Ahoy mates!

I finally got some time to sit down and work on my I-401 for the Forgotten Sisters campaign. I'm using Tamiya's 1/350 I-400 kit.

Work on the hull. Launch ramp installed.


More hull work. I drilled out the barrel of the deck gun.



And here is the hanger hull. Since I'm modeling her as she was during the Ulithi Raid, the aircraft are painted silver. The aircraft on the catapult will be complete with US markings.



Kenny

Nice work so far, You are going to place one of the planes outside the hangar? - it would be a pity hiding those fine details - or make a "cut-away" on one side of the hangar?

Is it snokels raising from the deck ? - and would they be raised when surfaced ?

Cheers/Jan

Well from what I know they are radio mast and the other is I believe the crane support. The snorkle on the I - 400 is located on the conning tower.

Lookin' good from here Kenny, I like what you are doing with the hangar and planes. That Tamiya kit sure has some nice detailing on the deck. I am more used to the divine scale offering, most of it had to be painted on there.

Can't wait to see some more, keep up the good work.

Thanks guys. Here's an update.







A few more photo etch pieces to put on and then she's ready for primer. I will have an aircraft on the catapult. I've opened up the canopies and may even replace the entire canopy with clear plastic.

Kenny

Go Kenny Go!

401 is looking great, that is some nice interior detail on the hangar door. When I was reading up on the two subs, I found an article by one of the US Navy officers who was on board when they "test drove" the 400 boat. They were used to the cramped conditions on US boats and were amazed at how these giants performed compared to their US counterparts.

Looking forward to seeing more as you go.

Looking good Kenny!



That's the spirit!!!

Keep up
Rui

Is there a full hull option for this one?

Thanks Jay and Rui.

Steve, this kit does come with the full hull option.

Kenny

very nice looking sub there! love the details.... look forward to the rest

More update photos.

Here is the "display" aircraft and the one that will be on the cat. The display aircraft will go on the small black base that came with the kit with a description of the aircraft. It will be painted in the IJN green over gray camo.



I've cut away most of the canopy on the cat plane and hollowed out the cockpit. I've done some test with overhead projector transparency and I'll make the canopy out of that. I made a mold by pressing one of the remaining aircraft upside down in epoxy putty lined with tin foil. I filled the void with carpenters glue to make the master.



Don't think I'll make the deadline. I got a huge glue order from the UK today that will need to be filled and in the post by Saturday.

Kenny

Nice job on trimming out the cockpit Kenny. I would have had at least three or more holes in my mitts tryin' to do that.

Nice idea with making the mold. Can't wait to see how it comes out.

Ahoy mates!

I did some work on the I-401 today. I took one of the extra aircraft and epoxied it to a long screw. when it was dry, I took some copier transparency, heated it up over a candle and pulled it down over the aircraft. Presto, 1/350 clear canopy. Also, I applied a coat of Sasebo Gray over the sub.





More work tomorrow.

Great work LOVE that idea, now I know what to do with the old boxes of transparencies! Ill give it a try some day..cheers

Here's my base.



That's latex caulk for the waves, then painted with navy blue, medium blue and olive. Then coated with Pacific Blue gel coat.

I'm hoping to get the sub finished for GatorCon on the 25th.


Kenny

Go Kenny Go!

Looking good - good idea on the almost vac-form canopy
Rui

Thanks Rui. I'll get some better photos of the base tonight now that the gel coat is dry. This weekend I plan on finishing up the painting on the sub.

Kenny

beautiful base.... look forward to the rest!

Quick update guys. Got to do a little painting on the I-401. I did some subtle shading on the hull and sail and I got the deck painted. For the wood portion, I mixed a little brown in with the black. For the steel parts of the deck, I mixed a drop of oily steel in with the black.







I need to do some touch ups and then work on the figures and aircraft.

Kenny

Hey guys,

I was doing some researching on line and I found this photo...




Looking at the color tone of the deck, I'm thinking that I would need to go with a wood color, don't you agree?

Kenny

Hi Kenny

Are the photos identified? I-400, I-401 or I-402?
From what I have seen while USN officers were inspecting the beasts the deck showed darker (like the bottom image).
Apparently it was tinted in the same manner Yamato deck was...

Going to check and let you know


Rui

Ahoy mates, update time.

Going on the principle that the submarine's deck was tinted with soot from a surface ship's stack, I painted the deck dark brown, because it is water worn, and will dry brush it with black pastel. The sail decals were made on my computer and applied after the model was gloss coated. I've also applied a brown pen wash with Citadel Flesh Ink. I'll dull coat the model before I finish weathering with pastels.





I've also been working on the aircraft that will be on the catapult. For the Ulithi Raid, the aircraft were painted silver with US markings, which the pilots thought to be dishonorable. Because the Japanese thought that there would not be enough time to recover and stow the returning aircraft, the attackers were to be launched without the floats. The folding portion of the tail was also removed.



The Tamiya kit also gives you the option to display one of the Serians in all it's glory. I'll be doing that also. The props on both aircraft are photo etch parts



Comments welcome.
Kenny

Hi Kenny

Looks darn good!
I would like to suggest a very thinned wash (black) on the deck, so that all those nice details to come out!
I guess that you're going to populate the I-Monster with crew?
Keep up!


Rui

Very nice looking.

Thanks for the suggestion Rui. Yes, I do plan to put a crew on board. I'm waiting on this set from Pacific Front now...



Thanks for the kind words Jim.

Kenny