Bandai - Kirishima #10 - Yamato 2199 - Mecha Collection

 I was recent'y introduced to Space Battleship Yamato series, starting with the live action movie, and then to the 2199 series. I really like the movie but man the new TV series is amazing! My brother and I instantly became addicted to the show, and began a week long late night marathon of the show. It didn't disappoint.  The holiday season of 2014 I treated myself to the 1:1000 Yamato 2199 kit, I'm still working on it.  I knew about this show but by it's American name uugh "Star Blazers". To me it's hardly as majestic as "Space Battleship Yamato". Greg aka stevethefishdotnet. Has been largely responsible for my interest in the show as he's made a few videos unboxing these kits and building a few of them.

This "Mecha" collection I think is a great idea, they are small kits costing around $5. They have great detail and a nice display stand, with a bit of work they fit nicely on your desktop and you've got a great looking model. My little brother really wanted one, and I found the Kirishima online from my local hobby store. I decided to purchase this for him, and his excited joy in receiving the kit made it all worth while :)

I however stole the kit away before he could start it, so I could take some pictures of the sprues. He's upped the level of detail in his work lately which is really cool. He started hand painting the kit and quickly became dissatisfied with his results. So I showed him how to remove the paint without damaging the plastic. He's now primed the kit and is in the process of airbrushing the parts. I'm really excited to see how he finishes it. He's also going to try a Panel Line Wash.

The only downside, are the stickers. It's understandable why these are in the kit however. 

I'm going to scan these and turn them into decals.

Airfix 1:72 A6M Zero - Old Tooled (A50085)

I've been scanning the internet trying to track down this kit for 2 years, and I finally got my hands on it. No you might be asking why this kit? And you're right, it's far outdated and inaccurate in so many ways, but I wanted it for the Saburo Sakai decals. And oddly enough I just wanted it even more since I couldn't find it. So I've decided to post the kit parts in all it's former glory. Granted when this was released by Airfix years, and years ago they didn't have the resources we have today, I'm still sure most of their reference material was grainy recently declassified information on the Zero. It's supposed to be an A6M2b, but it's more of just a generic Zero kit, I've got plans for building this kit in a diorama but oddly enough I'll need another to complete the diorama.

This is the last and final release of this kit, it was a Starter set released just before the New tooled Zero. Airfix threw out a bunch of these old kits in starter kit packaging for one last swing. And I think it was a great idea. The best part is the box art, I mean it's beautiful. I'd love to have a giant poster of this for my hobby room it's just fantastic.

I don't know why, but I really like seeing the sprues that come with the kit, I have yet to see any for this particular kit, except a few tiny grainy cellphone pictures on ebay, so I thought I'd add these.

Airfix 1:72 Hawker Hurricane MkI

When I was 13 I needed to go in for an operation. My Dad feeling sorry for my gave me an Airfix Hawker Hurricane Mk I to build while I recovered. I remember so much about that kit, the box art the decals the parts and the day I found a picture of it's Pilot Robert Stanford Tuck. I had a lot of fun with that kit, until one dark day when my younger sister dropped her shoe on it (it's a weird story) My Hurricane was smashed and several times I tried repairing it but it just kept in breaking. 

Though Airfix did give us a new tooled Hurricane Mk II/ Sea Hurricane. It was I think the Mk I that we really all wanted and we finally got one.... an early one from 1938, but not that beautiful iconic Hurricane that helped with the Battle of Britain. Well a year later we got one, This particular model is from the Battle of France, we did get a Battle of Britain Hurricane it comes in Airfix's starter kit. I plan on getting that one as well, but I was terribly more excited about building a new Hurricane.

People have come to expect great new kits with these new releases, and Airfix delivers again. The construction is wonderful the only real problem I found was that the wing root was too high and simply needed to be sanded down for a snug fit. The cockpit has loads of detail, and the canopy pieces are thin and clear. However I question the front wind screen, which appears to be from Earlier version of the Hurricane. One nice addition is the propeller/ spinner assembly, can be added after the model is completed. This made painting the spinner much easier.

I've seen other modelers add this as well and I agree is that the canopy cannot be posed open without work to sand it down. Due to the thin plastic I though that this was possible. The Decals are Cartograph and lay down with little solvent.  I used Model Master Enamels for the top surfaces, RAF Green and Dark Earth. I find them to be the closest to the colors used at this time. And Tamiya Flat White and Black for the underside. Marking shown in Identification paint scheme. 

