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

[AC Studio]

I forgot there are two more cutter to make.... silly me... so hurry finishing it off. Very easy for me to modify them after completing other cutters few months ago.

STEP 1 - Cut away the davits and other details from the mould, sand the mould down to make it looks thinner. See how it compared to the original one above.

STEP 2 - Added pranks within the mould.

STEP 3 - Added rudder as well.

Continue in next post

[AC Studio]

STEP 4 - Completed with added davits, ladders etc...

[JIM BAUMANN]

Very nicely done indeed !

If I may add one thought that may be of assistance to improve your already excellent boats a tiny bit further?......?

When I endeavour to improve the look of 1/700 boats I thin the gunwhale edges first from the inside--and then pare away the plastic/ resin finally form the outside to get the thinnest gunwhale coaming possible.

see below






Cheers
Jim Baumann

[AC Studio]

PLANES

Unfortunately this kit does not provide the 1944 versions of the planes (only Zero, Val & Kate), nevertheless I decided to make them and put them on the deck. I simply cannot able to find 1:500 scale planes of the Yokosuka D4Y & Nakajima B6N, which was supposed to be used in 1944. As we know it is hard to get aftermarket products for old Nichimoco kit and in this scale...

All planes are heavily modified together with extra details added. All details such as undercarriages (landing gears & wheels) are scratch-built. See-through cockpit by using photo-etch mesh and drilled out the cockpit etc.

STEP 1 � Cut away existing canopy and drilled out a cockpit, this is necessary because canopy does not necessary cover gunner�s position, it is exposed. I also added machine gun at those position.

STEP 2 � Cut off existing landing gear from mould. Note original mould at top showing thick chunky gears.

STEP 3 - Scratch-built landing gear strut & wheels by plastic styrene rod & strips. Step 2 is to create doors for the gears. Step 3-4 is extra steps for the Kate only to match the actual cover shape.

Continues in next post

[AC Studio]

STEP 4 - Paint underside white.

STEP 5 - Use photo-etch mesh to create canopy, then finished
by installing landing gear, painting & applying decal.

STEP 6 � Portable aircraft wheel stops are often found in
photos on IJN carrier. I scratch-built them by small strip of
plastic styrene and the rope was made of copper wire.

[Lazarus]

Simply outstanding work, you must have some extremely steady hands and are good at holding your breath!

[AC Studio]

There are no photo-etch on Type 13 air-search radar in 1:500 scale. As I mentioned earlier in a post asking for ideas of how to scratch-built one, but unfortunately receive no response... probably too hard to hard to find a way to make one. Anyway, I finally worked out how to make one, simply by using photo-etch mesh & copper wires.

Cut out three mesh and glue them together in triangular shape and then added wire as per reference.

Completed:

[Dan K]

Just crazy.

The 1//350 versions are far from perfect. Could use your touch as well

[J. Soca]

Awesome paint job on the planes very realistic touch!!



Jose

[Guest]

Are we ever going to get some photos of the finished product???

[AC Studio]

My apology of not getting back to this post for a such a long time. I have forgot to post the finished model again....

These are the photos of the completed model. It got 1st place in the large scale ship category in the Australian Model Expo 2011. I have also released a publication (Pdf format in CD-Rom) about the construction of this model. This publication covers all construction progress, showing how I scratch-built details, & super-detailed and modified the model, and many of these are not covered in this post. Please go to http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... 0941432783 if anyone is interested.

This is the end of this post But this is not the end for me! I am still thinking of adding more details when I got extra time to do so, such as splinters robes or people etc....

Anyway, many thanks for your visit, hope you enjoy viewing this post.

Regards,
Alan

[AC Studio]

[AC Studio]

[AC Studio]

[ajkochev]

Spectacular build!

[gtbred]

[Dan K]

Simply magnificent.

The win was well served.

[mabmanu]

vouahhh