Sean's 1/72 Ki-84 Hayate

May 7, 2016, 7:38 am

≫ Next: New RS Models Ki-61-I Ko in 1/72

Britmodeller Sean has very kindly shared these images of his straight from the box build of the classic Hasegawa Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate in 1/72nd scale.

Sean painted some of the red, yellow and blue markings as the kit decals other than the Hinomaru were not useable but otherwise reports that the kit was a pleasure to build, fitted together nicely and without the need for any filler.

The scheme represents an aircraft of the 2nd Chutai of the 29th Hiko Sentai, on Taiwan in 1945. The spectacular blue 'wave arrow' marking, once the subject of controversy and scepticism, was confirmed by a photograph clearly showing it on a derelict Ki-44 in the Philippines.

1978 Hasegawa Catalogue Image

1982 Release as B18

This kit was first announced as 'N1' in Hasegawa's 1978 kit catalogue with a photograph of the surviving Hayate in flight, but like its companion Ki-43-II in the same scale was not released until 1982 as kit # B18 in the "blue flash" box. Box art by Shigeo Koike depicted the 29th Hiko Sentai example but alternative decals were included for '327' of the 73rd Hiko Sentai in 1944 in the factory-applied olive drab scheme with a colour profile of that aircraft on the side of the box.

1987 Release as 504

1994 release as SP132 with Aeromaster Decals

The kit was re-issued in a new style box in 1987 as Kit # 504 with the same Shigeo Koike art but re-sized and presented. The parts were still in dark green plastic but the alternative markings were now for aircraft '40' of the 1st Chutai, 47th Hiko Sentai at Narimasu, Japan in 1945, also in the olive drab scheme. In 1994 the kit was released again in both the standard 'orange' AT series and as a special edition SP132, this time moulded in grey plastic with the addition of a set of Aeromaster Decals (the 1987 issue decal sheet was still included). This provided markings (shown below), including Hinomaru, for two special attack Hayate of the 57th and 182nd Shinbutai, as flown respectively by Lt Yoshitoku Itoh from Shimodate on 17 May 1945 and 1Lt Takeshi Imoto from Tatebayashi in August 1945, the latter aircraft reported to have been painted dark purplish blue on the upper surfaces. Both aircraft had large lightning flash emblems on their fuselages. The kit has been re-issued several times since in special editions with new box art and decal sheets, of which more anon. There are no mainstream competitors to this classic kit in 1/72nd scale.

With special thanks to Sean for sharing these images of his classic model.

Image credits: Model photos © 2016 Britmodeller Sean; Box art © 1982, 1987, 1994 Hasegawa Seisakusho Co., Ltd.; Decal sheet & instructions © 1994 Aeromaster Decals via Hasegawa Seisakusho Co., Ltd.

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New RS Models Ki-61-I Ko in 1/72

May 9, 2016, 7:00 am

≫ Next: Curtiss Hawks, China and French Gray

≪ Previous: Sean's 1/72 Ki-84 Hayate

Following on from their 1/72 Hien Otsu, Hei and Tei kits, RS Models are showing a new Ki-61-I Ko with splendid box art at their website, release date TBC. This looks to include the retractable tailwheel and doors of this first operational Hien variant as extra resin parts and presuming they get the wing gun panel fairings correct it will be the first true Ko to be represented in this scale since the somewhat iffy Revell kit of 1963.

The decal sheet provides markings for three subjects:-

Ki-61-I Ko of Akeno Flying School, Japan, 1943 in plain natural metal finish
Ki-61-I Ko of 2nd Chutai, 68th Hiko Sentai, New Guinea, 1944 in a dark green disruptive camouflage over natural metal
Ki-61-I Ko of Sgt Matsumi Nakano of the 244th Hiko Sentai air-to-air ramming unit in dark green with a red painted tail

Hasegawa Tei vs RS Models Tei

I haven't built the RS Models Tei kit yet but I have compared it to the older Hasegawa Tei kit, noticing the following differences:

The RS kit is better detailed and broken down into more parts, having approximately twice as many parts as the Hasegawa kit, for example the radiator and the distinctive fairing behind the pilot's sear are separate and more detailed, multi-part components in the RS kit
The RS cockpit is more detailed with the cowling guns represented and with fuselage halves having sidewall detail whereas the Hasegawa kit has no sidewall detail. The gunsight is not represented at all in the Hasegawa kit but is a separate part in the RS kit
The RS kit has more panel line detail with rivets represented on wing and tailplane fairings
The RS kit has a separate upper cowling panel with a finer representation of the gun troughs
The RS kit has deeper and more accurate wheel wells
The RS main wheel covers have correct details on the inner faces and the small inboard doors have separate retraction yokes whereas the Hasegawa parts are plain. However the undercarriage legs in the RS kit are chunkier and less well defined than in the Hasegawa kit.
The RS kit has separate drop tank racks on the wings whereas the Hasegawa kit has them moulded integrally to the wings - the RS drop tanks are also a better shape and more detailed
The RS spinner has a backplate whereas the apertures in the Hasegawa kit spinner for the propeller blades are open to the rear; prop blades in the Hasegawa kit are a bit on the weedy side
The Hasegawa canopy has better defined frames
Both kits have engraved surface detail and the same unrealistic "Hasegawa-type" representation of fabric surfaces with fine raised lines to represent ribs and rib tapes
Both kits require clean up and the RS kit has no locating pins
RS decals are ok with well chosen, nicely saturated colours

Generally the Hasegawa kit is a simpler proposition reflecting its age and FWIW I think the forward cowling "pinch-in" and spinner are slightly better shaped than on the RS kit which has a slightly more slender and pointed nose. However the RS kit is the correct length forward of the wings whereas the Hasegawa kit is slightly under length. The shortness in the Hasegawa kit is in the section between the wing leading edge and the rear panel line for the swing down lower cowling. The Hasegawa kit is missing the long, slim fairings just above the wing roots which are represented in the RS kit and distinctive on the Tei. The RS kit also has provision for the venturi sometimes seen on the left side of the cowling.

Swings and roundabouts for the Hien builder. The Hasegawa kit is an easy, straightforward build and still results in a good looking model if you are not too bothered about all the small details. The RS kit has more detail but will probably be a more challenging build. Both have nose accuracy issues.

With Aoshima set to release a new Ki-61-I series and a future AZ Models Ki-61 family announced last year it looks like the Hien modeller is going to be spolit for choice!

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Curtiss Hawks, China and French Gray

May 17, 2016, 7:50 am

≫ Next: Recent Rising Accessories

≪ Previous: New RS Models Ki-61-I Ko in 1/72

Back in 2013 I blogged a two-parter on Curtiss Hawk monoplanes for China, here and here. I had not planned to blog about the earlier biplane Curtiss Hawks operated in China because there is already "so much out there" but a little serendipity came into play when Mark Smith kindly emailed me a snippet from Dana Bell posted at Hyperscale:-

" . . . the colors applied to Hawk IIIs being exported to China in 1936. A few weeks back I tripped across Curtiss' export application, which included notes that the finish was to match Berry Brothers French Gray 1258. The blue for the insignia was to match Berry Curtiss Blue 1263."

In Ref 2. it is asserted that all the Hawk IIIs were originally destined for the Cantonese Air Force and subsequently taken over by the Republic of China Air Force (RoCAF). The aircraft of the Cantonese Air Force were painted grey, usually depicted as a cool light grey as with the Old Man's excellent model of a Cantonese Curtiss Hawk I here, whose build report also usefully explains the confusing relationship between the Republic of China and the semi-independent enclave of Canton.

Dana Bell suggested that the aircraft were probably re-painted green in China with, presumably, the under surfaces remaining in the French Gray - or not! Photographs of the Hawk III in Chinese service show a very dark - and quite glossy - overall colour (see heading image) or a lighter, duller colour with a lighter painted undersurface. Tonal effects in monochrome photographs can vary and be quite confusing as these images of the same Curtiss Hawk III 'Ningbo Special' demonstrate. Therefore where exactly that French Gray comes in - or doesn't - is puzzling.

Berryloid 1258 French Gray

Thanks to Michael McMurtrey who kindly passed on these images via Mark Smith and to Ed Seay Jr. of M-A-L Hobby Shop in Irving, Texas who kindly gave permission for the original chips to be examined and photographed we now have some idea of what Berryloid French Gray 1258 might have looked like. And it appears a distinctly greenish grey! That this is not just age related yellowing distorting blue into green is suggested by delving into the history of the colour 'French Grey' and the fact that the current BS381c 630 French Grey is quite similar to the Berryloid colour, being a distinctly greenish grey. 630 is a Munsell Green Yellow and very close to FS 16376 in appearance.

