Nakajima A2N3 1:48, "A.B. & K" - kit review by Jan Kanov.

Here's a first look of the Nakajima A2N3 "A.B. & K." kit in 1:48 by our friend Jan Kanov from South Bohemia.

The kit is packed in a solid cardboard box with a decent looking colored cover. I really like this trend in packaging. It survived the mail journey without any harm.

Once opened, the folded sheet of color schemes peeks out first. Inside it, is a sheet of decals carefully packed in a rigid foil sealed with an adhesive strip (the trees are also packed this way). Decals look sharp and flawless.
Another folded sheet is devoted to building instructions. At first glance it offers everything you need to know. And it looks clear. I didn't go through it in more detail.

About the trees and kit parts.

The plastic is quite dark compared to the kits we're acustomed to. But it is clean and at first glance free from burrs or larger traces of molds. There are only two places where I noticed spilled plastic through the mold gap. It's on the parts of the fuselage halves at the edge of the cockpit. But this is only a minimal inconvenience and not a serious problem.

The model gives me a very good impression. And I'm glad to have it at home and nobody knows it.:D
But one thing I also felt was slightly unpleasant. The price is pretty high, but if I think. . . . it is a piece of unprecedented aircraft and a high quality kit.

Regarding the possible coloring machines from the kit. I couldn't find anywhere a photo of the aircraft from the aircraft carrier Kaga, with collective exhausts. I found this machine with only individual exhausts. Which narrows the choice very quickly.
But my sources of information are very small. I only have Model Art no510 and a few pictures on the net.:(

- Jan Kanov - 

The Luigi Scarano Collection Pt. 9

My latest work, Nakajima Ki-44 "Shoki", 85 Sentai, 1/48.

- Luigi Scarano - 

 

 

 

Japanese Aircraft Online Model Contest 014 - DANILO RENZULLI #1

This is my entry for the current contest.
It is a 1/72 A6M3 by Tamiya and is substantially an OOB realization being this model so perfect I didn't use any putty. This model reproduces a well known aircraft belonging to the Tainan Kokutai and found abandoned on Buna in March, 1942.
I also added  a few cockpit details, riveted the surfaces, added links and brake lines to the undercarriage. This is a model built in 2015 - a particular care has been taken in reproducing the elusive amber-grey paint. I used a mix of Humbrol colours in which the # 28 Matt Camouflage Grey played a major role, then  added # 62 Matt Leather,  # 86 Matt Light Olive and 99 Matt Lemon in various proportions. The "chalky" appearance here and there has been achieved by replacing the # 28 grey with some White 34 in the above mixture and dry brushing both models . In the wings the navigation lights have been reproduced by carefully carving the plastic thickness and adding a drop of crystal clear. Prop and spinner  received their share of Alclad paint and finally all the hinomaru have been masked and sprayed along with the blue and white bands on the tail. The light paint scratching has been achieved with a Stabilo silver pencil. I particularly enjoyed the building of this kit not only because it goes together with no problem at all but because in my opinion catches very well the lines and the appearance of the Reisen.

- Danilo Renzulli -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heads Up! 2

I'm sure you all know the old 244 Sentai book "Dai Nippon Kaiga" published in 2004. It had been sold-out and highly sought-after for some years but it has been re-printed and is now again available from our on-line store HERE.

Bunrindo has also re-printed a number of also sold-out and highly sought-after FAOW titles. They are identical to the original print and have the indication "encore" (in Japanese) on the cover. They are a bit more expensive than the original but, hey, we might have old stock with old prices!

The reprinted numbers are:

16 - Nakajima Ki-44 "Shoki" (Tojo)

17 - Kawasaki Ki-61 "Hien" (Tony)

19 - Nakajima Ki-84 "Hayate" (Frank)

23 - Kawasaki Ki-100

24 - Army Experimental Fighters

32 - Nakajima B5N "Kate"

38 - Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah"

44 - Yokosuka K5Y "Willow"

47 - IJN Reconnaissance Seaplanes

57 - Navy Night Fighter "Gekko" (Irving)

59 - Mitsubishi G4M "Betty"

61 - Mitsubishi J2M "Raiden" (Jack)

65 - Nakajima Ki-43 "Hayabusa" (Oscar)

69 - Yokosuka D4Y "Suisei" (Judy)

73 - Tachikawa Ki-9 "Spruce"

91 - Mitsubishi G3M "Nell"

and ofcourse are all available from our on-line store, HERE. 

Heads Up!

Our good friend Harold K sent over a heads-up that in the Nuremberg show Special Hobby excibited what seems to be a future release of a Tachikawa Ki-54 in 1/72. (photo from here)

The only other kit that existed of the type in that scale was the resin by A&V Models.

So, it should be interesting to see what Models of the type Special Hobby will release.

ALSO...............Clear Prop Models have released two new Mitsubishi Ki-51 "Sonia" kits.

One in 1/144 which from the images in their site looks really detailed and most interesting.

And the other in 1/72 which is even more detailed with photoetched parts.

 

Both look really beautiful!!!

Check their site HERE for their "Claude" and most interesting extras for the "Sonia".

I think it's great that model companies discover other types of Japanese aircraft beyond the Zero and the endless releases of fighters. Not to mention the improvements in quality.

By the way, no company has ever sent Arawasi any kits for review, with the glowing exception of Hasegawa. So, instead of actually saying what I'm thinking, I'll just say a "thanks for nothing" to all the rest of you!😞

Japanese Aircraft Online Model Contest 014 - MILOSLAV HRABAŇ

A6M2b Model 21, buntaicho Lt(jg) Jun‘ichi Sasai, August 1942
1/32 Tamiya
HGW wet tranfers & seat belts, CMK wheels, wheel bay & flaps, Aires exhaust. All colours MRP - new test IJN set. Painting mask homemade

- Miloslav Hrabaň, Prague, Czech republic -

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More photos from Miloslav.