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Recent Rising Decals Releases
An interesting collection of releases from the prolific Rising Decals recently. First up is set RD48020, a sheet of 1/48th scale markings for two foreign service subjects. Firstly an ex-582nd Kokutai...
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John Haas' 1/48th Ki-64 'Rob' Completed!
Expert craftsman John Haas has now finished his 1/48th scale Kawasaki Ki-64 'Rob' project and here it is. Previous in-progress instalments can be found here, here, here and here. John concluded that...
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Key Data ~ Raiden Colour Notes
Further to the blog on 'A Gaggle of Old Jacks and Random Thoughts', a pdf on the subject of Raiden colours is now available for those who expressed an interest. Raiden Colour Notes consists of 10 pages...
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1/48 Thrick Resin A5M4 by Don Alberts
Aviation of Japan's Texas Correspondent Mark Smith kindly steps into the breach with a timely reminder of something good from the past as well as a reminder of how swift is the passing of the good, a...
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In Memoriam ~ Mike Goodwin 1960-2015
It was a shock followed by great sadness to learn of the recent and untimely death of Mike Goodwin.Mike and I never met face to face but we had corresponded on and off since he was at the University of...
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Lifelike Decals Trio for 1/72 Ki-27
Lifelike Decals have released a welcome trio of 1/72 sets for the Ki-27, scaled down from their popular 1/48th sets for this aircraft.Set 72-034 Type 97 Fighters Part 1 (above) features decals for...
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VE Day - 1945-2015
“Yours is such a special generation – stoical, loyal, indefatigable and dutiful. You have been the bedrock of this country for all these years and it will not be the same without you. We salute you...
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A Consideration of Colour and Monochrome Images
Some correspondence and discussion on a number of fronts about "colour" in monochrome or greyscale photographs has prompted a consideration of the issues so ably catalogued by Dick Taylor in his...
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John Haas' 1/48 53rd Hiko Sentai Heaven Shaking Dragon Killer
John Haas has kindly shared these images of another of his Nichimo Ki-45 builds in 1/48th scale, representing a modified late production Tei aircraft of the 53rd Hiko Sentai's air-to-air ramming...
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Rising Decals Emperor's Eyes Pt.II RD72069
Rising Decals have recently released Part II of Emperor's Eyes, set RD 72069, with decals for a further selection of IJA and IJN reconnaissance aircraft. The Ki-15, Ki-46, C6N1 and bonus D4Y1-C...
View ArticlePete in Colour and Dutch Buffalos
A wee bit off topic but two interesting films that might interest readers. The colour film of 1946 action in the Dutch East Indies against nationalist insurgents shows a Pete floatplane at 2:19 and...
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Haunting Images
An undeveloped film roll sent to a collector from Hiroshima, Japan reveals its secrets. The man appears to be wearing an Army summer flying suit and helmet, per Ritta Nakanishi*, points of identity...
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Aoshima's New Shiden Kai
With the boxes marked predominantly 'Shidenkai' it is easy to presume that Aoshima's latest pair of 1/72nd scale releases are just re-issues from their much hailed 1996 Shiden Kai kits. But in small...
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Aoshima Shiden and Shiden Kai Family
The arrival of Aoshima's 1/72nd scale Shiden Type 11 (Kawanishi N1K1-Ja) their 'New WWII Fighter Series' in 1995 came as a complete surprise to many, more familiar with that company's pioneering but...
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More Thoughts on Shiden in 1/72
Prior to the appearance of the Aoshima Shiden the only realistic game in town had been the limited run MPM kit (above) released a mere couple of years beforehand. It was typical of MPM's early efforts...
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Shiden Addendum
I don't have the Tamiya 1/48th Type 11 Shiden kit but a communiqué from Aviation of Japan's Texas correspondent Mark Smith suggests that it suffers from the same cowling scoop issues as the 1/72nd...
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Hasegawa Shiden Kai in 1/72
The Hasegawa Shidenkai dates from 1977 and was a stablemate of their J2M3 Jack to the same scale. It is listed in a Trade Fair report in Scale Models (UK) magazine of April 1977 (p.199) and appeared in...
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Chinese Aircraft ~ Part One
It is always a delight to be able to feature Chinese aircraft here and Woodstock has an excellent blog featuring his superb and inspiring models of historic Chinese aircraft including many rare and...
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Ki-61/Ki-100 Aces
There appears to be a certain amount of confusion about the difference between a Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien and a MiG-17 jet in some quarters, an error apparently more difficult to resolve than it was to...
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Chinese Aircraft ~ Part 2
John Haas kindly shared these images of his splendid Curtiss Hawk 75 built from the 1/48th scale Hobbycraft kit in Republic of China markings. The story of the Curtiss Hawk monoplanes in Chinese...
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