Like the Zero's amber grey in monochrome photographs this colour might appear either quite light or more mid-toned and could even be described by some as "khaki". It is not far off the light greenish-grey colour of Royal Hong Kong Police summer uniforms which were always described as "khaki" in official documentation.

Berryloid Curtiss Blue 1263

Berryloid Curtiss Blue 1263 for the national insignia is less surprising but is a rather lighter and greyer blue than the expected standard for RoCAF insignia.

Serials, Deliveries and Units

There is disparity in the designation of the first Chinese Hawk biplanes with Ref.2 insisting on Curtiss Hawk I whilst Refs.3 and 4 use Curtiss Hawk II. According to Ref.1 the Chinese Nationalist government placed an order for 17 Curtiss Hawk Type 1 (Landplane Design 35-A) with Curtiss manufacturer serial numbers 11733 to 11749 and series serials H-47 to H-63 which were delivered in June and July 1933. Another 14 aircraft were delivered in August 1933 with the s/n 11770 to 11783 and H-66 to H-79. In addition to those Ref.3 attributes the delivery of another 18 aircraft without engines and manufacturer or series numbers from 15 March 1933 to 8 May 1933.

The Curtiss Hawk III (design 68-C) "China Demonstrator" was delivered in March 1936 with the manufacturer serial number 12095. This aircraft was reportedly painted overall olive drab with an aluminium interior and Chinese insignia on upper and lower wings, each side of the forward fuselage and rudder. This was followed by an order for 59 s/n 12096-12154 (Ref.1) or 60 s/n 12096-12155 (Ref.3) aircraft delivered from 16 May to 7 August 1936. Those aircraft were described as being painted overall 'khaki' with aluminium interiors and standard Chinese insignia. In addition 11 aircraft s/n 12175-12185 were delivered to Canton, according to Ref.3 from 1 May to 17 July 1936. The Canton aircraft were painted 'French Gray' with aluminium interiors and 'semi-standard' Chinese insignia (presumably incorporating the outer red ring).

According to Ref.3 a further 30 Hawk III were delivered from 12 April to 7 June 1938 with the s/n 12726 to 12755. According to Ref.1 this was an order for 29 sets of parts to build the Hawk III at the Central Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (CAMCO). The "missing" aircraft was probably another demonstrator aircraft delivered to Canton in May, 1936.

The Hawk IIIs were assigned to the 7th Fighter Squadron at Sinsiang, 4th Air Group's 21st, 22nd and 23rd Fighter Squadrons based respectively at Chih Chiachwang, Taming and Tsinan, and to the 5th Air Group's 24th and 25th Fighter Squadrons based at Tsinan. The 5th Air Group's 28th Fighter Squadron operated the Hawk I from Nanchang and the Canton Hawk IIIs were taken over as the 29th Fighter Squadron at that city. At first the aircraft were identified by large white four-digit numbers painted on the fuselage sides, the first two digits identifying the squadron and the last two the individual aircraft number. By the end of September 1937 six of the Canton Hawk IIIs had been shot down and only one of the three surviving aircraft was serviceable. In addition to assembling the Hawk aircraft from parts a number of crashed aircraft were salvaged and re-built by CAMCO and at Shiuchow.

The Duality of French Gray

Originally French Gray was the description used for a distinctly light blue grey colour, evidenced by early recipes for the paint colour. In the 18th Century the pigments used were a lead white base to which were added Prussian blue, vermilion (red) and charcoal black to the lead white base, resulting in a very slightly purplish light blue-grey. The 19th century edition of John Smith’s 'The Art of Painting', an English housepainting manual, suggests that French Grey could be created as follows:-

“Take white lead and Prussian blue, or blue verditer; and, to make a more beautiful and pleasant colour, take a small quantity of Lake or Vermilion”

By way of a slight digression, in 'Chromatography; or, a Treatise on Colours and Pigments, and of their Powers in Painting' (1835) the chemist George Field had made a distinction between grey and gray, now largely reduced to a matter of transatlantic spelling. Whilst grey was asserted to be a simple mixture of black and white, the presence of a third subsidiary pigment resulted in a gray. In the case of French Gray it was held that a small amount of red or ultramarine pigment made the grey 'warm' and more attractive. This distinction has been effectively lost by common usage and British or American conventional spelling.

Samples in various early publications show a cool light grey, only very slightly blueish, and nothing like the greenish-grey Berry or BSi colour. At what stage perception transitioned to include a greenish grey is unknown but BS381 of 1930 includes # 30 French Grey which is also a greenish grey closely similar to the Berryloid and current BS381 colour. However the uniform facings of the British Army's 21st Lancers were also officially 'French Grey' and the light blue-grey hue attributed to the term is apparent from their extant uniform artifacts and imagery.

French Grey facings for the 21st Lancers

The duality in the perception of this colour is therefore problematic, especially when it comes to the prototype Spitfire, happily OT for this blog*, also reported to have been painted in 'French Grey'. An earlier incarnation was reportedly finished in a greenish-grey primer. Does the description of French Grey refer to that or to the supposed light blue-grey Supermarine seaplane colour in which it later appeared?

No answers here I'm afraid, just more stuff to ponder about. My suggestion for a Chinese Curtiss Hawk III model would be to apply the French Gray first as a primer coat and then reveal it selectively through wear of the overall dark olive green camouflage. For two tone subjects whether the under surface should be represented as the French Gray or painted in the Chinese sky blue is a matter of personal choice.

* The Republic of China had attempted unsuccessfully to purchase Spitfire I from the British. If sold those would probably have been the earliest models with flat canopies and two-bladed props but it is interesting to speculate what the outcome might have been had Chinese Spitfires faced the appearance of the Mitsubishi Zero over Chungking in the summer of 1940.

References

Ref 1. 'Curtiss Fighter Aircraft - A Photographic History 1917-1948', Dean F H & Hagedorn D, (Schiffer 2007)
Ref 2. 'A History of Chinese Aviation - Encyclopedia of Aircraft and Aviation in China until 1949', Andersson L, (AHS of ROC 2008)
Ref 3. 'The Curtiss Hawks', Shamburger P & Christy J, (Wolverine Press 1972)
Ref 4. 'The American Fighter', Angelucci E with Bowers P (Orion 1987)

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Recent Rising Accessories

June 5, 2016, 7:50 am

≫ Next: Japanese Blenheims at Semarang, Java

≪ Previous: Curtiss Hawks, China and French Gray

Rising Decals have recently released another batch of interesting resin accessory sets for Japanese Navy and Army aircraft featuring specialist underwing air-to-air ordinance. A brilliant feature is that as always the sets are self contained and include relevant decals for one or more subjects together with colour instructions.

Set RD Acr-025 (shown above) contains ten Type 99 No.3 Mk.3 Mod.1 incendiary bombs and racks for a Nakajima-built A6M2 '61-180' of the 261st Ku at the Aslito airstrip, Saipan in June 1944 in sombre dark green over grey finish. The bombs and racks are separately moulded and the decal sheet includes the yellow tail code, data plate and small '2-3' stencil and a full set of Hinomaru with painted out white borders on upper wing and fuselage. This is a welcome set because the Type 99 had distinctive spiral auxiliary fins which are quite difficult to improvise. The Type 99 was a 30kg (66lb) bomb with nose and tail fuzing, a cast picric acid explosive filling and 198 phosphorous filled steel pellets intended for use against aircraft in the air and on the ground. The spiral fins were designed to accelerate the bomb's rate of rotation to 1,000rpm in order for the tail fuze to function. The subject aircraft carried five bombs under each wing and their position is clearly shown in the instructions. This is a useful, innovative set that will dress up an A6M2 model very nicely.

Set RD Acr-026 contains just two Type 99 No.3 Mk.3 Mod.1 incendiary bombs and racks but decals for three different subject aircraft from the 381st Ku at the airstrip on Jefman Island in May 1944. Jefman is a small island at the north-west tip of New Guinea between Sorong and Waiwo. All three aircraft are Nakajima-built A6M2 with tactical markings of grey painted tail fins and wing tips. '81-1142' has a red horizontal tail stripe, '81-1183' a fuselage Houkoku legend for 'Seram No.1' and '81-1146' a white horizontal fin stripe and white forward cowling. The decal sheet contains a set of white bordered Hinomaru and data plate stencil for one aircraft, with white tail codes, tail/fin stripes and Houkoku legend for the options. Another very welcome set that will inspire the building and painting of a very different looking Zero.

