SPA Modeler

Thomas_M wrote:

speedgraflex wrote: Thomas, would you recommend a particular brand of glue or glues to use? I'm used to building with CA and some styrene dust as a kicker -- please advise. Tamiya tape was a big step, and I'm so much happier now that I'm not ripping up paint as well...

Bruce, I don´t do my builds using CA glue. I only use it for photo etched parts. Years ago I discovered Tamiya´s Extra Thin Cement for my builds, and never went back! Tamiya also offers this glue as "Tamiya Cement", which is much thicker than the previously mentioned one, and as "Tamiya Extra Thin - Quick Setting". All of them are on my bench, ready when needed! You shouldn´t have trouble to get them at online stores and even, maybe, on the big "A".

Tamiya, there's that name again... my temperament and modeling are based around using one kind of CA which is easy to find at "Big Box" stores. I need to undo this tendency, perhaps? I feel poised to learn from better examples set forth here, but my ways are hard to shake. I am on the fence about this, Thomas... but I thank you sincerely for this advice!

Hey thanks for the welcome and the warm words, Thomas and Bruce! I am not an expert modeler by any means but I enjoy the hobby, especially the interaction part of it that the internet has allowed. As Bruce has mentioned, I post my builds on a different site but I am a frequent visitor to different online modeling communities and always enjoy the talent and information that is available. When I saw Bruce's question about this kit, I felt compelled to put my two cents in because I know that there aren't that many documented online builds.

Before I attempt to answer Bruce's questions about the kit, I'd like to echo Thomas' recommendation of Tamiya Extra Thin cement. I use this as my primary glue for styrene plastic and it is truly wonderful stuff. CA glue has its uses for sure but using it as a primary adhesive for styrene surely has a few disadvantages. "Just try it!" is what I would say about the Tamiya glue. It's the one in the green bottle.

Upgrading the instrument panel in the ZM Ta-152H kit is a possibility, I suppose. I'm not aware of any ZM-specific cockpit upgrades available but you could probably use one that was intended for other kits. A quick search on EBay shows a Eduard photoetch instrument panel for the Ta152C Hobby Boss kit and an older one (unpainted with acetate backing) for the Italeri Ta152H kit. I chose to use the kit panel and punch dials from spare decals. You could possibly use Airscale instrument dials but I'd be afraid that the thick bezel molding on the ZM kit would cause a size mismatch. The kit decals are a bit vague but you could probably punch a few from it. And keep in mind that the IP placement under the coaming will obscure it, especially if the canopy is placed in the closed position.


The punch set that I have is from a company called RP Toolz based in Hungary. You can find it and other punch sets at Sprue Brothers or UMM-USA. You can also order it directly from RP Toolz. The set that I have (0.5mm to 2mm in 0.1mm increments) will cost about $86 shipped from RP Toolz. I see a similar set at UMM-USA for a bit cheaper but I have no experience with that one...
http://umm-usa.com/onlinestore/product_ ... ts_id=5658

My Ta152H-1 was finished last year. Despite some of the hiccups I encountered, it built up into very striking model. I love the long, narrow wings!







Happy to answer any more questions!

RE THE 1/48 ZM Ta 152 H-1 COCKPIT

Jkim, thank you. That was exactly what I thought. Why are there so few documented builds? I was worried that this being a scaled down version of the 1/32 which is smart but by no means a guarantee of success that something was amiss.

I have to admit seeing the IP in person was a disappointment. The scale of the instruments is off both in individual diameter of the dial but also in the surrounding frame.

What I am grateful for is your suggestions. I don't know if the colored zoom style Eduard etch is a better solution, but I did find the Aries Itali etch which is black/dark grey in color already. Maybe that would be enough to suggest the depth of the gauges at least on the top panel, a lot depends on what is visible as you suggest.

Comparing my photo collage of the actual IP versus the Eduards Zoom Color shows a similar backdrop to the ZM decal sheet; no RLM 02 framing color.



Bruce

AIRES AFTERMARKET COCKPIT


photos: IPMS USA Archives, N.D.

Aftermarket stuff is always a toss-up for me. Fit can be an issue even when the product is made specifically for the kit in question. Trying to get the Aires Italeri pieces to fit into the Z-M fuselage may be a big headache, at least for the major components such as the cockpit tub and perhaps easier for sub-components such as the seat or the instrument panel. If you are satisfied with the rest of the Z-M cockpit, I would probably opt for the Eduard PE-only set. Details on the IP will be finer than on the Aires set but you'll have to deal with the weird purplish color that Eduard insists coloring its Luftwaffe interior pieces. Never an easy choice, especially when ordering online. I've had many aftermarket sets that go largely unused because I just couldn't get stuff to fit right.

I'm hearing Yahu brand aftermarket IP are pretty good compared to Eduard's..

Jkim, your Tank looks spectacular!
What a superb example of this iconic plane! Congratulations on this fantastic finish!!!

jkim wrote:Aftermarket stuff is always a toss-up for me. Fit can be an issue even when the product is made specifically for the kit in question. Trying to get the Aires Italeri pieces to fit into the Z-M fuselage may be a big headache, at least for the major components such as the cockpit tub and perhaps easier for sub-components such as the seat or the instrument panel. If you are satisfied with the rest of the Z-M cockpit, I would probably opt for the Eduard PE-only set. Details on the IP will be finer than on the Aires set but you'll have to deal with the weird purplish color that Eduard insists coloring its Luftwaffe interior pieces. Never an easy choice, especially when ordering online. I've had many aftermarket sets that go largely unused because I just couldn't get stuff to fit right.

Thank you for your advice, John—apologies for my delayed response! Does it make any difference if the Aires kit is cockpit photo-etch layers only, one on top of the other? I would not want to replace more than just the upper paneling, if that is possible—you're right about a headache. I debated which kit to fasten onto next and hoped that it would not require any scratch-building... your modifications give me hope that is still a possibility.

BlackSheep214 wrote:I'm hearing Yahu brand aftermarket IP are pretty good compared to Eduard's..

Blacksheep, your ears are good, sir. I checked out Yahu and found a late version 190A and a note on their site that the Ta 152 was coming soon. The 190A looks like:


Image: Yahu

Available in the US: https://store.spruebrothers.com/product_p/yah4813.htm

Thank you so much, Blacksheep!!!!! Thank you, sir!

The colored Eduard stuff also has a fabric texture that can be distracting. I usually give it a shot of clear flat to knock it down. I have not personally tried the Yahu panels but they look amazing. If they make one for the Tank fighter, I'd definitely consider it as a top option.