Category: Japanese aircraft
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Bass Ackward
The sequence in which we do things is critical – I learned that when shooting muzzle loading rifles. Only one way of loading really works. The same question applies when we are trying to get a soft edge to camouflage painting on an aircraft. The time-honoured method of the Blu-tac worm and masking tape does…
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Kawanishi Norm – Part Four – A Powerful Flop
From all accounts great things were expected from the Kawanishi reconnaissance float plane. And then the contra-rotating propellers and jettison-able float proved problematical and the service missions undertaken with the type were failures. So it was quietly shoved back into a training role. The appearance of the aircraft in the box art was what attracted…
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Kawanishi Norm – Part Three – Sprayin’ Weather
This last week has been good weather for spray painting. Clearish, dryish, and warmish…enough to be able to manage lacquers with regular thinner and also spray rattle cans of clear. The shop heater has been on to make a warm box but this is less of a problem now that I have overcome my fear…
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Kawanishi Shiun – Part One – A Norm By Any Other Name
If you are scandalised by the use of Allied code-names for Japanese aircraft of WW2, make sure you check back later when I use NATO reporting names for Soviet planes. This is officially the E15K1 but not again in this column. It is a Norm. A very special plane and welcome in the collection. I…
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Mitsubishi A6M – Part Two – Tending To Madness
Just when you think you have become sane again, someone shows up with a gift model and away you go, over the hill… I needed a Zero some time ago and bought a Tamiya kit. Had I waited a while, my friend John would have arrived with this A6M5 and I would not have needed…
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Mitsubishi A6M – Part One – Not Gone Mad
Nor senile. Gone clever. The Mitsubishi A6M seen in the heading image is a Tamiya 1:72 kit. I built it in two days flat and am very pleased with the result – but you may have noted that the propellor boss is bare of blades. And there are no landing gear legs evident. All deliberate.…
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Aichi Val – Part Four – Pearl Harbour
As problematical as this model has been to build, it is still welcome into the collection as the final piece in the set for the USS ARIZONA diorama photo shoot. This is the reason it doesn’t have stationery propeller blades – it will be photographed diving on the battleship from the port quarter. Doing this…
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Airfix Vintage Val – Part Four – The Judgement
The judgement can finally be delivered on the relative merit of the Airfix Aichi Val vs the Fujimi example. The AIrfix model wins – despite being older and sporting the ancient raised rivets. The verdict is based upon the ease of assembly, the fit of the parts, and the quality of the decals. Admittedly, the…
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Aichi Val – Part Three – Stripe Tail
I have often remarked the stripes that appear on the horizontal stabilisers of WW2 Japanese aircraft. They are on the upper side and form a fan radiating outwards from the front of the vertical stabiliser – some tails have them in white – some in yellow. This Aichi Val tail has them in red. They…
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Airfix Vintage Val – Part Three – Well Wrap My Rice Roll
And call me sushi – the Airfix Aichi Val is looking pretty good. The top and bottom colours have gone on the AIrfix Val and I have taken the precaution of glossing them into place with Mr. Color No. 46. It is a cool day and there are travelling showers – I do not want…
The Little World 