Set RD Acr-027 contains two Type 3 No.6 Mk.27 Mod.1 rocket bombs and racks with decals for two J2M3 Raiden interceptors of the 302nd Ku at Atsugi airbase, Japan in 1945. Decals include the Hinomaru for one aircraft, white tail codes for 'YoD-1148' and 'YoD-1140' with a yellow fuselage band for the former which also has colourful yellow trim on the tail fin, cowling and cowling flaps. This type of rocket bomb was developed to overcome the difficulty of dropping the Type 99 bomb to explode close enough to a moving aircraft formation. It was first designed in January 1944 but not adopted for operational use until February 1945 after extensive testing at the Hiratsuka and First Technical Arsenals and Kashima experimental bombing range. The 60kg (132lb) bomb contained 10kg of propellant and the bursting nose cone was filled with 140 iron pellets embedded in 4 kg of white phosphorous. After firing it reached a velocity of 270 m/sec and on exploding the dispersion arc of the pellets was 60°, functioning similarly to an artillery fired shrapnel shell. It was not designed to hit an individual aircraft but to explode within a bomber formation. This is another very interesting set to use to make a Raiden model a little bit different.

Set RD Acr-028 contains four Type 3 No.1 Mk.28 Mod.1 rocket bombs and racks for two Nakajima-built A6M5 fighters of the 302nd Ku at Atsugi airbase, Japan, in 1945. The first, 'YoD-1132', is an A6M5a and the second, 'YoD-131' is an A6M5c. Both carry two rocket bombs under each wing. The decals include Hinomaru sufficient for one model, yellow tail codes and undercarriage numbers for both and the yellow victory mark (?) on the tail fin of 1132. The Mk.28 bombs were smaller versions of the Mk.27, being 7.65kg (16.8lb) in weight with a 0.6kg nose charge and 2kg of propellant accelerating the bomb to 400 m/sec. This set complements the previous set very nicely and together would make an interesting display representing the IJN's air defence of Japan against the B-29 bombing campaign.

Set RD Acr-031 turns to the Army and provides two Ta-Dan cluster bomb containers for a Ki-44 of the 1st Yasen Hoju Hikotai at Singapore in 1944. This aircraft is speculatively attributed to Capt Ryotaro Jobo and is depicted in the late-war olive drab scheme, although shown as dark green on the instructions. Decals are included for the Hinomaru, white senchi hiyoshiki war front band and the unit tail markings with individual aircraft number. The cluster bomb container was made of corrugated steel sheet in three sections and according to the US ordinance manual TM 9-1985-5 was painted black. This type contained 30 Type 2 40mm bombs of 0.33kg weight and could also be fitted to the Ki-61, Ki-84, Ki-100 and Ki-46, the latter pioneering the use of this type of ordinance against the B-29. Each bomb contained the Japanese Army Mk.2 'Tanoyaku' explosive charge consisting of 50% TNT and 50% RDX. When the container was released from the rack the arming wire was withdrawn allowing the container bands to fall away. The three sections of the container then separated allowing the individual bombs to fall free, arming themselves in the process (inside the container they were interlocked to secure the arming vanes). A very nice set for modelling an unusually armed Shoki from a very interesting unit.

Set RD Acr-032 two Ta-Dan cluster bomb containers for a colourful Ki-46-III interceptor of Dokuritsu Hiko No.83 Chutai at Ashiya, Japan, in August 1945. This set contains the larger type of Ta-Dan cluster bomb container holding 76 Type 2 bombs and again the TM describes the container as being painted black. Decals consist of the Hinomaru, striking unit red, yellow and white tail markings and white bordered yellow fuselage bands. The white Homeland Defence 'bandages' will need to be painted on. Again this aircraft is in the late-war olive drab colour although shown as a dark green. The 83rd independent air squadron was originally intended as the reconnaissance element of the 12th Air Division formed from the 19th Air Brigade on 17 July 1944 under Maj Gen Furuya, but as bombing raids increased two-thirds of the unit's aircraft were re-assigned to the Ta-Dan interceptor role. The 12th Air Division was formally assigned to the General Defence Command but operated under Western Army Command and the other units within the Division were the 4th, 47th 59th and 71st Hiko Sentai. The 16th Air Brigade (51st and 52nd Hiko Sentai) and 246th Hiko Sentai were also attached to the Division. The 246th gave birth to the 82nd independent air squadron, designated in February 1945 with a specialist high altitude interception role and also equipped with Ki-46-III fighters. The relationship between the 82nd and 83rd, if any, is unknown.

The Ki-46-III interceptor had a long formal designation - 百 hyaku (100) 式 shiki (type) 三 san (3) 型 gata (model) 司令部 shireibu (headquarters) 偵察機 teisatsu-ki (reconnaissance aircraft) 改造 kaizô (remodeled or modified) 防空 bôkû (air defence) 戦闘機 sentô-ki (fighter). Various abbreviated designations were used to describe the different armament configurations but the variant depicted by Rising was typically referred to simply as san gata otsu ( "3 model otsu" - Ki-46-III kai otsu or Ki-46-III kai b). 20 aircraft of this type, without 37mm oblique armament, were manufactured by Mitsubishi and 55 modified from Ki-46-III in Tachikawa Army Air Arsenal. The Ta-Dan containers were also carried and used by unarmed Ki-46 variants in the Japan-based reconnaissance units.

All the accessory parts in these sets are crisply moulded in grey resin but will need care in removing from their sprues. They are all very welcome additions to Rising's continuing indulgence of Japanese aircraft enthusiasts and highly recommended. With special thanks to Mirek of Rising Decals for the review samples.

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Japanese Blenheims at Semarang, Java

June 20, 2016, 5:44 am

≫ Next: Anigrand Craftswork Nakajima B4N1 Prototype in 1/72 Scale

≪ Previous: Recent Rising Accessories

A grateful hat tip to Jacob Terlouw for alerting Aviation of Japan to some interesting photos in the National Archives of the Netherlands. The first shows abandoned Japanese aircraft wreckage photographed at Semarang in Java in August 1947. It reveals in the background the remains of at least three Bristol Blenheims in Japanese Army markings and reticulated camouflage. Two appear to be Blenheim IV types whilst the central hulk might just be a Blenheim Mk 1.

The Blenheim IV on the right (shown enlarged above) appears to have been converted into a passenger aircraft with the addition of four fuselage side windows and it retains its engines. According to F. Djoko Poerwoko in 'My Home My Base, Perjalanan Sejarah Pangkalan Udara Iswahjudi 1939-2000' (Lanud Iswahjudi 2001, p.49-66) a Blenheim IV had been re-fitted with Japanese Nakajima Sakai engines. After a brief 15 minute test flight at Maospati on 13 November 1946 this aircraft crashed and was a total write-off but the pilot Suhanda and his five passengers were unharmed. According to Wiweko Soepono in 'Dari Blitar ke Kelas Dunia', (Jakarta 2002, p.64-134) the Blenheim was modified to carry passengers but was too nose heavy so three bags of sand were placed in the tail end of the fuselage. The aircraft flew three circuits over Madiun but then crashed when attempting to land.

Another view of the same wreckage (above) reveals an interesting tail marking on a Ki-54 of what appears to be a stylised '5' or 'S' superimposed on a horizontal stripe. Semarang was within 9th Air Division's sphere of operations as part of 3rd Air Army. The 9th's Headquarters Flight (Shireibu Hikohan) marking is reported to be the white Chinese character 'Shô' (翔 - to fly or soar) set on a white bordered Hinomaru symbol. Also under 3rd Air Army's command was 5th Air Division coveringBurma, Thailand and Indo-China. The tail symbol used by the 5th's HQ flight from October 1943 was a highly stylised representation of the Japanese character for '5' (五) appearing a little like an old-fashioned sand timer. But perhaps the marking changed again? The transport Blenheim seems to have a similar marking.

