Tamiya 1/48th A6M2N Aleutian Rufe - FULL BUILD

My full build video of Tamiya's 1/48 A6M2-N, built as an Aleutian's Rufe off of the semi-legendary 'lilac rufe' supposedly sighted in the area during the conflict.
A fairly straightforward build which nonetheless adds some splashes of color to the shelf. It is a reboxing of Tamiya's very cheap, very old, and very decent A6M2 Zero fighter plane. Either would make great second or third models for the beginner, an excellent opportunity to practice basic puttying and weighting on a large, unique, and very inexpensive floatplane model.
Music:
Teki Wa Ikuman
• Video
• Beautiful Japanese & C...
Gunkan Machi
• March of the Battleshi...

[@themajesticmagnificent386]

Beautiful work..Your colour match for the Rufe makes total sense.. Thank you and all the best🇬🇧👍

[@TheWaggishAmerican]

@@themajesticmagnificent386 glad you enjoyed!

[@1014kerry]

After 50+ years of modeling that's about the BEST color scheme I have seen to try and represent the purple RUFE, the pinkish mix was a great idea of yours. your logic makes cents ! it's a realistic possibility! Keep up the great work!

[@TheWaggishAmerican]

Thanks for the kind words! I've wanted to do a Lilac Rufe pretty much as long as I've been modelling, but I just couldn't get over a lot of the other attempts I'd seen- everything from an almost red to purples so violet they wouldn't look out of place on a Warhammer table. Even if it is perhaps a bit too bright I think that somewhere along this path is the 'right' color for this subject, if indeed it ever did exist.

[@rebelsatcloudnine]

A fantastic Rufe! I think you'd know I'm always up for a Zero video and this one did not disappoint, it was really fun to watch from beginning to end. I imagine that the color is very similar to the Earthquakers, when I was researching these B-25's they were reportedly painted in an Apricot color and then it faded into a pinkish color, mind you not the bright pink some are depicted. Given the poorer paint of some Japanese aircraft, I can see this bleaching happening, but as to the full extent, I think that's left up to the modeler :)

[@TheWaggishAmerican]

I've got at least one more Zero build coming soon(ish). Planning on doing the A6M3 this summer, maybe alongside a Hayate. Depending on timing with finishing up things that are stuck on the shelf, I'm also thinking about trying to finally tackle my Tamiya 1/32... If only there weren't SO MANY things I'd like to work on lol! I also have a 1/48 Catalina and C-47 that I'd like to spend some time on...

[@sericono9077]

Nice build. Interesting pink camouflage. I like your aluminum dry brush over black technique. Thanks for sharing the video.

[@josephbaca5214]

Beautiful color scheme

[@curtmartinson5441]

Thats a great build . I like the pink , i think i have seen a artist version of that plane that way . Makes me want to buold my two Rufes . I have those snd two Petes and 2 Jake's. Keep up the good work i enjoyed it

[@SpinZMaster]

Hi everyone, someone told me years ago that my purplish Rufe was wrong. He told me it was a photographic glitch due to the setting sun in that region. But after reading some of these comments about the primer, and knowing the Japanese had bad paint, I'm more convinced this could happen in real life. To me modeling is an expression of one's own impression of a subject. I teach a LOT of seminars on modeling and I tell everyone if you want to paint a purple and pink Sherman tank with multi colored dots on it, go for it. They are building and should enjoy every minute of it, but do your best with that crazy paint scheme. The pink color is more logical due to the brownish primer they used and when beaten by the sun it would go pink. Really great painting, I paint the same way and have gotten 15 Best Of Shows, over 50 Special Awards, and a LOT of 1st places at New England I.P.M.S. competitions. The 1/24th scale Rufe is in my stash, can you see it on the table at a contest.....Whoooo ! I too have a KZbin channel at PMCMP, when you get a chance check it out, really enjoy watching someone talented like you doing that painting, keep up the GREAT work. Bill G.

[@josephbaca5214]

Again damn fine work

[@thebobloblawshow8832]

Really cool build. I remember when I was a kid Tamiya had a kit that was British called the Pink Panther. It was a Jeep with a couple men in Africa and it was an almost identical pink colour. I imagine that was the British pink colour you mentioned. Again great build.

