Airfix 1/72 Mitsubishi Dinah **FINISHED**
Moderator: JamesPerrin
- JamesPerrin
- Looks like his avatar
- Posts: 13694
- Joined: April 5th, 2011, 8:09 pm
- Location: W. Yorkshire
- Contact:
Airfix 1/72 Mitsubishi Dinah **FINISHED**
I got the other Roy Cross book for Christmas flicking through it quickly become obvious which box art I was going to build this year. The Dinah is a pretty little aircraft of which I know very little other than it was a fast recon machine. Roy's dramatic scene bring some excitement and urgency to what may be seen as a more sedate subject. It's got a tiger on the tail in case you are still not sold!
Thanks to TimJ who picked this up at Cosford but offered to sell it on to me. It's great that this has the correct artwork on the box. Despite the old boxing the kit it of an even older vintage and it looks like the moulds had already started to suffer (of course someone could have put newer plastic in and older box )
The interior is basic as you would expect I won't do too much in here as the thick heavily glazed transparencies will render it futile. Note though they have moulded some rudimentary cameras on the underside of the floor. I cut back the wide tabs that would hold the clear parts right back apart from the corners.
I've mainly been cleaning up the other parts. One of the spinners was badly swollen around the middle an I was glad I cut cut the props off so I could go at it with a coarse sanding stick. The other job was to separate the flap from the lower wing halves, so they could be lowered as in the picture.
Thanks to TimJ who picked this up at Cosford but offered to sell it on to me. It's great that this has the correct artwork on the box. Despite the old boxing the kit it of an even older vintage and it looks like the moulds had already started to suffer (of course someone could have put newer plastic in and older box )
The interior is basic as you would expect I won't do too much in here as the thick heavily glazed transparencies will render it futile. Note though they have moulded some rudimentary cameras on the underside of the floor. I cut back the wide tabs that would hold the clear parts right back apart from the corners.
I've mainly been cleaning up the other parts. One of the spinners was badly swollen around the middle an I was glad I cut cut the props off so I could go at it with a coarse sanding stick. The other job was to separate the flap from the lower wing halves, so they could be lowered as in the picture.
Classic British Kits SIG Leader Better to fettle than to fill
(2024 A:B 5:2) (2023 13:8:7) (2022 21:11) (2021 15:8) (2020 8:4:4)
(2024 A:B 5:2) (2023 13:8:7) (2022 21:11) (2021 15:8) (2020 8:4:4)
- JamesPerrin
- Looks like his avatar
- Posts: 13694
- Joined: April 5th, 2011, 8:09 pm
- Location: W. Yorkshire
- Contact:
Re: Airfix 1/72 Mitsubishi Dinah
Well I got the bench free of a few builds now and so it's time to return this. A little work has been done on interior which I'll post about a later date. Tonight I've been working on the wheels and undercarriage. Firstly the spoked wheels have flush disk covers, this was done by sanding down the hubs. Next the solid scissor links were removed and replace with some scratched examples.
Before and after:
Before and after:
Classic British Kits SIG Leader Better to fettle than to fill
(2024 A:B 5:2) (2023 13:8:7) (2022 21:11) (2021 15:8) (2020 8:4:4)
(2024 A:B 5:2) (2023 13:8:7) (2022 21:11) (2021 15:8) (2020 8:4:4)
- JamesPerrin
- Looks like his avatar
- Posts: 13694
- Joined: April 5th, 2011, 8:09 pm
- Location: W. Yorkshire
- Contact:
Re: Airfix 1/72 Mitsubishi Dinah
I believe it's meant to be a pale grey but the box art looks off white. I many use the appropriate grey and then lighten/fade it. I'm sure it would bleach in the hot sun.
Classic British Kits SIG Leader Better to fettle than to fill
(2024 A:B 5:2) (2023 13:8:7) (2022 21:11) (2021 15:8) (2020 8:4:4)
(2024 A:B 5:2) (2023 13:8:7) (2022 21:11) (2021 15:8) (2020 8:4:4)
- SJPONeill
- Modelling Gent and Scholar
- Posts: 3525
- Joined: May 1st, 2011, 12:01 am
- Location: Near the Spiral, NZ.
- Contact:
Re: Airfix 1/72 Mitsubishi Dinah
Maybe a very light grey but it looks white on the box-art - I could never figure out why when I was a boy because everybody knows that there's no snow in the Pacific...
Please critique my posts honestly i.e. say what you think so I can learn and improve...
The World According To Me
The World According To Me
- JamesPerrin
- Looks like his avatar
- Posts: 13694
- Joined: April 5th, 2011, 8:09 pm
- Location: W. Yorkshire
- Contact:
Re: Airfix 1/72 Mitsubishi Dinah
I had spent quick a bit of time cleaning up the awful state that the spinners were in. Luckily I could remove the props as blurred ones would be added later. However these are very rounded and on looking at photos of the different marks these appear to have been introduced later on the K-46 III. The Ki-46 II which I believe the kit represents has more pointy spinners, if we check the box art we see that Mr Cross got this correct!
