Machina Rex

Under Construction_Cierva C.30 Autogyro_Diorama_1/35
When complete this will also include a bicycle, three peeps, and misc. My first at crack at a grassy country field using my fancy new Woodland Scenics static-grassifcation gizmo. Even though I bought the plug-in power accessory I still struggled to get the blades (2mm-4mm) standing up straight. Need more practice before casting a vote on the device. Looks kinda okay, coverage a little too flat and thick. I might try picking at it a bit to thin it out.

Note:
•The masked-taped off dio base is black
• The rotor housing legs are just resting on the fuselage

Latest Progress on the Mitsubishi A5M4 Claude Diorama
Wingsy Kits_1/48
The aircraft is finished, the rest of the diorama is still under construction.

Originally flown by the flight commander on the aircraft carrier Akagi, this Claude was later transferred to a mainland Chinese base. The tail hook was removed and Hideo Oishi took over as pilot / 1939.

A well-known photo often misidentified as a kamikaze pilot is actually Oishi, a very respected flier, 11 victories and most definitely not a kamikaze pilot. While taking off from a base at Cebu, Philippines, Sept. 12 1944, his aircraft was attacked by US carrier fighters. His plane crashed and Oishi was killed, age 28.

I have a book of old Japanese death poems, one of them seemed like an interesting idea for a diorama (at least I think so, we’ll see!).

The finished diorama will include at least one other figure. I imagine Oishi being saluted by ground crew while distracted by four crows around the tail of his plane. Crows are sometimes bad luck in Japanese culture as is the number four (I welcome correction by students of Japanese culture!).

Something about the crows bugs me as is. They look too big or fake or something. Still working on fleshing out the dio.

The poem:

Is it me the raven calls
from the world of shades
this frosty morning?

- Shukabo, 1775

Under Construction:
A5M4 Claude vignette_Wingsy_1/48
And the weathering begins. At this point just working on a dusty overall background patina for the skin (land-based airfield in China), and initial exhaust stain. Best I can discern these Claudes were painted silver as opposed to NMF. OPR detailing to come. Included a shot of the unweathered (for now) drop tank to show the starting point for the wing weathering.

Under Construction:
Mitsubishi A5M4 Claude_1/48_Wingsy kit
Struggling with a major problem on the Shinden project so I've temporarily set it aside to finish up something (easier) from a few years ago. Painted markings. Weathering to come after assembly is completed (a switch from how I usually work).

This Claude was originally flown by an Akagi flight commander (hence the markings) and later (1939) by Hideo Oishi. Oishi is the pilot pictured in a well-known photo which is often misidentified as a kamikaze.

Oishi flew from carriers and from land bases in China. He died in 1944 when his Zero was shot down by US carrier fighters while taking off from a base in the Philippines.