Two good clear close up photographs of a Ki-79 show useful details like the bomb rack, (presumably on a special attack aircraft), aerial mast, telescopic sight mounting, the eliptical cooling slots, the way the slotted undercarriage shaft extends above the wing with oleo compression and drooped flaps. Paint colours are conjectural but probably severely sun bleached with evidence of over painting.

A photograph of two Yokosuka K5Y1 'Curen' trainers in Indonesian markings reveals the interesting detail that the AURI insignia appears on the port upper wing only. As there is no indication of overpainting of any Hinomaru on the starboard upper wing it seems probable that they had been completelt re-painted. The two aircraft appear to have been photographed at Maguwo (now Adisucipto Airport) as their 'TJ' tail codes and fuselage numbers '54' and '72' (?) are recorded in other photographs and documents (Bakti TNI Angkatan Udara 1946-2003, TNI-AU, Jakarta 2003, p.11, 16, 20-42). A total of 75 K5Y1 were left in Indonesia of which 70 were seized by AURI and from 20-32 became operational.

Image credits: All photos: Fotograaf Onbekend/DLC National Archives of the Netherlands/Fotocollectie Dienst voor Legercontacten Indonesië, CC-B;

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Anigrand Craftswork Nakajima B4N1 Prototype in 1/72 Scale

June 27, 2016, 1:42 am

≫ Next: Model Art Imperial Japanese Army & Navy Airplanes Illustrated

≪ Previous: Japanese Blenheims at Semarang, Java

Back in July last year and courtesy of Ken Glass we featured Dr Frank Mitchell's superb 1/32nd scale scratchbuilt model of the Nakajima B4N1 9-shi carrier attack bomber prototype, here. NowAnigrand Craftswork, a Hong Kong based manufacturer of exquisite resin kits featuring rare and exotic types in various scales, are set to release a 1/72nd scale kit (above) of this unusually configured aircraft. Price at this stage is unknown but the bold or well-heeled can pre-order it from Hannants with a 10% discount.

The kit appears to be all resin with some cockpit detail and a simple decal sheet for the Hinomaru. It would make a most interesting comparison companion to the forthcoming Airfix Nakajima B5N1.

There was also a 1/144th scale kit of the type released in September 2015 by A&W Models in Japan priced at approximately £30 ($40) but details and current availability are uncertain.

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Model Art Imperial Japanese Army & Navy Airplanes Illustrated

June 28, 2016, 1:22 am

≫ Next: The Somme 1st July 1916

≪ Previous: Anigrand Craftswork Nakajima B4N1 Prototype in 1/72 Scale

Aviation of Japan's Texas correspondent Mark Smith has very kindly shared his thoughts on these two recent books from Model Art Co., Ltd in Japan:-

ESSENTIAL ARCANA

Many of this blog’s readers still consider the Maru Mechanic (MM) publications on Japanese aircraft types as invaluable, though sadly it’s been over thirty years since we’ve seen a new one. They featured remarkable color paintings of cockpits and interior details that have inspired modelers worldwide and which were illustrated by (I believe) Takani Yoshiyuki, who also painted much of the early box art for Tamiya, Fujimi, and others as well as Tamiya’s iconic armor box art. He is probably best known in Japan these days for his imaginative Macross art. The MM cockpit paintings were truly remarkable interpolations, however, as their sources were so meager: the few surviving factory and manual drawings; scarce period photos from both Japanese and American (TAIC) sources; in rare cases, museum aircraft - sometimes with little original equipment; a handful of surviving relics; and probably conversations with Japanese veterans still alive and sharp of memory at the time these were created. The results of this detective work came together wonderfully, like a jigsaw puzzle finally finished on the tabletop.

Yoshiyuki Takani box art for the Doyusha 1/32nd A6M2

I’ve often wished the series could have continued, and we could have seen more of such art. So two recent Model Art Special publications published in November 2015 and May of this year came as a very pleasant surprise. Entitled Japanese Army and Navy Airplanes Illustrated (Book 1 and Book 2), they boast a wealth of vivid color paintings of Japanese aircraft details that, though not by the same artist, bear much the same style and contain that same level of detail and thoroughness. They are researched and illustrated by the late Sato Shigeo, a IJNAF veteran, and his son Sato Kunihiko. These large format softbound books feature 163 and 147 pages respectively and in Japan, sell for 2500 yen (about £18 or US$24 - Ed.). They are dense in detail and every page is in color. As I understand it much or most of the material has already appeared as a semi-regular feature in monthly issues of the Japanese Model Art magazine.

As a collection, their approach is generally twofold: to embellish detail areas that have been covered more generally in previous Japanese and Western publications; or to present partial material on rarer types as well as a few peripheral subjects often neglected, like maintenance equipment, drop tanks, and fuel trucks. In both cases the fascination, especially for modelers, is to discover previously unknown or unseen details. It also means no single aircraft is covered comprehensively (or even close to such) and because of the “scattershooting” approach of these books, they may not appeal to everyone. Each volume also features information markings and stencil details, and the paintings that focus on certain areas of aircraft highlight many group markings and painting variations, thought that is not the main focus. Both books also include superbly built and photographed models that dovetail with featured aircraft – a 1/72 Zuiun (Paul) on a catapult, a 1/48 Hasegawa F1M2 “Pete,” and a 1/32 Hasegawa Ki-44 Shoki.

The first volume features large sections on Zero, Seiran, Toryu, Saiun, G5N Shinzan / G8N Renzan turrets and landing gear among several esoteric sets of images showing late-model Zero headrest and head armor variations, gunsights from every conceivable angle, and tail wheel centering systems and their corresponding cockpit controls and readouts, drawings.

The second book has a great deal of useful information on Nakajima’s Ki-44 and a wonderful section on prewar Japanese biplanes and triplanes: Mistubishi 1MF, Nakajima A2N, Mitsubishi B1M and B1M2. And for those of you with the ancient Marusan Mitsubishi 1MT Triplane (Type 10) Torpedo Bomber in the closet, who might have thought ‘if only there was any documentation on it,’ hey hey: your excuse is obsolete. There are twelve pages on it that include the floatplane version for the really ambitious (John Haas could do it!) There are great illustrations of different torpedo sights and equipment, including their unusual mountings from above on Mavis and Emily, and a plethora of aircrew uniform details. I’ve left out a lot of things that appear in each book. Some might understandably dismiss the material as mere arcana, and those with only a casual interest will probably opt for more focused titles. But as Aviation of Japan has demonstrated over a period of many years, the art of interpolation is still required in piecing together clearer and more accurate accounts of the development, operations, colors, and markings, and details of these airplanes, too many of which have no survivor. Arcana are essential puzzle pieces! If you join me in embracing their material as ‘new,’ useful, and interesting you’ll want these books.

There is no English text in these volumes, save the title on the front cover. One regrettable result is the artists/researchers are not identified for non-Japanese readers, which seems a shame. Even though they are obviously aimed at a Japanese market, enthusiasts in many countries will value them, and it would have been nice to see them credited on the title page in several languages. Anyway, if they sound interesting, tarry not, as sometimes Model Art Specials disappear pretty quickly. I got mine through Hobby Link Japan.

Mark Smith

With special thanks to Mark for this review. Readers should note that Volume 1 is already showing as 'Out of Stock' at HLJ but Volume 2 is still available.

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The Somme 1st July 1916

June 30, 2016, 11:57 pm

≫ Next: The Somme 2nd July 1916

≪ Previous: Model Art Imperial Japanese Army & Navy Airplanes Illustrated

One hundred years ago today, on 1st July 1916, 600,000 British, Empire and Commonwealth soldiers went "over the top" for the Somme offensive. 19,240 were killed and 57,740 wounded.

HAVE you forgotten yet?...
For the world's events have rumbled on since those gagged days,
Like traffic checked a while at the crossing of city ways:
And the haunted gap in your mind has filled with thoughts that flow
Like clouds in the lit heavens of life; and you're a man reprieved to go,
Taking your peaceful share of Time, with joy to spare.
But the past is just the same,—and War's a bloody game....
Have you forgotten yet?...
Look down, and swear by the slain of the War that you'll never forget.

Do you remember the dark months you held the sector at Mametz,—
The nights you watched and wired and dug and piled sandbags on parapets?
Do you remember the rats; and the stench
Of corpses rotting in front of the front-line trench,—
And dawn coming, dirty-white, and chill with a hopeless rain?
Do you ever stop and ask, "Is it all going to happen again?"

