Infinity 1/32 Aichi Val

[GusMac]

Life has been a little 'interesting' for the last week or so, so bench time has been minimal. However, got half an hour or so tonight to make a tentative start on this.

Got the micro chisels and a sanding stick out to remove the raised detail from the instrument panel ready for the photoetch which is in the detail set.

Ernie very kindly included the full detail set with the kit prize so there's also the resin engine, bombs and the wing fold set. Plan is to use all of them.

I'm hoping life is settling down again and I can get properly into this.

[GusMac]

Have had some decent bench time over the last few days as the weather here has reverted to more typical Spring weather, ie rubbish!

I've got all the cockpit sub-assemblies ready for priming and painting.

Lots of very small parts to attach but thankfully managed to get them all on without any losses. The plastic has a slightly strange texture being hard but waxy and some of the parts needed a fair bit of clean-up but it's not difficult to put together, just needs time and no rushing.

So, next it's primer and the Kawanishi interior green then lots of detail painting.

[HubertB]

Ah, a Val in a proper scale !  

Hubert
 

[Martinnfb]

This is exciting, One of the very few Japanese types that spikes my interest, I will watch closely. 

Cheers

Martin

[DocRob]

Looks like we are in the same boat weather wise, Gus. The interior looks fantastic and very detailed. I can´t wait to see some color applied, as the gray plastic looks as unappealing as a German RLM66 cockpit .

Cheers Rob

[KevinM]

Looking good Gus  I think Ernie did one of these about a year ago came out nice.

[Count0]

21 hours ago, HubertB said:

proper scale !

Someone needs to beat you with a micrometer...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just kidding.

[HubertB]

19 minutes ago, Count0 said:

Someone needs to beat you with a micrometer...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just kidding.

A 1/35 model occupies 76% of the volume of the same 1/32 model …

That’s no micrometer issue for me, but then, each to his own (including sense of humor  )

Hubert

[GusMac]

9 hours ago, KevinM said:

Looking good Gus  I think Ernie did one of these about a year ago came out nice.

This kit was gifted by Ernie as the prize in the GB last year, so I'm using his build as inspiration. If mine looks half as good as his I'll be happy.

[GusMac]

Got the detail painting and some dry brushing done on the cockpit components.

Next up is a gloss coat then some oils and a pin wash and we'll see how we're looking.

The small detail parts really become apparent after they're painted and I'm pretty happy with it all goes together so far.

[GusMac]

Got the instrument panels done with some detail painting and Airscale decals. Flat coat and gloss over the dials to come.

[DocRob]

Very fine detail, Gus, I can´t wait to see how all the interior parts sum up.

Cheers Rob

[BlrwestSiR]

I'm with Rob. The IP looks great. 

[GusMac]

I should've mentioned I used Gundam markers for the first time on the cockpit dials and switches - very impressed with most but the red is too dark and translucent for my taste.

[GusMac]

Just about ready to join the fuselage halves. Everything fits nicely so far, so hopefully the rear spar and tail wheel bay don't screw that up!

Definitely a fun build so far.

[Martinnfb]

Looking very promising. 👍

[Spitfire]

Looking good, I have the same kit and goodies in the stash so please keep up the good work.

Cheers

Dennis

[DocRob]

Looking good, Gus, but does the IP sitting straight? It looks off on the pic, not that it later obstructs, when closing the fuselage.

Cheers Rob

[GusMac]

Thanks Rob. Looking from above and the side, the IP does sit straight. I see what you mean in the photo though. I wonder if it's just because of the combination of straight and curved edges in that area.

I've dry fitted the fuselage and it all fits really nicely with no issues which is a pleasant surprise given how busy the sidewalls and cockpit floor are.

[GusMac]

Fuselage is together now and the seam clean-up is completed. Just a tiny amount of filler and CA needed as the fit is very good - the spar for the tail fins and the firewall line everything up nicely which compensates for the lack of location pins.

There's a fair bit of rescribing to do but that's a task that I have to be in the mood for, so it'll wait for a bit until it's time to join the wings to the fuselage. That'll be a while away as I think it's going to take a bit of time to get the wing fold mechanism all done.

 

[GusMac]

No going back on the wingfolds now! 😆

Seems wrong taking a razor saw to a kit like this but the deed is done now. 

[KevinM]

Looking good Gus I have to agree about the saw part.

[denders]

On 4/24/2025 at 3:41 PM, GusMac said:

I should've mentioned I used Gundam markers for the first time on the cockpit dials and switches - very impressed with most but the red is too dark and translucent for my taste.

I have the set of markers from AK and find it better to use white under yellow and red. 

[GusMac]

Slow but steady progress on this one.

Underwing centre section is attached with the chunky spar to ensure the dihedral is correct. I wasn't convinced by the amount of gluing surface available, so this is attached with BSI 5-minute epoxy to make sure it's going nowhere.

As Ernie emphasised in his build, you've got to dry fit everything before you commit to glue - I had to thin the top of the spar on one side to stop it catching on the bottom of the cockpit floor but everything seems to be lining up correctly now.

First round of filling on the gaps with some Bondo. Next is a second round with Tamiya grey filler, then a proper sanding and reinstating all the detail.

Also got the initial resin parts in place for the wing fold mechanism. Thinning the inner surfaces sufficiently was stressful and tedious - you don't want to go too thin but the tolerances are so tight that you've got to push it a bit.

If anyone has this set you'll notice that there is supposed to be an inner set of spars 1cm in from the edge (at the marked line) but these will be totally invisible and serve no structural purpose so I made an executive decision and ditched them as the thought of fiddling with tolerances twice was too much to contemplate!

[Spitfire]

Good thinking, if it serves no structural purpose and will not be seen then why fit it.

Cheers

Dnnis