all my time absent, I finally got caught up with the last ten pages that were posted since I went AWOL. And I'm out of superlatives for the outstanding work I see here. Like Blacksheep said, it's time to retire from the Hobby. Especially since I don't get all cerebral when I build; I just build and keep going until I'm done or I think it looks acceptable enough. And that marks the difference between a mediocre modeler like myself and a true Master such as yourself.

I bow in the presence of Greatness!!!

KennyX wrote:

Medicman71 wrote:Dang I missed the Akira and Ghost In The Shell references. Love both of those and have them all on DVD.

Two great animated films!

I have all three movies and the series that was shown on Cartoon Network. I also have Cowboy Bebop and others.

What a thread! I have to thank you, Ken, for this in-depth wip. It's pure joy to read and see how you throw your whole heart and creativity into this. Lovin' it!

I’m not entirely certain I’d call myself a “master” of anything necessarily, but I do appreciate the compliment, most sincerely, thank you, Duke.

Mostrich, I do love what I do, that’s absolutely true.

My issue is that my vision for a project has to be strong enough to hold my interest. That’s the thing. My 110 is a great project to kick-off, but I lost interest quickly. That happens sometimes. Same goes for my Hellcat. But that doesn’t mean that I won’t regain interest in either or both of those projects later on. Who knows! So for the time being they’re safe. That’s my Achilles heel I guess HAHA, other folks, they finish everything they start. There’s a lot to be said about that alone, on top of the work you put into it, which is amazing.

My mind is a fickle thing sometimes.

Not with the A6M2 though. Nosir!

I finished the first leg of my engine-enhancement project today. I got the cylinder head covers and braces installed. Check it out:





I’ll tell you, the only thing I hate worse than going near paint work with glue, is going near paint work with glue on fiddly bits I can drop. But I’m happy! There were no accidents! And the paint on the PE parts held up better than I thought it would. Don’t get me wrong, there were a few scrapes which I have to touch up but it was way better than what I’d feared might happen.

Up next: adding that PE wiring harness. I’m hoping to get that done this weekend.

KennyX wrote:Bro, I love that stuff. All the old anime like AKIRA, Ninja Scroll, Ghost In The Shell, Metal Skin Panic. Have since I was a kid. So I have all that’s stuff in my head, and it all influences what I do with this project.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what my Psychotherapist taught me about how the brain works- the neural pathways and so forth. I have a hypothesis that when we deal with something we’re, say- 50% familiar with, our brain fills in the blanks with information from existing neural pathways which it considers to be similar. Maybe. Also, neural activity. What memories spring up into waking consciousness when I think about the Zero. Stuff like that. Even animals, like with that hummingbird and my previous Zero. It’s like, my brain takes all of these things into account whenever I think about the aircraft and builds the vision of how I want to project to be like from all of these things which may or may not be related in any kind of logical way, but are relatable in a meaningful way to me. So I guess, when it comes to my particular style, I’m more interested in making what’s in my brain appear as the finished product as opposed to something which represents “reality.” Which for me dovetails perfectly with Buddhist logic because really- when we perceive reality “around us” what we’re actually looking at is a representation of it created by our brain, for us. And that’s the kind of stuff I like to think about and explore.

And thank you my man for the kind words!

I think that's a very worthwhile approach and a very interesting thought actually - As you say, we see what our brains interpret from the world around us and in my reality a particular shade of green might be completely different to the way you see it - all you can do it work with what you see.

I have a big problem with this whole 'realistic' and 'accuracy' thing anyway, especially when dealing with older aircraft or tanks or whatnot - I don't get all this arguing over images in photos, plans, paint chips etc - because it's all bollocks. Just like dealing with any kind of historical source, there are no facts just an interpretation of the data, even the so called primary sources are hugely open to debate. The only way to truly know what a Zero sat on a carrier on the morning of the 7th of December looked like is to travel back in time to 1941 and look at it - and I'm willing to bet that no two aircraft looked 100% the same...

... actually that's a good point. I had a similar conversation with an ex-RAF Phantom pilot and modeller a few years ago - he said he can remember looking down the flight line of the squadron's aircraft and they were all a different colour!

So doing what you see in your head is a very decent approach, even if there's a bit of Manga in there too.