Rework of weathering of P-47 Thunderbolt

By Francis Lee


Model: 1/48 Scale, Otaki/ Arii kit

It was fallen on ground & broken more than a year and recently I rebuilt it and rework of weathering on Thunderbolt surface.

P-51D Mustang, Burma 1945.

By Francis Lee


1/48 Otaki / Arii Scale Model

This is the second plane I select to repaint, I built it 3 years ago and last week I mainly did the overall weathering, I masked the surfaces into small areas and applied darker/ lighter weathering. I found silver paint is easy to get dull (especally acrylic paint) , so I took these photos right the way.

Video of this Mustang

Japan Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa (Oscar) Fighter

By Francis Lee


1:48 Otaki / Arii Scale Model

I reently take a look of my old completed models and I try to repaint some of them, this is the first one. Hayabusa (Oscar), a classic war plane of Japanese Army.

Video of the model

IJN Kawanishi George N1K1-JA (early type)

By Francis Lee



Arii / Otaki Scale Model. (1/48 scale)

Model:
This is an early version of the Kawanishi Shiden (George) in 1/48 scale from Otaki Scale Model. Since the real aircraft had problems of the engine and their legs so it was replace by the later version of Kawanishi Shidenkai (George) soon, perhaps it is also the same reason of this model is not as popular as the later version as well. The tooling of the model kit is old (early 70's) but comes with nice recess panel lines, it was not common to have kit with all recess panel lines profile in the 70's. The structure and fitting is good, without BIG GAP!

Video of this model:

RAF P-40E Kittyhawk in North Africa

By Francis Lee




Model: (1/48 scale)
Arii / Otaki P-40E Kittyhawk

This is the same piece of model of my previous diorama of Aussie P-40E Kittyhawk. I removed the Aussie decals and then repainted the whole plane. I still have a set of US decals of this plane and I may repaint the same plane in the future.

Background:
The RAF Kittyhawks in North Africa were so famous, personally I like the
RAF desert camo. a lot. During my research of the P-40. I found footage and photos of the "Flying Tiger" in China which those crews were using
big tripod stand to pull up the P-40 engine from the plane to repair. I guess this may be a common situation in the war time so I apply that in this diorama.

Video of this diorama:

Aussie P-40E Kittyhawk

by Francis Lee

Model: (1/48 scale)
Arii / Otaki P-40E Kittyhawk

I am glad that the decals of this model is still useable since I bought the model in around 1989. The decals have the Australian, British and the US Army to choose, I am thinking to use them all, first of all is the Aussie Hawk I just made.

Background:
The Kittyhawk was the main fighter used by the RAAF in World War II, in greater numbers than the Spitfire. Here I made a diorama of a crash landing of a P-40E, one landing gear leg was broken and the pilot was waiting for rescure. Not a gooday mate!

Video of this model:

Classic model P-47D Thunderbolt

By Francis Lee



Model: (1/48 scale)
Arii US P-47D Thunderbolt

This is a box of old model which the tooling of the mould dated back to mid 70's. OTAKI was the company which tooling up this model. However the company sold the WWII classic fighter series to Arii just before it closed down in 1986 . Arii repacked the models and launched the whole series a year later, I bought this model in around 1988.

I built this P-47D two years ago.the parts look very clean and clear but very simple structure with less details. It was the first fighter I build since I retired. I like it is simple so I spent most of the time to paint the plane. I enjoy it and I keep making models 6 days a week nowadays!