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Arawasi International Magazine Issue 12 and Eagle Eye Series No.2
The appearance of Arawasi International magazine, Issue 12 for Spring 2015, is a welcome delight. Issue 11 was published in the Summer of 2009 and the long interval that followed was a cause for...
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The Need for Speed: Developing and Delivering Saiun
In an extended article for Aviation of Japan correspondent Mark Smith and co-author Mike Quan explore the development of the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service's elegant Nakajima C6N Saiun (彩雲 -...
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Rising Models - 1/72 Hayabusa Kits
Rising Models (aka Rising Decals) have released two complete Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa kits in 1/72nd scale. Based on the Special Hobby kits the new releases feature additional resin and photo-etch parts...
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Nate Special Attackers ~ Ki-27 Aces Extra 3
Tokubetsu kôgeki - special attack - was a Japanese military euphemism for the tactic where aircraft would be deliberately used as piloted flying bombs to destroy Allied ships, the pilots expected and...
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Dr Frank Mitchell's Nakajima B4N1 Prototype in 1/32nd scale
Ken Glass very kindly sent these photos of Dr Frank Mitchell's stunning 1/32nd scale scratchbuilt model of the Nakajima B4N1 prototype taken at the IPMS Atlanta Third Annual Model Contest held on 21...
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Update ~ Arawasi Eagle Eye Series No.2
Further to the review of Arawasi Eagle Eyes Series No.2 on the K5Y1/2, British readers might like to know that the Aviation Book Centre now holds stock of the book.
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Zeros Galore!
Zero models (and Zero Aces) are a perennial favourite with modellers all over the world and there has never been a better selection of quality kits from which to build examples of them. If only the...
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Mark Smith's 1/72 Tamiya A6M2
This superb evocation of a Pearl Harbor A6M2 in 1/72 scale by Mark Smith is a natural prequel to Oleg Pegushin's A6M3 duo of yesterday. The model, made from the Tamiya kit, not only came first in its...
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Zbyszek Malicki's 1/72 Fine Molds A6M2
Another fine Zero model in the divine scale! This time an A6M2 built by Zbyszek Malicki from the finely moulded Fine Molds kit with just the addition of a little engine wiring and aftermarket decals...
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Juan Contreras' 1/72 Hayabusa
This splendid Ki-43-II model built by Juan Contreras from the Hasegawa kit demonstrates both its basic fidelity and his skill. The model represents the controversial 50th Hiko Sentai ace Satoshi...
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John Haas' 1/48 Mitsubishi K3M3 'Pine'
John Haas very kindly shares these images of his latest 1/48th scale scratch built model of the Mitsubishi K3M3 'Pine' (Navy Type 90 Land-based Crew Training Airplane - 海軍 九〇式 機上作業練習 機), something of a...
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More Zeros! Danilo Renzulli's 1/72 A6M2 & A6M3
Inspired by recent Zero blogs here Danilo Renzulli has kindly shared these images of his own two Zero models in 1/72nd scale, both depicting slightly weathered finishes. The A6M2 is the second...
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New Rising Decals for Army Trainers
We'll soon be back to Zeros (and Aces) but in the meantime the latest Japanese aviation related sheet from the prolific Rising Decals is RD72070 for Japanese Army Aircraft of the Training Units Pt.II...
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Rising Decals ~ New 1/72 Resin Sets
Two new and one recent resin sets from Rising Decals in 1/72nd scale offer opportunities to model interesting variations on some well known Army fighter types. Each set contains a small decal sheet...
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Dan Salamone's 1/48 Airfield Vehicles
Dan Salamone has very kindly shared these images of two of his recently completed 1/48th scale Japanese airfield vehicle projects.The Army Isuzu TX40 airfield tug (above) was converted from the...
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Notice
The dead hands of the EU Bureaucracy and Corporatism are starting to intrude into the freedom to blog unencumbered as an individual. Rather than jump through their combined conspiratorial hoops I shall...
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Al DuVal's Collection ~ Update
Back in February Aviation of Japan's Texas correspondent Mark Smith wrote a moving eulogy to his friend Al DuVal whose impressive collection of 382 1/48th scale model aircraft featured many Japanese...
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Ki-61/Ki-100 Aces
Osprey's Ki-61 and Ki-100 Aces (Aircraft of the Aces 114), authored by your host here, was finally published last month and the illustrator Ronnie Olsthoorn has kindly prepared examples of the cover...
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Mitsubishi Ki-46 'Dinah' on film
Hat tip to Aviation of Japan's Texas correspondent Mark Smith for providing a link to an interesting wartime film showing the Mitsubishi Ki-46-II Dinah in operation. Of note is the very pristine and...
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A Short Story for Christmas
This intriguing short story has been submitted by long time reader but first time contributor Malcolm Hood. Wishing all readers of Aviation of Japan a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.Rufe...
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