Do you remember that hour of din before the attack,—
And the anger, the blind compassion that seized and shook you then
As you peered at the doomed and haggard faces of your men?
Do you remember the stretcher-cases lurching back
With dying eyes and lolling heads, those ashen-grey
Masks of the lads who once were keen and kind and gay?

Have you forgotten yet?...
Look up, and swear by the green of the Spring that you'll never forget.

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The Somme 2nd July 1916

July 2, 2016, 1:30 am

≫ Next: Love of Plastic Models - Ki-44 Models

≪ Previous: The Somme 1st July 1916

There were 202,567 French casualties during the Somme battle, their ordeal sometimes overlooked. The candid photograph above was taken by my paternal grandfather, whom I never knew. He served in the Automobile Service of the French Army. He was not French but spoke fluent French and was an automobile engineer specialising in early motor transport. By a strange coincidence he had dealings with Japanese Army liaison officers who appear in one of his photographs. His eldest son, my uncle, whom I also never knew, served alongside him. This is one of just a handful of photographs saved from a bonfire where they had been consigned by my aunt as memories too painful to look at. Note the German medical orderlies working alongside the French, making the pity of war even more poignant.

My grandfather is at left in the photograph above, with his left leg raised and resting on the vehicle wreckage. His uniform is of the British Army but bears the horizon blue collar tabs and flaming grenade insignia of the French Army. Below that is the haunting image of his eldest son, Gordon. Apart from a few photographs the only tangible memories of my uncle Gordon are a presentation copy of Homer's Iliad and Odyssey awarded to him in the Preparatory Form of Raneleigh School, Bracknell, Berkshire in December 1912 and a wooden biscuit barrel with a silver escutcheon engraved "To Mother from Gordon, Xmas 1915", testimony to his very young age when he went to France to accompany his father. My own late father, two years old when the war began, had fleeting memories of my grandfather returning on leave from France and the gift of a French Army 'Adrian' helmet, now sadly lost.

Forgive the indulgence here at the blog but the past few days, as the Somme commemorations kindle family memories of the Great War, the albums are brought out to wonder at and so many people seem to presume that Anglo-French co-operation and friendship can only exist within the confines of the EU, I have been thinking of these two men, my grandfather and my uncle.

Image credits: All personal

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Love of Plastic Models - Ki-44 Models

July 14, 2016, 1:20 am

≫ Next: Avia Ba-33 in Japanese Army Service

≪ Previous: The Somme 2nd July 1916

The blog owner of プラモデルが好きだ！」のホームページです。 ('Love of Plastic Models! Homepage') has very kindly given permission to showcase some of his classic and very beautiful Ki-44 Shoki models built from the Hasegawa and Otaki/Arii kits to 1/48th scale. The love shines through and at the blog there is a very nice build of the UPC 1/50th 'Kamikaze' Ki-15 kit as well as other gems including a super collection of P-40s.

Aircraft modelling is a broad church but the trend in recent years has been towards the replica - a miniaturisation of the real thing where art often exceeds life - rather than the model which possesses such charm for being what it is and no more. The temptation is always to improve and superdetail kits, which often contibutes more to the unbuilt stash than to the display case and is one of the main factors in inducing 'AMS' - Advanced Modelling Syndrome - where enthusiasm is replaced with angst, production efficiency with trepidation, a sense of achievement with dissatisfaction and the works eventually get gummed up. Modelling forums where new kits now get picked over to the enth degree for their inevitable flaws and old kits, often respectable enough, get panned as not worth bothering with, can intimidate as much as inspire. And so the pure art of modelling gets somewhat lost in a kind of competitive technocracy of detail.

I built aircraft models throughout the 1960s but they were by no means 'clean' models. Although my efforts gradually improved, at first there were no filled seams, canopy frames remained unpainted and the horrid printers ink RAF roundels in Airfix kits were accepted in all their bright blue and vermilion lack of splendour. There was something seriously discouraging about matt brown and green paint slapped on with a brush, with the sky blue plastic grinning through and those lacklustre roundels. Although I subscribed to Airfix magazine the tiny monochrome and often fuzzy images of made up models served as no benchmark to my own lack of skill. I used to wonder at the Frog models built by a neighbour's Dad with their gloss Extra Dark Sea Grey and Sky paint so carefully applied but could not discern what it was that made such a difference. My own first attempt at painting canopy frames freehand on a model was on the LS Ki-67 'Hiryu' bomber kit, a circa 1968 Christmas present from my Grandmother, substantially aided by the moulding.

It was not until the mid-1970s when I discovered the American 'Scale Aircraft Modeler' magazines with their full page colour images of professionally photographed and largely built out of the box models that the charm and inspiration of 'clean' models became apparent. It was like a re-awakening of enthusiasm where skills within reach and focussed on care in finishing brought immense satisfaction and a sense of achievement. Those magazines took me straight back to the model shop with a new found determination to enjoy modelling again in the most simplest of ways. An Otaki Hayabusa took shape on the table, built and painted more carefully than ever before but with no "added ingedients". In my humble opinion the pure form of the airframe is presented and celebrated by such models such that one can still admire the beauty of a Frog Sea Fury, say, without getting hung up on its wheel hub detail.

With special thanks to the 'Plamo' blog owner for allowing me to share these images of such splendid Ki-44 models.

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Avia Ba-33 in Japanese Army Service

July 17, 2016, 4:26 am

≫ Next: 1/72 Hokota Combo from Hasegawa

≪ Previous: Love of Plastic Models - Ki-44 Models

For those looking for something unusual, in 2013 AZ Model released a rather neat little 1/72nd kit of the attractive Avia Ba-33 biplane fighter in Japanese Army markings. This aircraft was actually a BH-33L powered by a Skoda 450-500hp engine. In March 1930 one example of the 80 BH-33L aircraft built, s/n 1020, was sent to Manchuria as a demonstration aircraft sponsored by the Skoda Works, Shanghai, which represented the Czech Avia company in China. Manchuria at that time was under the control of Chang Hsüeh-liang, the son of the warlord Chang Tso-lin and known as "the Young Marshal". In 1928 Chang had joined with the nationalist Kuomintang government of China and his nascent air force became the North-Eastern Air Force.

The BH-33L was assembled at Mukden (Fentien, re-named Shenyang in 1929) by Avia mechanic Vacek and then on 12 June test flown by Avia company pilot Cestmir Hanus. In October 1930 it was flown in trials for the benefit of the Headquarters of the North-Eastern Air Force with a Dewoitine D.27 and Letov S.131. Although the Avia aircraft proved superior in the trials it was disassembled and put into bonded storage in a Mukden hangar.

On 18 September 1931 Japanese Army troops occupied Mukden and seized the airfield together with all the aircraft stored there. In October the Avia was re-assembled and re-painted with Japanese markings. It was reportedly used by the Japanese for air observation and ground attack sorties in the Qiqihar area of operations in China. Avia petitioned the Japanese government that the aircraft was Czech property and requested payment of US$30,000. Even though Marshal Chang confirmed the ownership of the aircraft the Japanese at first refused to return it or pay for it. Avia petitioned the Japanese Army command in Mukden, the Japanese Army General Staff in Tokyo, the Czech consulate in Harbin and the Czech Embassy in Japan and eventually on 17 March 1933 the Japanese Kwangtung Army accepted the claim and paid for the aircraft. Its ultimate fate is unknown.

The Ba-33/BH-33L demonstrator was reported to have been originally finished in the standard Czech air force colours of khaki on the upper surfaces and aluminium dope underneath. The AZ instructions show an unusual demarcation of colours around the nose which appears slightly different to that shown by the only known photograph of the aircraft at Mukden, published in the Czech magazine HPM of November 1994 (above). The Avia applied khaki appears to have been a little lighter than the usual Czech Air Force colour and is available from Agama in both enamel and acrylic paints. Whether the aircraft was really re-painted by the Japanese in the 'Japan Dark Green' suggested by AZ is uncertain but the application of the large Hinomaru to the tail surfaces was not a standard presentation and appears to be based on the Czech air force markings. In addition to the Japanese markings the kit provides two alternate schemes for a Czech and Slovak machine.

The kit is injection moulded in grey plastic with an alternative resin prop for use with this version and injection moulded clear parts for the windscreen and what appears to be some kind of gunsight in front of the windscreen (?). The moulding is sharp but the rib tapes on the wings and tail are rather prominent and would benefit from a light sanding. Armament consisted of two cowling mounted 7.7mm synchronised machine guns. Images of the sprue frame and a built-up example of the kit in its Japanese markings may be found here.