A rummage in the spares box turned up some Airfix F-4 drop tanks that had the right profile.
While the spares box was out I also located a couple of Matchbox WWII pilots (right) who were a little more human than Airfix's efforts (left)
Here is were I'd got to with the fuselage before I closed it up.
A - the nose light should point forward rather than down. This was cut and filed open and then boxed in with card.
B - the IP was miles away from the pilot. I therefore made a new one and added dashboard. A small head rest was added for the pilots comfort.
C - the rear canopy sat too low so some shims of card have been used to make it flush with the line of the roof. This aircraft has very nice lines so it's worth trying to have them flow uninterrupted.
You can also see the cameras which I've just painted black in the lower fuselage.
A rummage in the spares box turned up some Airfix F-4 drop tanks that had the right profile.
While the spares box was out I also located a couple of Matchbox WWII pilots (right) who were a little more human than Airfix's efforts (left)
Here is were I'd got to with the fuselage before I closed it up.
A - the nose light should point forward rather than down. This was cut and filed open and then boxed in with card.
B - the IP was miles away from the pilot. I therefore made a new one and added dashboard. A small head rest was added for the pilots comfort.
C - the rear canopy sat too low so some shims of card have been used to make it flush with the line of the roof. This aircraft has very nice lines so it's worth trying to have them flow uninterrupted.
You can also see the cameras which I've just painted black in the lower fuselage.
Classic British Kits SIG Leader Better to fettle than to fill
(2024 A:B 5:2) (2023 13:8:7) (2022 21:11) (2021 15:8) (2020 8:4:4)
(2024 A:B 5:2) (2023 13:8:7) (2022 21:11) (2021 15:8) (2020 8:4:4)
- Dirkpitt289
- NUMA's Auto Mechanic
- Posts: 8724
- Joined: May 2nd, 2011, 1:55 am
- Location: New jersey USA
- Contact:
Re: Airfix 1/72 Mitsubishi Dinah
That's a nice "classic" looking kit. I look forward to seeing how this turns out. Some of you guys are just magic with these old kits
.... Dirk
Beware of the DOG's of WAR
My Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/ModelingGu ... rid&view=0
Beware of the DOG's of WAR
My Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/ModelingGu ... rid&view=0
- JamesPerrin
- Looks like his avatar
- Posts: 13694
- Joined: April 5th, 2011, 8:09 pm
- Location: W. Yorkshire
- Contact:
Re: Airfix 1/72 Mitsubishi Dinah
I finally return to the bench proper. The nights are now drawing in and the sun and has gone down by the time I sit down.
First job was to paint up my two substitute pilots as members of the Japanese airforce. This was mainly achieved by painting on the significant padded looking life-savers and choosing suitable colours.
They jumped aboard as soon as they were ready (the airfield's under attack you know) and I added the glazing using tube glue as they were a few tiny gaps here and there. I had got the fuselage together, filled and sanded before my break from the bench.
Another small improvement was to the scoop intakes under the cowlings. These are moulded as shallow U shapes, so a thin piece of card boxes the shape in and improves them greatly.
First job was to paint up my two substitute pilots as members of the Japanese airforce. This was mainly achieved by painting on the significant padded looking life-savers and choosing suitable colours.
They jumped aboard as soon as they were ready (the airfield's under attack you know) and I added the glazing using tube glue as they were a few tiny gaps here and there. I had got the fuselage together, filled and sanded before my break from the bench.
Another small improvement was to the scoop intakes under the cowlings. These are moulded as shallow U shapes, so a thin piece of card boxes the shape in and improves them greatly.
Classic British Kits SIG Leader Better to fettle than to fill
(2024 A:B 5:2) (2023 13:8:7) (2022 21:11) (2021 15:8) (2020 8:4:4)
(2024 A:B 5:2) (2023 13:8:7) (2022 21:11) (2021 15:8) (2020 8:4:4)
- JamesPerrin
- Looks like his avatar
- Posts: 13694
- Joined: April 5th, 2011, 8:09 pm
- Location: W. Yorkshire
- Contact:
Re: Airfix 1/72 Mitsubishi Dinah
Yes at the model show earlier this year and took plenty of pics, though it is a different mark eg has the rounder spinners. The box art is my main guide though.Brews wrote:You've seen the Dinah at Cosford, then, James?
Next decision is on the colour. I believe it's meant to be pale grey but in the box art it's almost white. I'm thinking of over spraying a suitable grey (suggestions?) with off white esp. the upper surfaces.
Classic British Kits SIG Leader Better to fettle than to fill
(2024 A:B 5:2) (2023 13:8:7) (2022 21:11) (2021 15:8) (2020 8:4:4)
(2024 A:B 5:2) (2023 13:8:7) (2022 21:11) (2021 15:8) (2020 8:4:4)
- beany
- Fat git, glasses, goatie - Avoid!
