SPA Modeler

jkim wrote:Hasegawa usually puts its best effort into their Japanese subjects so I think it will be a nice kit.

I agree. The 48th Japanese stuff is excellent

I just received the Aires resin cockpit set for the Ki-84. It took awhile to ship from Europe but even with shipping costs, it was the cheapest option. With the aftermarket goodies already included in the kit, I now have FOUR versions of the seat: the kit, Eduard photoetch, Mastercasters resin and Aires resin.

I took some time to inspect the Aires set. It has some very fine casting with many of the levers and switches molded into place. Which means, shipped overseas, there might be some breakage. Which there was. I noticed a few levers and knobs broken off, which should be easy to replace. There was also a wiring run that was broken. Wiring on Aires resin can be hair-thin so I debated if I should just shave the wiring off completely. Instead, I decided to attempt a fix it with fine copper wire, which seemed to match the thickness pretty well... maybe that's what they use on the masters.

I was pretty happy to have pulled off such a delicate repair. Can you see it?


Will have to wait until the primer or paint is on the part to really see if I was successful. I will pack this away for now since this build is not going to start for some time.

I see it but barely. Looks good.

Just added another future build to the queue...

You're going to do a jet? Oh damn this is gonna be good.

Now this is gonna be off the charts awesomeness!

Gonna give the Tamiya F-14A kit a go. Obviously, another Non-Luftwaffe subject and not even a prop this time. Even the scale is different than my normal 1/32. Gotta start psyching myself up for it...




And yeah, it IS going to be a high-vis Jolly Rogers scheme.

Excellent choice John! I built a pair of those in 1/72 scale from Tamiya; and I also did the hi-viz Jolly Roger markings as well.

I'm gonna love following that one!

I have the Tamiya F-14D in 1/48. I won't do the Jolly Rogers cause it's so over done.

Thanks Duke!

Medicman71 wrote:I have the Tamiya F-14D in 1/48. I won't do the Jolly Rogers cause it's so over done.

I hear ya but for me, I'll be doing it for the first and (probably) only time!

I put in dual orders for the F-14A build last week. Sprue Brothers... shipped the same day as ordered and due to arrive TODAY. Scale Hobbyist... order still being "processed".

Gonna try those 3D cockpit decals for the first time...