There's more detail in this little kit than in some 48th scale Hurricanes. And It's very appreciated. This was the 4th Hurricane I built in 2014, and I look forward to the new 48th kit coming this year!

To see the build in action Click the following links bellow:

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyji1Cr78_0

Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxjyP_snN6s

Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nZ1svoG8Us

Lethbridge 2013 Model Show

I completely forgot to post these pictures. I originally planned to attend the even but was caught in work. However that day my friend called up and wanted to go to Lethbridge, so we stopped in. Unfortunately  we were too late to enter any models but I was more than pleased to take some pictures. A few I had already seen in Nanton which were great to see again. I've tried to identify as many of these kits as I could. So I might have a few errors.

I thought this Panzer Commander was the BEST model at Nanton 

I was really excited to see it again :D

 Wonderful weathering to this U-Boat

This was an unusual, and cool Man from U.N.C.L.E.

People use to think that My Dad was this actor,

despite his German accent

Only 5 Tortoise tanks were built, and only 1 is

running right now

I have a big soft spot for the Leopard, My Uncle trained

Canadian troops how to drive these, when they went into

Afghanistan. 

Canada's Ace Willie Mcknight. Shot down during the Battle of Britian, 

Calgary's Mcknight Boulevard was named after him. That bit of trivia

got me a job offer in a hobby store. Italeri 1:48 Hurricane Mk I

I'm not a huge fan of cars, but I'll always stop and appreciate the 

quality a modeler puts into his work.

This Tamiya F1 Racer, looks better than the model Tamiya

build for their own displays. The decals look painted on, 

I would have loved to have met this builder and pick 

his brain on this masterpiece.

He also built this lot, All Stunning.

Alright WWII Japanese Aircraft always get to me, this Tamiya 1:48 Dinah

is wonderfully detailed and weathered.

This unique Me 262 had a big cannon in the nose

built to take down B-17's in one hit. This 262

was later captured by the U.S and named 

"Wilma Jeanne"

 Dragon 1:48 He 162 Salamander

1:48 Mosquito

Who can resist a Beetle, let alone this epic contraption. 

Wonderful CF-18

Sopwith Camel

Hasegawa 1:48 Canadian F-104 Starfighter

1:48 Corsair "Birdcage"

Monogram "Gold Knight"

My Dad built one of these a few years ago, a nice

kit though he used half of my tube of putty.

Nanton Lancaster Museum 2014

Over this Summer my Aunt came to visit us from Germany. This was the first real time I or any of my siblings had met her. I was 1 1/2 when I went to Germany but I have no recollection of the events.  So the family's job was to treat her to the sights of Southern Alberta, and my choice was the Bomber Command Lancaster Museum in Nanton. It's one of my favorite places on this Earth. As it's one of the few places close to me where I can marvel at gone-bye Aircraft, and those Vintage Warbirds. As the Title explains Nanton's biggest attraction here is the Lancaster Bomber they restored. I Like to go tot his Museum at least once a year. And I was in for a few welcomed surprises :D

 Bombardier Station

Looking up at the Front Turret

Bomb Bay

Look at all that Weathering

Inside Landing Gear Bay

Note the Interior Green inside the Wings

Dambuster Bomb 

These Turrets are really a cool new addition to the Mesuem. The Turret ABOVE is a Martin Type Turret, Commonly used by the USAF, B-17, B-24, B-25, etc. Many Canadian Lancasters used these turrets vs the more common RAF "Lightbulb Turret" BELLOW. Martin Turrets were easier to obtain for the Canadian Air force. As the British types were being built in the UK. The Flying Canadian Lancaster actually has this Martin Turret mounted to the Lancaster.

This Rear Section of a Lancaster was Donated to the museum after being used in a TV Movie (No one seems to know which movie however) "Note the AA Damage" The Rear Turret was a sealed unit prone to malfunction and stop for no reason, Causing Many crewmen to loose their lives in these coffins.

On my Top 5 Favorite Aircraft list the Bristol Blemheim Mk IV comes in at 4th place.  Canada during the war had a weird Thing of renaming Aircraft, Which granted does make sense, letting people know that the aircraft was built in Canada.  Like the T-6 Texan was called the "Havard" The Halifax, well is Canadian named. The awkward named Blenheim was given a stranger name of "Bollingbrook" In fact there are no Blenheims left in the world only Bollingbrooks. Still however I love this plane, It's a plane I call an "Ugly Duckling" : An Aircraft that isn't the most attractive but you can't help but love it anyway. It's not as graceful looking as a Spitfire but it's still a pretty sight, with it's awkward sloped nose I still really have a soft spot for this Aircraft. 