With special thanks to Mirek Kárník for his assistance with this article and also acknowledging Lennart Andersson's'A History of Chinese Aviation' (AHS of ROC 2008) as an invaluable reference source.

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1/72 Hokota Combo from Hasegawa

August 1, 2016, 7:29 am

≫ Next: MAP/RAF Colours 1939-45

≪ Previous: Avia Ba-33 in Japanese Army Service

In September this year Hasegawa are releasing a combo kit of their venerable but still nice ex-Mania Ki-51 Sonia and Ki-48 Lily kits in 1/72nd scale with markings for the Hokota Army Flying School. The pre-release information suggests that decals will be included for the two aircraft shown above and also a camouflaged version of each. The combo kit is expected to sell for approximately £20 ($26) direct from Japan.

Hokota originated as a branch of the Hamamatsu flying school and specialised in training crews for attack and light bomber units with its own research department exploring tactics and types of ordinance. The distinctive insignia was a play on words with 'hoko' (meaning a long-handled Chinese spear or pike) represented by four spearhead shapes combined to resemble the character 'ta' (田 - meaning a rice field) set against a Hinomaru (sun's disc).

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MAP/RAF Colours 1939-45

August 5, 2016, 4:02 am

≫ Next: Fine Molds 1/48th A5M4 Claude In-Box Review

≪ Previous: 1/72 Hokota Combo from Hasegawa

Just to clarify regarding the new PDF because some might be unfamiliar with it.

MAP = the British Ministry of Aircraft Production. Although the paint colours were applied to RAF aircraft and promulgated within RAF orders the official paint colour standard swatches were "owned" and issued by MAP because they went to all the aircraft factories too.

There would always be slight variance between the RAF stores paint colours and the aircraft factory colours due to different sources of procurement although both were promulgated from the same standards. However the colour standards themselves were constant and formed the requirement to which all paint and aircraft manufacturers were expected to match their paints.

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Fine Molds 1/48th A5M4 Claude In-Box Review

August 17, 2016, 12:31 am

≫ Next: New Tool Hasegawa Emily in 1/72

≪ Previous: MAP/RAF Colours 1939-45

Dan Salamone has very kindly provided this preliminary in-box review for the new Fine MoldsIJN Type 96 Carrier-based Fighter IV/ Mitsubishi A5M4 'Claude' kit in 1/48th scale, one of two variants released (the other being the enclosed cockpit 2-2) as presented here in April.

"The brand new 1/48 A5M4 Claude from Fine Molds arrived today from HLJ and initial impressions are very positive. Although the parts count is relatively low (69) the quality of the moldings is superb and the engineering seems to be well thought out. From examining the parts, as well as images of a built version of this kit, the outline and details seem to be accurate compared to the actual aircraft. I tried to catch some of the details explained below in the images of the parts.

The cockpit floor is molded into the upper wing half, with the sidewalls, rear bulkhead and instrument panel attaching to the upper wing half. The assembled fuselage halves seat down over this assembly, and the separate upper fuselage decking forward of the windscreen follows actual panel lines.

The fabric effect on the cloth flying surfaces consists of raised ribs, but no "sagging" effect. I like this look, but may sand down slightly when I build the kit.

Two very minor "negatives": the flap parts (you have the option of raised or lowered flaps) have very nice detail but there are ejector pin marks that will be very difficult to remove. Also, the very highly detailed engine and exhaust assembly needs to be trapped between the cowl halves. These halves do not fall on actual panel lines, so extra care will be needed during assemby and painting.

Three different aircraft are included in the markings options, all overall silver. The subject of the box art '9-139' is from the 14th Kokutai in China during 1940. The second option is 'K-101' from the carrier Kaga in Japan during 1939 and the third option is for a rather colorful aircraft 'CI-106' flying off the carrier Hosho during 1942. I am hoping that aftermarket decal vendors will serve this kit well, as there are some other very colorful possibilities.

Overall, I can't wait to build this kit. The two previous kits of the later Claude in 1/48 were the far less impressive Classic Airframes kit, as well as the very hard to find, yet gorgeous TC Berg multi-media kit. This Claude is superb in the box, and is yet another gem among Fine Mold's most recent 1/48 aircraft kits, the Ki-10 and Ohka. Highly recommended."

With special thanks to Dan for his in-box review. I note with pleasure that the kit includes a pilot figure! The two released kits are already on back order at HLJ!

PS Please see additional information in Dan's comment below!

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New Tool Hasegawa Emily in 1/72

August 23, 2016, 3:58 am

≫ Next: Airfix 1/72 Nakajima B5N1 'Kate'

≪ Previous: Fine Molds 1/48th A5M4 Claude In-Box Review

Hat tip to zegeye for kindly alerting me to the recent announcement of a Hasegawa new tool 1/72 Kawanishi H8K2 "Emily" flying boat kit to be released at the end of this year.

The kit is based on the latest historical research and will include a full crew sculpted by Mr Takeichiro (responsible for the Modelkasten sets of masterpiece figures). Lots of interior detail by the look of it too for a £50+ price tag.

The last reiteration of their old but still nice rivet encrusted 'Emily' from 1967, produced first in dark green plastic and lately in grey, was in May this year with a limited edition in Leiji Matsumoto 'The Cockpit' Manga guise (below - approx £24).

And before that, in more legitimate mode, 2014. Hasegawa's Emily has appeared fairly regularly, a perennial favourite for building and improving, with export re-issues by Frog in the UK and UPC in the USA. There was at least one more nineties or noughties Hasegawa issue of the "big old bird" with fairly garish box art that I've not been able to rrack down to include here. Interestingly the box art almost follows a chronological pattern of beached with landing gear, in the water taking off and in the air.

2014

1996

1991

1981 (sowing colour confusions!)

1975

1973

1969

196?

1967

Can't help wishing it had been a new tool Ki-21 "Sally" though! Who will be first I wonder?

Image credits: New kit imges © 2016 Hasegawa Corporation via Hobby Search; Box art © various Hasegawa Corporation.

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Airfix 1/72 Nakajima B5N1 'Kate'

August 25, 2016, 4:01 am

≫ Next: IPMS USA Nats Display ~ Part One

≪ Previous: New Tool Hasegawa Emily in 1/72

The new Airfix B5N1 is now out and very nice it is too. Essentially the same as the previous B5N2 kit but with a new sprue for the forward fuselage, engine and cowling. Decals are included for the very colourful 'CI-301' of 3 Ku operating off the carrier Zuiho in 1941 or '9 over 348', a green and brown field-camouflaged example from 14 Ku operating from Sanzao Dao in South China during 1938-39. The decal sheet is sharply printed in good colour by Cartograf and includes stenciling, wing walkways and instrument panels for pilot and navigator (not strictly accurate for the latter). The painting and decal instructions are in full colour with closest Humbrol paints called out to avoid mixing.

Moulded crisply in light grey plastic with engraved details, features of the kit include the option to display the finished model with the wings folded. Sensibly the wing parts are provided as single upper and lower halves which need to be cut for folding with rib frame inserts for the open ends. In addition the flaps can be fitted in the lowered position and the ailerons, rudder and elevators are all separate pieces to permit animation. The panel lines are finely engraved and the representation of the fabric covered components with light dishing between ribs is superior to that in many Japanese kits where the ribs are moulded as hard raised lines above the aerofoil surface. A fairly detailed interior benefits from another option to show the canopies open - no cutting this time as alternative parts are included. A nice touch is a third alternative for a closed canopy for pilot and navigator but with the rear canopy fairing open and the radio operator's gun deployed for action. In the kit examined for this brief in-box review the clear parts are perfect with none of the unfortunate moulding flaws found in some other Airfix kits recently. A full crew of three is also included so with imagination the canopy and flying control options will permit the creation of dramatic in-flight displays. The detailed instructions include the need to cut off the indicator pins on the top surface of the wings if a retracted undercarriage is selected.

The kit contains the same selection of ordinance as for the B5N2 but with options in the instructions only for the torpedo armed aircraft or an aircraft loaded with six Type 97 No.6 60kg bombs for attacking land targets - a suitable load for the 14 Ku option. This provides a spare Type 98 No.25 250 kg bomb (parts 03 and 04 on Frame D) to make up the deficit for a staggered twin bomb option in the B5N2 kit. These and the larger bombs can also be put to use in other kits.

