The Japanese aircraft kit you'd die to see (re-)released

Two posts today.

First up the results of the "The Japanese aircraft kit you'd die to see (re-)released" market research.

By far the most popular demand is a new Aichi E13A "Jake" in 1/72 & 1/48 with 10 votes and the second by a narrow margin is a Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally" in 1/72 & 1/48 with nine votes. 

I have absolutely no idea why Hasegawa or Fine Molds haven't come up with new kits of these very important Japanese aircraft in both scales. "Sally" in particular offers a big variety of camouflage options and at least two types. As a bomber she was even more important than "Donryu" of which a series of brilliant kits by Hasegawa have been released in 1/72. Considering that perhaps Hasegawa did not want to directly compete with Nichimo and their "Jake" in 1/48, there are no "Sally" kits released by major Japanese companies. So what's the problem releasing a brand new "Sally" kit at least in 1/72?

In third place is the VERY surprising Tachikawa Ki-54 in 1/72 with five votes. The only kit around was released by A&V Models, years ago. Personally I find it highly unlikely that Hasegawa would release a kit of a fairly little known transport/trainer. I think it is more likely to see a model released by a Czech company like RS Models. Much better than nothing, right?

In forth place there is a tie between a new Kawanishi H6K "Mavis" in 1/72 and a Kawanishi E7K "Alf" in 1/48 & a new in 1/72 both with four votes. I don't think we will see a new "Alf" by Hasegawa in 1/72 any time soon but a "Mavis" following their latest AMAZING "Emily" release is more probable. I heard "Emily" sold very well, although things have started to cool down a bit.

Disappointingly fifth comes one of the coolest Japanese aircraft ever; Mitsubishi Ki-15 "Babs" in 1/48 & new in 1/72 with only three votes. The cheap and very good for their scale LS/Arii kit are easy to find so I don't think it would make much sense Hasegawa or another company to release a brand new kit in that scale. In 1/48 though, that's another story. I suspect the biggest problem is the luck of available photos, drawings or other material of the cockpit of the "Babs" that would make for a good kit in 1/48. Otherwise there are many many cool options including the famous "Kamikaze-go". So, unless we see something new detailing the cockpit of the "Babs" I think it is unlikely we'll see a new kit in 1/48.  

All your requests were very interesting and show how many different kind of kits of Japanese aircraft could be released. Let's hope that we will see new kits coming out if not by Japanese companies who are traditionally extremely reluctant to take any risk but from other companies like RS Models, Sword or Meng. If only their prices were more customer friendly...The new Ki-102 by Sword is sold around $US30 in Japan.

Airfix recently remembered that the Japanese flew aircraft during WWII and released the most predictable Pearl Harbor set of Zero, Kate and Val in 1/72 for the US market. Perhaps 20-30 years later they will release an "Oscar" when they remember it's the aircraft the British encountered in Burma. Or maybe not.

Aoshima very pleasantly surprised us all by recently releasing a brand new "Hien" and "Shiden" series. I do hope they release a "Hayate" and a "Raiden" if they are going for single engine fighters.

Fine Molds are in a self-induced comma. I guess instead of flying they prefer to crawl with their admittedly amazing Japanese tank kits they've been releasing.

Tamiya. Zero and Betty, Betty and Zero. If they release an amazing Kate in 1/48 things will start moving to a really interesting direction for the Navy. But...hey, what am I saying here! They have released  a brand new "Hien" and it's absolutely fabulous!!! I guess they finally got the message.

So, that's all folks. Thanks a lot for contributing. As promised I will indeed forward the results to Hasegawa, with whom I'm directly in touch, and let's again all hope we'll see a new "Jake" or "Sally" in the near future.