Navigator/ Bombardier Station

Note The Curved Nose

My Dad and Aunt Ursulla 

Pilots Seat 

The hole behind the turret there is the entry access chute for the tail gunner 

Note The yellow chipped panel, this was the original overall color to this Trainer Bollingbrook,Repainted as a War time Blenheim.

While we were there we had a rare oppertunity to see their Mosquito up close. This section was in a restricted area, but our guide was more than kind enough to let me get in there and take some pictures granted I didn't touch anything :) This "Mossie" was found in storage in Calgary, and was being put up for sale soon after it was found. Thankfully Canada stepped up and was able to keep the Mossie in Canada instead of going over seas. My goal in these pictures was to take as many photo's of the Mosquito in it's original wooden finish before they painted the aircraft. Also Note the amount of silver metal pieces on the aircraft. Very few, excluding the Cowling covers and spinners.

This is the new cockpit flooring for the Mosquito. the Yolk is being test fitted and the hole is the entrance hatch.

One of the "Hearts" of the Mosquito. The Famous Merlin Engine. Still in very good condition.  

Inside the Bomb bay, the Wing section would be fitted on top first.

A look inside the Bombardier Position

More restoration work, this is the side of the Bomb bay.

BELLOW: The Original Cockpit floorboards, Note the weathered Cockpit Green.

I told my Sister, this would probably be one of the only chances she had to see a Mosquito like this, I insisted on taking Her picture next tot the aircraft, She reluctantly agreed :P

The Wing Section is in one large Piece and then fitted under the Fuselage closed in by the Bomb bay compartment. The section of the Aircraft is awaiting restoration. But is in surprisingly good Condition for a 50+ year old WarBird.

Wing Tip Electrics Connector. 

While I went around  chatting and studying the rest of this work space, My Sister took her Camera back and insisted on taking more detailed shots of the engine. Especially for me since I just finished building this engine for Tamiya's 1:32nd Spitfire Mk IX, and still had to build the Mk XVI. I'm quite serious about that, she really wanted me to have good pictures to better build the plumbing for my next project. Another reason why my Little Sister is the best :D

Control Stick

Another addition to the Museum is the project of restoring a Halifax Bomber, they are about 60% done collecting parts. And this piece caught my eye as the Front Turret to Early Halifax Bombers. I'm not sure if they've decided what variant of Halifax to build yet.

Mosquito spinners 

I'm not 100% sure but this appears to be the nose for the Later type Halifax Bomber, It looks the same but it appeared to be smaller. So I'm not sure what this is from though it bears many similarities to the Halifax.

This Roundel is off a Havard Trainer (T-6 Texan) I took it for my new Rebels @ Cloudnine logo.

This was by far the Biggest surprise this year, and as soon as I saw it I ran and got my Dad. A Me 109? Well yes and no. It's a 1:1 Full scale model. Hopefully I'll remember the story behind this properly. This was built by a Highschool history teacher in Edmonton. He'd been to Germany a few times and actually brought back original parts that are in this 109. It was built as a crashed belly landing, and a bit of a diorama around it. I can imagine the fun this fellow must have had building it, it's certainly been a dream for every modeler I know, to have a 1:1 replica aircraft. But troubles came when the 109 needed a home. It sounds like Nanton was a bit reluctant to take in an enemy aircraft. But the decision was made to take it in since it was a part of WWII and an important piece of avation History. The museum built metal landing gear legs and tires. And now she sits here in the museum, Willy Messerschmitt's notorious hunter.

Next to the 109 are some display cases featuring a Luftwaffe Pilots uniform and a replicated 109 control panel. I took these pictures of the control stick since it's a piece I'd love to replicate in 1:1 scale someday. Most of the gauges on the panel are real, only a few a replicated.

Our last stop is a Lancaster Cockpit, This was used in a different TV movie, (again I don't know which one) But it's pretty cool to walk through this semi fuselage and get a feel to be in the drivers seat. These pictures are of my sister and Aunt.

Lastly is this picture of my Dad next to the 109. Years ago he had an oppertunity to sit in a Hispano Ha-111 Buchon. These are often called "Spanish Messerschmitts" Since they were built by Spain and featured a Merlin Engine inside. They were most notably used in the 1969 "Battle of Britain" film. He has a really big picture of himself climbing in the 109 in his hobby room. So for me it was a great pleasure to take this picture. My Dad has a soft spot for the 109, as his Uncle flew on in the war and was shot down 1940. My Dad was named after him.