IJN ZUIKAKAU Nichimoco 1:500> Modification & Super-Detailing

[AC Studio]

PAINTING OF THE DECK

As I said in the beginning, the Zuikaku will be painted in late war colour scheme, I did a few research and decided to use Japanese references: Gakken book & Model Art Magazines. Unfortunately there are even contradictions between various Japanese references (Japanese references considered as the most accurate....), I decided to use colours from Gakken, and the outline from Model Art.

I have used Photoshop to assist setting out the camouflage on the deck, by scanning the deck & the layout in Model Art magazine. Overlay & adjusted the two in Photoshop. See below:

STEP 1 - Using Photoshop to lay camouflage onto the deck, camouflage at 50% opacity. Both at 1:1 model scale (as in ship scale 1:500).

STEP 2 - Then print it out, cut each camouflage colours out.

STEP 3 - Lay the masking tap onto a piece of glass, then trace the camouflage section, cut the shape from the masking tap.

[JIM BAUMANN]

stunning an innovative as ever!!!

JIm Baumann

[AC Studio]

STEP 4 - I decided to apply lightest colour first because the darker color will be able to cover the lighter colour easier instead of the opposite way.
First sprayed paint the lightest colour, that is yellow green, then masked the shape, then spray the dark green at both ends of deck.

STEP 5 - Then I sprayed 2 different green paints onto deck, one of the green will be used as the hull's camouflage colour as well.

STEP 6 - The last part was to leaving the black area exposed for spray painting. Just time consuming to cut small pieces of masking tape.

[AC Studio]

STEP 7 - Before spraying the last colour black, make sure all sprayed colours are full sealed and covered by masking tape.

STEP 8 - Sprayed Black.... the most nervous moment for me as it was the very last step.

[Dan K]

Breathlessly awaiting the final result.............

[AC Studio]

STEP 9A - I need to do a bit of touch up after taking off all the masking tape, before painting the white lines. I decided to hand painted the lines as I considered that both masking the whole deck again & then spray painting will take too long.

I only masked the boundary of the white lines for hand painting. Again using my favourite Warhammer white paint to do the job.

[AC Studio]

PAINTING OF THE HULL

For the hull camouflage, again I found many contradictions in Japanses references. Some books shows the hull is painted in 2 different green colours, some shows green & grey... At the end I decided to use the Zuikaku 3G book as a reference, green & grey colours. I actually like this colours better and it actually matched the colour I used on the deck.

First sprayed the green camouflage first. Then masked the green colour. The rest will be sprayed with grey colour. Note the "distraction" in the background!!!

[drdoom1337]

PAINTING OF THE HULL

For the hull camouflage, again I found many contradictions in Japanses references. Some books shows the hull is painted in 2 different green colours, some shows green & grey... At the end I decided to use the Zuikaku 3G book as a reference, green & grey colours. I actually like this colours better and it actually matched the colour I used on the deck.

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First sprayed the green camouflage first. Then masked the green colour. The rest will be sprayed with grey colour. Note the "distraction" in the background!!!

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I spy with my eye a Kshatriya, Geara Zulu, Zaku II, Acguy, and Zgok (Char type)!

Are those all HGUC? I know theres a SMS resin Kshatriya but it's extremely expensive (and large)

[AC Studio]

Anyway, I decided to show what is on my model table.... you can see the painting of deck & hull has been completed.

Yes, a few models around, a few gundams, a submarine, buildings etc... lots of distractions..

[nick]

Just awesome! I'm especially amazed at the camouflage pattern!


Nick

[AC Studio]

Painting of the deck & hull has been completed. Now it is the time to put the hull & deck together.

Placed the cutters first otherwise I cannot able to do that after assembly.

Put them together. After that I can start adding small details, such as fall barrier and signal lights etc.

[Dan K]

Coming along beautifully!

[AC Studio]

PERSONNEL FALL BARRIER

STEP 1 - Make arms by copper wire. In order to make sure they are made to the same shape, what I did was to make a mould so I can mass produce them to exact same length & curve shape.

STEP 2 - Glue them onto the underside of the flight deck. Location of each in reference to 1/100 Zuikaku model from Gakken

STEP 3 - The do the same method in the front section of deck.

Continue in the next post

[AC Studio]

STEP 4 - Turn the deck around, check each one before proceed to next step - installation of the mesh.

'

STEP 5 - Make sure mesh is not square but at 45degrees (rombus), also I bent it so that appears weight to gravitation, rather than straight so that it looks more realistic.

[Dan K]

nice1

[JIM BAUMANN]

Methodical with plenty of thought!!

Inspirational!


JIM B

[AC Studio]

This is the flag storage next to the main mast behind the bridge.

STEP 1 - Use PVA glue to paint/fill over a photoetch mesh. Then painted white over it.

STEP 2 - Make flags out of A4 paper, but cut in random shapes to make them look uneven because they hanging to weight/gravity. Make a timber beam across and stick the flags below the beam. Painted them in various common colours - White / Blue / Red / Yellow

[AC Studio]

There is no photo-etch provided on signal lights, so I made my own using stretch-runners and plastic styrene to make the frame and lights.

Signal lights at stern under flight deck.

Landing signal lights at both sides of the flight deck.

[ajkochev]

Wow and stunning is all I can say. Great build!

[Thomas Gene Benson]

Awesome, I can't wait to see how you detail the aircraft.