Wolfman63 Posted May 8, 2020 Report Share Posted May 8, 2020 My next build is the 1/48 Hasegawa Aichi B7A2 (Grace) Attack Bomber. It was a Japanese dive bomber/torpedo aircraft with a gull wing configuration. I will be building it as the torpedo version from the 752nd Naval Flying Group. As usual the cockpit is always the first thing that gets built and detailed. I did not like the kit instrument panel and the Eduard gauge film lacked character. So I went online and found two photos of a B7 instrument panel and made a decal of it. I then sanded the kit panel and painted it white. Added the decal then used the top part of the photo etch panel and then painted the knobs and switches as they were on the reference photo. The bulkhead between the pilot and gunner was shaved down and photo etch braces for the seat were added. I then added more photo etch details like replacing the kit pedals with photo etch and replaced the thick pilot seat with the photo etch replacement. The gunners seat had a burlap pad (made with cloth tape) and photo etch seat belts. I added some cables and wires to the cockpit walls and weathered everything with pastel chalk. As soon as the seat is fully dry I will weather it then assembly the rest of the cockpit. Next I will be assembling and detailing the engine and fuselage. You can see all the photos in my build log at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-aichi-b7a2-grace-attack-aircraft/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted May 8, 2020 Report Share Posted May 8, 2020 Very sharp detail painting, and that main panel rocks! You're off to yet another great start! looking forward to more! Gil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfman63 Posted May 15, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 The build of this kit is going well. With the cockpit assembled I installed into the fuselage. The fuselage fit together very well with only some minor putty in the seams. I then painted and detailed the engine. The photo etch set provides the ignition wiring so this was added. I mounted the engine, cowl, and the propeller hub. The hub is very large and hides most of the view of the engine. The wings were assembled and the landing gear added. I base coated the underside and then started work on the torpedo details. The plastic fins and propellers were replaced with the photo etch replacements. The torpedo was painted and then mounted with photo etch straps. I then painted the upper areas and added some more details like the ammo belt for the rear gun. I weathered the fuselage with some minor staining on the wings and exhaust. To finish up this week’s work I painted the canopy sections and used some EZ-line to run the antenna cable from the equipment thru the canopy to the top of the mast. This will run to the top of the rudder when installed. Next will be decals and final weathering. Check out more photos and details of this build from the start at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-aichi-b7a2-grace-attack-aircraft/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted May 15, 2020 Report Share Posted May 15, 2020 Dang that's looking great. Love the details on the engine!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfman63 Posted May 21, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2020 The B7A2 “Grace” is now complete! This was a very nice kit to build. Everything fit together nicely. The instructions were laid out well t make the build go smoothly. The decals went on well. Just a couple of things about the decals, First the dark green outline on the fuselage and upper wings are an identical match to the Tamiya XF11 J.N. Green paint so they blend in too well, and the insignia’s are two part decals. Getting them line up requires careful alignment. I would recommend applying the base decal first and let it dry then place the top red one. This will keep the bottom from shifting while centering the top. If you are looking for a nice WWII Japanese aircraft that was unique I would recommend this kit. Thanks for following along. You can see this build with photos and details from the start at https://davidsscalemodels.com/build-log/1-48-aichi-b7a2-grace-attack-aircraft/ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghodges Posted May 22, 2020 Report Share Posted May 22, 2020 Clean, sharp looking build! The canopy framing looks especially nice. Congrats! Gil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted May 26, 2020 Report Share Posted May 26, 2020 On 5/21/2020 at 10:56 PM, ghodges said: Clean, sharp looking build! The canopy framing looks especially nice. Congrats! Gil Thinking about masking that canopy to get the framing as nice as you did has made my eye start to twitch uncontrollably. 🤪 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfman63 Posted May 27, 2020 Author Report Share Posted May 27, 2020 22 hours ago, Paul said: Thinking about masking that canopy to get the framing as nice as you did has made my eye start to twitch uncontrollably. 🤪 I did not mask the canopy. All canopy frame painting was done by hand then cleaned up with a toothpick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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