[@TheWaggishAmerican]

Yep, that would be the pink. I know british special forces used it for a bit and it was very common for RAF to use it for recon work for a number of years.

[@thebobloblawshow8832]

@@TheWaggishAmerican an interesting colour for sure. I was shocked the first time I saw that Tamiya kit. Thought it was a joke. 🤣😂 take care.

[@okkami676]

18:32, 18:49, 19:06, 19:40, How are you able to pick up your wet decals so smoothly with your brush? And without the decals folding over each other? That's the smoothest technique I have ever seen. Most people use tweezers or finger.

[@TheWaggishAmerican]

I think its mostly how long I soak. I see a lot of other modelers dunk their whole decal sheet for like 2 seconds then let it sit on the table while they work. I keep constant warm almost hot water, place 4-5 decals in at a time, and let them soak 40-60 seconds before placing them on a towel. By time I actually apply them they have usually already come loose from the paper. If they haven't, i break them free with a fingertip, then can lift with the brush. Brush is just a cheap, very stiff synthetic that I keep in a "flathead" configuration. I do have to slide off paper onto model with fingers or tweezers sometimes, especially with old or aftermarket decals, and it is possible to roll them onto themselves but I usually find that once they are free-sliding on the paper this isn't a huge issue. Larger decals Ill sometimes get a corner or edge up, then work the brush like a knifeblade between the decal and paper to free it- then it lifts fine. In my experience Tamiya, Academy, and Hasegawa are very easy to brush-lift. Airfix can be iffy, eduard is really hard.

[@okkami676]

@TheWaggishAmerican Thank you for the detailed explanation and for sharing your technique. Very much appreciated.

[@SpinZMaster]

Check out KZbin for PMCMP and watch the episode on decals, not to brag but I have a WAY better application for decals, not to say what you do is wrong, if it works for you then Rock On everyone has their own style of doing whatever, but give my method a try, everyone I have taught it to tells me it is the best way to do decals and is a very logical approach to what some find difficult.

[@BigFred1925]

Wow I painted mine pink also, I had an old Johan kit and the box art was pink. I read that the bright color schemes were for easy spotting and recovery. Nice work!

[@lappin6482]

Awesome job....love how the weathering came out 👏👏👏

[@Oda_shinnosuke]

As with the creation of the Type 2 surface fighter, I was also impressed with the final BGM (Gunkan March). From Japan

[@FullMoonStudio]

Cool. A new build video!

[@TheWaggishAmerican]

20:08 Looking at the footage now that it's uploaded this might actually be Dark Earth instead of grime; I can't remember which one I used and it could be either. Dark Earth is my go-to, but given how light this finish was I think I at least thought about using grime instead. Also, music is listed in description. I'm going to try and be better about that when the sources are still available on youtube.

[@datamek]

I have read somwhere that Pink was used for trainers ( orange as well) by IJA if im not wrong....It may be misinterpretation of orange.

[@TheWaggishAmerican]

I hadn't heard of that. I do know that there were some IJA aircraft that were painted a brown that has a purple-ish tint (the one that always comes to mind when I think of it is the Dinah). I didn't even consider it in this video but I wonder if maybe the color mystery could be this brown aggressively fading. I know in some circumstances olive drab can weather to something like a purple.

[@mashelalnaar]

Orange was used for trainers and prototypes. IJA didn't prime a number of their aircraft either so paint peel was severe. IJN coated their aircraft with aotake or lacquer to prevent salt erosion though this quickly faded or discolored the original paintwork.

[@josephbaca5214]

Why did these Alaskan campaign floatplanes have the red/pink paint scheme? I have always had a deep love for the greens and even mottled schemes of imperial japanese aircraft since childhood, bit this fucking oddball color is somehow breathtaking.

[@TheWaggishAmerican]

If they did or did not have it is a big open question. If I had to guess at reasons it might be made, what comes to mind is the sunrise / set, especially so far north where the two take a long time and can even blend into each other in the summer. Maybe they found a lilac to blend better with the sky?