The glitch in the otherwise superb box art is my fault. Here the fatal eror of presuming rather than checking occurred and I suggested that the red fuselage stripe on CI-301 was a command marking rather than common to reserve fleet aircraft as is now apparent. The artist Adam Tooby had it correct from the start with the aircraft in the background also bearing the stripes and subsequently modified it only at my suggestion. So please blame me rather than Adam or Airfix research. Mea culpa!

This is an impressive kit of a historically important aircraft showing great attention to detail by Airfix and offering the opportunity for creative and imaginative displays. It really does render the veteran Mania/Hasegawa kit obsolete. With the fine Airfix A6M2 the Pearl Harbor trio is almost complete but sadly a re-tooled D3A1 seems unlikely. I should love to see a new Airfix kit of that type to the same quality as this fine production.

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IPMS USA Nats Display ~ Part One

August 29, 2016, 4:49 am

≫ Next: IPMS USA Nats Display ~ Part Two

≪ Previous: Airfix 1/72 Nakajima B5N1 'Kate'

Courtesy of Ken Glass here are some images of Japanese aircraft models taken at the IPMS USA National Convention held in Columbia, South Carolina from 3rd to 6th August this year. Attributions are provided where known but I'll be happy to add or correct any details if you care to drop me a line, thanks.

This unusual Mitsubishi 1MF1 model and carrier deck diorama was made by Joseph 'Buzz' Pezold and features the 1/72nd Phoenix/Blue Rider vacform of the pioneer IJN biplane.

A fine 1/72 Fine Molds A6M2 by David Pratt of New York, one of the aircraft contest judges. The model was reportedly painted in Floquil's 'Old Concrete' with RLM 02 fabric surfaces. This aircraft was flown by NAP 1/c Tetsuzo Iwamoto, the leader of Zuikakau's 1st Section on CAP duty during the Pearl Harbor attack. Iwamoto was already the IJN's leading ace from the so-called China Incident and went on to amass an astonishing record of victory claims, surviving the war.

This sharp looking 1/72 Tamiya A6M2 was made by Tim Bates of Dalton, GA. The model represents the aircraft flown by Hikotaicho Lt Hideki Shingo who led the second wave from the carrier Shokaku during the Battle of Santa Cruz on 26 October 1942.

Another A6M2, this time built from the Hasegawa 1/48 kit and representing 'BII-140' an arcraft flown by Lt Sumio Nouno leading the 11th Section of the 4th Hikotai from the carrier Hiryu during the Pearl Harbor attack.

To a larger scale Clyde Angelo of Los Angeles built this A6M2 from the 1/32 Tamiya kit displayed on a striking Rising Sun base and representing 'AII-168' from the carrier Kaga's 1st Hikotai, 13th Section led by NAP1/c Akira Yamamoto. This pilot claimed the first air victory during the Pearl Harbour attack, shooting down a civilian aircraft, then reported destroying six aircraft on the ground at Hickam Field in strafing attacks. With total claims of 13 aircraft shot down Yamamoto was killed bailing out over Japan on 24 November 1944 when his parachute failed to open, the victim of a B-29 turret gunner.

Stuart Gordon also chose the Tamiya 1/32 A6M2 kit to make this impressive display of Saburo Sakai's famous 'V-128' on its epic flight home after the fateful encounter with SBDs on 7 August 1942, its severely wounded ace pilot, head lolling and semi-conscious beneath the shattered canopy.

Mark Vandon rang the changes with this field camouflaged A6M2 also built from the Tamiya 1/32 kit. If there is a story here I'd love to hear about it.

Scott Briclear used the Hasegawa 1/48 A6M5 to create this nicely weathered former 381 Ku example 'B1-105' under new ownership in ATAIU-SEA with engine exposed and ancillary bits displayed on a PSP base.

A very nice A6M3 Model 32 'タイ-182' (Tai-182) from the Tamiya 1/48 kit with excellent black green paintwork and restrained weathering by an unknown builder. The model represents a Tainan Ku aircraft during the air defence of Taiwan in September 1944 and very nicely too.

More to follow!

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IPMS USA Nats Display ~ Part Two

August 30, 2016, 2:23 am

≫ Next: IPMS USA Nats Display ~ Part Three

≪ Previous: IPMS USA Nats Display ~ Part One

More Japanese aircraft models from the IPMS USA Nats courtesy of Ken Glass. Although IJN aircraft models were prolific there were also some very splendid Army birds. As before I'll be happy to add attributions or additional details for those aircraft by anonymous builders.

This Ki-43-1 from the hands of an unknown builder is very well done, representing an aircraft of the 2nd Chutai, 50th Hiko Sentai. I think it is made from the Nichimo 1/48 kit as it does not seem to have that 'btoken-backed' appearance of the Hasegawa kit. The weathering is nicely restrained and the model shows off the graceful lines of Hayabusa very well.

A purposeful looking Ki-45 Kai TeiToryu night fighter of the 3rd Hikotai, 53rd Hiko Sentai, in splendid Homeland Defence markings believed to be by Bill Brickhouse of Newport News, VA and built from the Hasegawa 1/72 kit. Ki-45 Kai Tei was a retrospective designation for 472 'Tei equipped' (oblique firing armament) Hei with 4000 base number serials manufactured at Akashi from May to December 1944.

Possibly by the same builder this Hasegawa 1/72 Ki-45 Kai Hei of the 2nd Kogekitai, 4th Hiko Sentai, also in Homeland Defence markings, displays a skilfully painted mottle camouflage. The Ki-45 Kai Hei with the muzzle of the Ho-203 37mm cannon projecting from the nose were the first of this designation, modified from approximately 65 Ko aircraft at the First Army Air Arsenal from May to October 1943. Subsequently Kawasaki manufactured a further 595 Hei with 3000 base number serials from November 1943 to July 1945, the design being modified to incorporate a slightly longer, more sharply pointed nose extended to conceal the muzzle of the Ho-203.

This late production Hei of the 5th Hiko Sentai has been meticulously weathered to reveal the underlying framework of the aircraft and was built from the venerable Nichimo 1/48 kit. The unit began using the tail emblem shown from around September 1944 when it returned to Komaki in Japan from the New Guinea theatre. The aircraft were individually distinguished by the names of place or mountains associated with their pilots and painted on the rudders in Kanji or Hiragana characters.

And finally for now, another Homeland Defence bird, this time in contrast to the sombre Toryu a gleaming Ki-44 Shoki of the 47th Hiko Sentai built from the Hasegawa 1/48 kit. The top view shows off the distinctive airframe design of Shoki, with that large engine cowling, slightly cranked and forward raked wings and the long, slim tail. Beautiful.

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IPMS USA Nats Display ~ Part Three

August 31, 2016, 5:11 am

≫ Next: IPMS USA Nats Display ~ Part Four

≪ Previous: IPMS USA Nats Display ~ Part Two

More pics from the IPMS USA Nats courtesy of Ken Glass. This time all IJN subjects again. Please do get in touch to correct or add any attributions, thanks. My presumption about the origin of that nice Ki-43-I model published yesterday was wrong and I have now updated the blog article and added another pic. I should have known better because Ken had already identified the manufacturer on each pic and that one was coded 'Has' . . .

Ken has since told me that he couldn't get a shot at a low enough angle to capture the kit's 'broken-backed' appearance but that it could certainly be seen by the unaided eye. In case anyone wonders what I'm on about all is revealed here although focussing on the Ki-43-II kit. The Hasegawa kits appear to be based on the Matsuba Minoru plans which show on both the Ki-43-I and Ki-43-II a distinct re-anging of the upper fuselage line from the rear of the cockpit that is not evident from photographs and has the unfortunate effect of disfiguring the aircraft's true aerodynamic form.

This impressive Aichi D3A1 'Val' on carrier deck display was built from the Hasegawa 1/48 kit - unfortunately builder unknown. Good looking colour choice on the model. 'EI-201' led the 21st Section of the 1st Hikotai from the carrier Shokaku during the first wave dive-bombing at Pearl Harbor and was flown by Lt Masao Yamaguchi with NAP1/c Fumio Sumeno as his observer-gunner.