- Posts: 4334
- Joined: April 6th, 2011, 11:05 am
- Location: Chellaston, Derby
Re: Airfix 1/72 Mitsubishi Dinah
Tricky one this as normally I would have said exactly what Brews has just said, however, if it were me, the box art looks white/ very light grey, so that's what I'd do it, choosing to accurately reproduce the box art rather than "knowing" what it should really be. Up to you at the end of the day James - gonna look GOOD whichever you go for.Brews wrote:IJA Grey is Tamiya XF-14. It's a pale grey-green, like Sky Type S.
cheers
Al.
2024 Acquired: 9 Built: 1
- JamesPerrin
- Looks like his avatar
- Posts: 13694
- Joined: April 5th, 2011, 8:09 pm
- Location: W. Yorkshire
- Contact:
Re: Airfix 1/72 Mitsubishi Dinah
Thanks for the input chaps. I'll use the a similar to hue to what Brews has suggested by a much lighter tone.
Classic British Kits SIG Leader Better to fettle than to fill
(2024 A:B 5:2) (2023 13:8:7) (2022 21:11) (2021 15:8) (2020 8:4:4)
(2024 A:B 5:2) (2023 13:8:7) (2022 21:11) (2021 15:8) (2020 8:4:4)
- JamesPerrin
- Looks like his avatar
- Posts: 13694
- Joined: April 5th, 2011, 8:09 pm
- Location: W. Yorkshire
- Contact:
Re: Airfix 1/72 Mitsubishi Dinah
Short but productive potter tonight.
I've decided to build the two attacking Corsairs and the other escaping Dinah.
I located some line drawings and scaled them to the correct size - this was all done to the nearest 0.5cm.
For the fuselages I'll use sprue of the correct diameter. Since I had sprue to hand that matched the smallest Corsair I started there. Keeping it 'attached' at the cowling I marked out the length on the sprue and where things tampered, then whittled and sanded the tail to shape. A shim of card was added for the cockpit and spine. I cut out the shapes for the wings and tail and stuck them to card (in the end I used thinner card for the tail than the wings).
I cut a notch for the single piece wing, into which I had added the distinctive gull wing. The fuselage was then cut from the rest of the sprue and and the flying surfaces attached with superglue.
The larger Corsair will be created used the same technique, the Dinah needs a bit more shaping and also has the nacelles to deal with too.
I've decided to build the two attacking Corsairs and the other escaping Dinah.
I located some line drawings and scaled them to the correct size - this was all done to the nearest 0.5cm.
For the fuselages I'll use sprue of the correct diameter. Since I had sprue to hand that matched the smallest Corsair I started there. Keeping it 'attached' at the cowling I marked out the length on the sprue and where things tampered, then whittled and sanded the tail to shape. A shim of card was added for the cockpit and spine. I cut out the shapes for the wings and tail and stuck them to card (in the end I used thinner card for the tail than the wings).
I cut a notch for the single piece wing, into which I had added the distinctive gull wing. The fuselage was then cut from the rest of the sprue and and the flying surfaces attached with superglue.
The larger Corsair will be created used the same technique, the Dinah needs a bit more shaping and also has the nacelles to deal with too.
Classic British Kits SIG Leader Better to fettle than to fill
(2024 A:B 5:2) (2023 13:8:7) (2022 21:11) (2021 15:8) (2020 8:4:4)
(2024 A:B 5:2) (2023 13:8:7) (2022 21:11) (2021 15:8) (2020 8:4:4)
- Clashcityrocker
- Modelling Gent and Scholar
- Posts: 10819
- Joined: May 1st, 2011, 12:31 am
- Location: Adelaide. South Australia
Re: Airfix 1/72 Mitsubishi Dinah
What the mind can conceive the hand will achieve. Fabulous work.
Nigel
Nigel
- Dirkpitt289
- NUMA's Auto Mechanic
- Posts: 8724
- Joined: May 2nd, 2011, 1:55 am
- Location: New jersey USA
- Contact:
Re: Airfix 1/72 Mitsubishi Dinah
now that's some fancy scratch work you got going on there James. Very very impressive!
.... Dirk
Beware of the DOG's of WAR
My Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/ModelingGu ... rid&view=0
Beware of the DOG's of WAR
My Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/user/ModelingGu ... rid&view=0
- wbk666
- The Bug Has Well And Truly Bitten
- Posts: 351
- Joined: May 9th, 2012, 10:10 pm
- Location: Leigh, Lancashire. UK
Re: Airfix 1/72 Mitsubishi Dinah
well thats little lol
great work on both that and the dinah.
great work on both that and the dinah.
2012 - A-133 B-55 C-1
Build What You Want, The Way You Want To, but above all, HAVE FUN!!!
Build What You Want, The Way You Want To, but above all, HAVE FUN!!!