Nakajima Ki84 IA Hayate, Allied Codename: Frank

Roger Blanc
The decals you can forget. I don't risk to take them

John
Fun little kit. You might be able to get away with the smaller decals. Mine were from 1972 and they worked, though I painted the insignia and only used the numbers.

Roger Blanc
Good idea! To paint the insignias is also an idea. Although over 30 years old, the fit is almost perfect. Only less grinding work, no putty needed for the wings.

Roger Blanc
The cockpit is really bad. The seat is really good scratched, until I made the holes in the back … too big, not in a row… there I have much to learn. But as I want to mount the canopy closed, there is nothing much visible from the Cockpit 😶‍🌫️

John
Yes the cockpit detail is...minimal. But as you say, with the canopy closed (or the pilot in place) you can't see a whole lot because it is quite small. A better gunsight might be a good idea since it is very visible.

Lost_Erik
Coming along nicely 👍

Roger Blanc
Black primer glossy set. The "putty work" at the wings could be better. Thinking about to correct it.

Roger Blanc
On the black primer 3 layers mate Aluminium, then two layers glossy coat, three Layer AK heavy chipping fluid, preshading and weathering dots. Takes me wonder how it looks like at the end.

Alberto
Following 👀

Guy Rump
Following too. 👍

Roger Blanc
Almost finished! Build in a fever dream… only canopy must be painted and mounted and position light set.
How to paiint: first primer -> Aluminum -> glossy finish -> chipping fluid -> color -> chipping -> glossy finish -> decals -> first washing -> glossy finish -> second washing -> drybrush -> filter -> finish

Roger Blanc
✅ Now completed. The Kit is great. Positive: significant progress with the canopy. The paint is really good. 😶: The chipping must be better orchestrated. Although the machine is very used, it looks on some parts a little too much. The photos I must make again I think.

Lost_Erik
Chipping is to taste if you are not trying to model a specific moment in time. The effect is quite good/special. 👍
Maybe the commanding officer has a relaxed approach to marking integrity, or their paint order is behind.

Roger Blanc
The background is, I read some articles about the Franks which were used a long time in the war. And they were looking really bad, because on lack of maintenance, bad quality of color they used for the paint, etc. The longer the war was going on, the more significant were this lacks. They have also to fly much more missions as they were constructed for. Same the pilots. I saw photos on which less color was on the plane than on my model.
The modell is a torch for the situation of Japan at the end of the war, exhausted, burned out and closed. War is lost, but fighting further, pointless and unnecessary.

Vincent
Very interesting finish. I do like the chipping and worn paint.

Roger Blanc
As I read now, the hinomarus, red circles never were chipped. They always repainted them immediately when chippings started. This I must adjust.

Roger Blanc
Finished! The hinomarus are adjusted now. You can see this best on the upper right one.

Guy Rump
That is a very tired Ki-84! Like the weathered/chipped look. Congrats! 👍

Roger Blanc
Thank you. 😃