[@AreeyaKKC]

IJN aircraft had a burgundy/pinkish primer. Sometimes the paint faded but the primer was more robust.. My grandfather repaired Japanese and thai aircraft during the Franco-Thai war and WW2.

[@TheWaggishAmerican]

Interesting, I didnt know that.

[@stratonkaratassos3007]

Love it

[@adampender2482]

What determines for you whether to use a panel line wash or a homemade oil wash?

[@TheWaggishAmerican]

I haven't used an oil wash in years. When I do all-over washes, at least for now, I've been using Flory Model's Clay washes. as far as what decides it, there's not really a formula. I just take a look and get a feeling regarding how easy it will be to clear it off the surface- for example, in cockpits I generally have preferred Tamiya's pinwashes because it is tough to remove a full sludge with all the details and often I feel they overwhelm the colors. Same reason you basically don't see anybody use sludge washes on armor.

[@itsmers]

Gloves bro. Great build also

[@TheWaggishAmerican]

Gloves cost $$$ lol. I try and use them only when its most important, main painting and gloss and similar.

[@yodagaming8612]

very nice vid

[@TheWaggishAmerican]

Thanks.

[@yodagaming8612]

@@TheWaggishAmerican I am inside your walls

[@TheWaggishAmerican]

@@yodagaming8612 uh oh

[@adamjpotatos8271]

The pink panther lol

[@TheWaggishAmerican]

From head to toes!

[@adamjpotatos8271]

@@TheWaggishAmerican is it the pink cherry blossom??

[@TheWaggishAmerican]

@@adamjpotatos8271 ? There are old stories of sightings of 'Lilac' painted rufes being sighted in the Aleutians, and I have seen guesses of what exactly 'lilac' means from this to an almost black purple. I picked this pink because I think it makes the most sense for the alaskan sky, for similar reasons that the RAF used that pink for recon work.

[@adamjpotatos8271]

@@TheWaggishAmerican Oooooo the pink sunset or the desert now i know why it's pink you based it at a historical paint scheme right

[@TheWaggishAmerican]

@@adamjpotatos8271 I based it off of what is rumored to be a historical paint scheme. Lilac was not anything official that I have been able to find from the japanese- they didn't have a protocol to paint with it or even a paint to do it with, but there are reports of sightings by allied pilots. So I thought about what was plausible, and then I mixed with paints that they crews in theater would have on hand. So it is based on historical *rumor* moreso than fact.

[@warbirdgamer]

Why to kits manufacturers pit so much detail into parts that will never bee seen once the midel is built

[@TheWaggishAmerican]

Because the market demands it.

[@SpinZMaster]

I crash many of my aircraft and all those unseen parts really help me in the detail needed when crashing a plane. I find this is a way more challenging aspect in aircraft modeling, but I also agree to the parts deal, there are some engines that contain so much detail it is almost overwhelming, then bye bye, but if your rotting out a fuselage then thanks for the parts.

[@christianindividual4550]

I saw one of your comments from another video. It appears that you are very aware of things going on nowadays. I thought that was interesting, as it appears most people are deceived, even so-called "Truth Seekers".

[@TheWaggishAmerican]

Too aware, I'm afraid. Oversaturated. Modelling is a good distraction against latent blackpilling, I've found.

[@christianindividual4550]

@@TheWaggishAmerican 👍.

[@SpinZMaster]

There are some modelers that insist in a historical build, I compete a lot and some of the comments I've heard when judging is unreal. I crashed a 1/32 scale 1970's Revell Wildcat called "Lady Luck" (there was no Wildcat called lady luck) but some know everything in the world dude actually visited the sight of the crash, took pictures of the plane and was going to recover it for a static museum exhibit, but the project fell thru. OH REALLY...OK. Mister Big Shot. I've done this a lot with other subjects, a U-Boat called U-eight one two (U-812) and another called U-2, okey dokey smokie, with Capitan Pauel Bono at the helm. I had one guy come up to me and asked, "Is all your stories a bunch of (made up) stuff" Oh Yea was my reply. It is just another aspect of model building that I really enjoy.