SPA Modeler

As promised I started on the Hasegawa Kate.
I think the Airfix Kate is a superior kit but the Hase is still a nice model. The kit only comes with a Type 91 torpedo so I’m going to use the 6 295 lb bombs from the Airfix kit to display a Midway ground attack load out. The rear machine gun is also the size of a 20mm cannon so I will be using a spare gun, also from the Airfix kit.

This should be good!

After the Airfix Kate, now you're stepping back to 1970s modeling with this one.

Bruce, Kyle and Stick thanks.
Stick, for a 70's kit It's very good.
I assembled the fuselage, wings, stabilizers and filled the gaps. The gaps weren't too bad and I filled them with Mr Dissolved Putty. Once Dry I use 600 grit whetted with Denatured Alcohol. The alcohol helps thin the putty and aid in smoothing the seams.



Here it the Hase gun on the right compared to the Airfix gun.



I am also going to use the Airfix kit canopy that wasn't used earler. The Hase one dose not show the gunners caonpy open.



I didn't mention it but I will be painting and marking this build as AI-301. There are some pictures of it landing on the Akagi during a mission in May 1942. I will try to copy the chipping pattern as best I can.




There appears to be massive chipping except for the Hinomarus. This is reflected on the painting chart. The paint on port wing looks to be almost completely removed.



The tail is also orange.



Steve

The tail on AI-301 should be red, not orange. That should look good when you have her all painted up.

Thanks Stick.I'll look for more accurate illustrations and try to match it. this on looks orange to me, however when I look at it compared to the Hinomaru it looks red.
The instructions want me to paint it a mix of Blue and Green. That's a huge typo.

Oh yes it is on there part. I don't think that Orange was used on IJN aircraft, except for trainers. But red was a very common color for leader markings, along with yellow stripes.

Can't wait to see how you tackle that paint chipping.

MM,
I've been thinking about that on occasion for a few months now. I'm going to spray a base coat of silver followed by several coats of AK Interactives Weathering Effects chipping fluid. Then a coat of acrylic IJN Green. I won't paint much of the port wing because so much appears to be chipped.