FineMolds Ka-14 Claude prototype 1/72

[jbank]

This is one of my current projects. FineMolds has produced a stunning kit of a somewhat ugly airplane. The Ka-14 was the prototype for the A5M Claude. It's a small aircraft and FM has captured the delicate look of the plane. The kit makes a good comparison to Fujimi's lovely A5M kits as well as Nichimo's much older kit.

This kit is a magazine premium for the Japanese general modeling magazine ModelGraphix. There is a back story here. The Ka-14 was a character in Miyazaki's latest file The Rising Film about Jiro Horikoshi, designer of Mitsubishi's Zero. The Ka-14 was his first design. ModelGraphix usually has an anime portion included. The Rising Wind was originally anime penned by Miyazaki and published in ModelGraphix. This circular story is kinda neat, no?

Anyway, this is a great kit that as far as I know has only been issued as a resin kit by Aki. Their's was a beautiful and incredibly detailed kit that cost an arm and leg. I wanted one, but the idea of ponying up over $100 for a small kit was something I could never justify. I'd thought I'd never build this ugly little beast. Then, this kit came out. At $28, it's not cheap either, but way more affordable.

Enough blather. Here's the kit:


The engine is mostly complete. It just needs the exhausts glued on.



and a bit painted:


The engine is almost finished. I just need to add the exhausts.

[pedrofernandes]

Very nice start!!
I love these fine molds models... very nice detail

[DC87]

Most interesting kit and subject.

A great start - the engine looks wonderful

[jbank]

Thank you, Pedrofernandez and DC87.

I also like FineMolds very much. Their kits tend to be well engineered and decently detailed. FM lately has been doing 35th IJA armor, soft skins, and figures.

[jbank]

Making progress.





I'll be doing some painting tomorrow.

[UKscalemodeller]

beautiful work so far, keep it up.

[jbank]

Thank you UKscalemodeller. I'm glad you like and thanks to those who've looked in.

So, we're churning along here. Silver and red paint. Shiny. The paints are GSI/Creos Mr. Color #8 mixed 50/50 with one of their gloss coats. This was thinned about 70/30 paint/thinner. This was the suggestion in the magazine article. It works very well. The paint covers well and it's very easy to mask boo-boos.



I need to do a little touchup to get rid of some red overspray. The windscreen is already painted. For that matter, all the small parts, excepting the wheels are ready to add.

[George]

Looks great so far. Can wait to see the finish product.

[jbank]

Thank you, George. I finished it a few weeks ago. You can see the finished model here: http://intscalemodeller.com/viewtopic.php?f=45&t=5385

[shortCummins]

Thank you UKscalemodeller. I'm glad you like and thanks to those who've looked in.

So, we're churning along here. Silver and red paint. Shiny. The paints are GSI/Creos Mr. Color #8 mixed 50/50 with one of their gloss coats. This was thinned about 70/30 paint/thinner. This was the suggestion in the magazine article. It works very well. The paint covers well and it's very easy to mask boo-boos.



I need to do a little touchup to get rid of some red overspray. The windscreen is already painted. For that matter, all the small parts, excepting the wheels are ready to add.

that paint looks fantastic, thanks for the 'how to' I'll try this soon

rgds
John (shortCummins)