Another Pearl Harbor 'Val' from the Hasegawa 1/48 kit, this time crafted by Craig Livingston and displayed on a mirror base with the canopies opened and the rear gun deployed. This aircraft 'BI-231' was flown by Lt Cmdr Takashige Egusa with PO Tatsu Ishi as his observer-gunner. Egusa led the second wave dive-bombing attack at Pearl Harbor from the carrier Soryu, releasing his bombs against the USS New Orleans. The garish colour scheme, said to have been applied to aid identification and reforming and for which the aircraft was reportedly nicknamed 'jajauma' (じゃじゃうま) has been variously interpreted over the years but Craig's model appears to be based on the convincing profile and first hand descriptions in Sam Tagaya's excellent Osprey title 'Aichi 99 Kanbaku 'Val' Units 1937-42', # 63 in their Combat Aircraft series. Sam states that 'jajauma' refers to a ceremonial horse adorned in red but dictionaries also describe it as a colloquial term for a restive horse or a shrewish, unmanageable woman!

This Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' displayed with wings folded was built from the Hasegawa 1/48 kit and represents 'AI-301', the famous lead aircraft of the first wave level bombing attack against Pearl Harbor commanded by Mitsuo Fuchida (as navigator-observer) with Lt Mitsuo Matsuzaki as pilot and PO1/c Tokunobu Mizuki as radio operator-gunner. The actual colour schemes of the Pearl Harbor Kates have long been in contention due to various depictions and sometimes conflicting descriptions so modellers are blessed with the opportunity for personal interpretations.

This formidable looking Aichi B7A2 'Grace' torpedo bomber was built from the Hasegawa 1/48 kit and displayed on a splendid Rising Sun base with black and gold nameplate. The model represents 'Yo-251', an aircraft of the Yokosuka Kokutai's 2nd Hikotai in Japan during the summer of 1944. Ken believes the model was crafted by Randy Lutz who had cited a Swedish camouflage colour for the topside black green. And very good it looks too - although perhaps just a wee bit too matt for an aircraft in service.

This Tamiya Mitsubishi G4M1 'Betty' in 1/48 scale is believed to have cbeen built by Andrew Frill and represents a moderately weathered bird, probably from 702 Ku (although I don't recognise that particular tail number and stripe combination), with what looks like a replacement starboard flap. and the unusual flag-type fuselage Hinomaru.

Another Tamiya G4M1, this time '359' of 3rd Chutai, 705 Ku operating from Rabaul circa 1943 and displayed in a pristine albeit very matt condition as suggested by photos.

Dropping a couple of scales now for a topical Kawanishi H8K2 'Emiy' flying boat made from the very nice LS/Arii 1/144 scale kit by David Pratt. In 2010 Rob Taurus of the Czech Republic released a comprehensive detailing set for this kit which included resin engines and beaching wheels, vacform canopy replacements and a photo-etch sheet, but I did not know if it was used for this model which represents a flying boat of the 3rd Hikotai of 801 Ku based at Yokohama, Japan during 1945.

And finally a Mitsubishi J2M3 Raiden of 302 Ku made from the Hasegawa 1/48 kit.

That's all for now folks! More to follow. With special thanks to Ken Glass for taking the pics and sharing them.

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IPMS USA Nats Display ~ Part Four

September 2, 2016, 2:39 am

≫ Next: IPMS USA Nats Display ~ Part Five

≪ Previous: IPMS USA Nats Display ~ Part Three

A selection of Army types this time, again courtesy of Ken Glass's expert camera work. Please bear with me over emails as BT Yahoo Mail has been acting up with inboxes not loading and emails not sending. The problem seems to be intermittent but has been going on for a couple of days now.

A very nice Ki-51 'Sonia' from the Nichimo 1/48 kit by Jason Holt of OH displaying fine attention to detail and skilful painting. The model represents an aircraft of the 64 Shimbu-tai, also known as Kokka-tai (国花隊 - flower of the nation unit) - a Tokubestu-Kogekitai (Tokko-tai) or Special Attack unit. It was one of about 12 Shimbu-tai organised from within the Hokota Flying Training Division and equipped with Ki-48 and Ki-51 aircraft, being formed on 20 March 1945. On 11 June 1945 nine aircraft of the unit sortied to attack US ships lying off Okinawa. They were probably the aircraft incorrectly identified as 'Vals' which attacked LCS(L) 122 and the liberty ship 'Walter Colton'. LCS(L) 122 was seriously damaged when her conning tower was hit by one of three 'Vals' shot down as they attempted to attack the ships in Radar Picket Station 15A, killing 11 of her crew and injuring 29. Fires on board were brought under control and she survived the encounter. The liberty ship was attacked when she was anchored in Nakagusuku Bay by a single 'Val' which made a run on LSD 6 then climbed and turned to attack the 'Walter Colton'. It struck a boom after missing the bridge but the ship escaped serious damage and although some crew were injured none were killed. A fifth aircraft of the unit was possibly the victim of Lt Thomas H Reynolds Jr flying an SBD of VMSB-131 on anti-submarine patrol who also claimed a 'Val'. The fate of the other four aircraft which sortied from this unit is unknown.

This gaudy. black-painted Ki-84 'Frank' Special Attacker of the 57th Shimbu-tai was made from the classic Hasegawa 1/72 kit by Bill Powers. The unit was formed within Akeno Flying Training Division in March 1945 and sortied against Okinawa on 28 May 1945 led by 2/Lt Kitoku Ito.

This Hasegawa 1/72 Ki-46-II 'Dinah' represents an aircraft from the 18th Dokuritsu Hiko Chutai. The unit spent almost the whole war operating from airfields in China with detachments to Indo-China from October 1940 to April 1941 and from March to August 1942, The tiger emblem was used throughout but each one was painted individually so differed slightly from aircraft to aircraft.

Another 18th DHC 'Dinah', this time a Ki-46-III made by Steve Coates from the Tamiya 1/48 kit.

This 1/48 Tamiya Ki-46-III represents an aircraft of the 10th Hiko Sentai. The 10th was constituted from the 10th Dokuritso Hiko Chutai HQ, the 1st Chutai of the 81st Hiko Sentai and the 76th Dokuritsu Chutai in June 1943 and used the well known reversed 'S' river emblem to represent the River Non at the place where it was first formed. After being practically annihilated in New Guinea it was reformed in Japan and used the emblem shown on the model from November 1944, representing the number '10'.

This splendid Ki-84 'Frank' in Homeland Defence markings was made from the Hasegawa 1/32 kit by Andrew Frill. It represents an aircraft of the 520th Rinji Bôju Sentai (臨時傍受戦隊) meaning temporary (or special, extraordinary) air defence (interception) unit. This unit was formed from the 1st Rensei Hikotai at Sagami (now Nakatsu) in Kanagawa on 22nd July 1944 for operational training and to provide a supplementary air defence interception capability using shotai (flights) led by instructors and composed of the most talented student pilots fresh from flying schools. The unit had about 100 pilots, mostly 18-19 years old , who held "student pilot" Sergeant rank. After January 1945 they engaged briefly in air defence interceptions but from March they were re-organised into special attack units for the battle of Okinawa.

Another 'Frank', this time built from the Hasegawa 1/48 kit by Carlos Escobar of Peru and evoking the Jack Leynnwood cover art of Donald W Thorpe's seminal work on 'Japanese Army Air Force Camouflage and Markings World War II' from 1968, which depicted an aircraft of the 29th Hiko Sentai Hombu (HQ) shotai. However some references state that blue was used by this unit as the non-standard distinguishing colour for the 2nd Chutai. The colours and finish on this model are excellent.

Always a popular modelling subject this Hasegawa Ki-61-I Hei was finished as s/n '3295' of the 244th Hiko Sentai commander Teruhiko Kobayashi. The silver and blue spinner is intriguing but the basis for that detail is obscure as the known photos of this aircraft appear to show a dark painted spinner.

Another Kobayashi mount, this time s/n 4424, a Ki-61-I Tei made from the Hasegawa kit. The red spinner backplate detail is again intriguing but of unknown origin.

Another colourful 244th Hiko Sentai 'Tony' made from the Hasegawa 1/48 kit and representing a Ki-61-I Tei , serial number and pilot unknown.

And finally for now, a sharp looking Ki-61-I Hei'Tony' of the 56th Hiko Sentai in natural metal finish with plain Hinomaru built from the Hasegawa 1/48 kit. The Hei variant was prized for its German-manufactured wing cannon.

With special thanks to Ken Glass for taking the pics and sharing them and to Ronnie Olsthoorn for additional information.

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