Sasebo Kokutai Modelling

 Let's see what Sasebo Kokutai kits and after-market decal options have been released.

Let's start with the "Kyofu". All images from Scalemates unless otherwise indicated.

Hasegawa has released kit No. 51337 in 1/72 and includes decals for one seaplane.

From the Hasegawa instruction sheet.

Rising Decals has released a highly recommended after-market decal set on the type in 1/72.

The set includes decals for the "サ 951-12" we stumbled on in the previous post.

Tamiya has released kit No. 61036 in 1/48 with decals for two seaplanes.

The only after-market decal set that has ever been released in 1/48, is from the rather obscure Japanese Wingart. We used to sell these very interesting decal sets ages ago... (Wingart images: Arawasi)

As you can see plenty of Sasebo and 951 Kokutai seaplane options.

Next up is the Nakajima A6M2-N "Rufe".

Hasegawa has released kit No. 00969 in 1/72 which includes three kits, two "Kyofu" and one "Rufe" with SaseboKu decals.

Print Scale has released a conversion set in 1/72 for the Airfix A6M2 Zero to remodel it into a "Rufe".

And the decal set includes decals for one SaseboKu seaplane.

Hasegawa has also released kit No. 07510 in 1/48 with decals for two seaplanes.

"Ropos Models" has released an after-market decal set in 1/48 for the "Rufe" which includes one SaseboKu seaplane. PLEASE, DO NOT paint your "Rufe" models orange with red cowlings!!! Looks very unusual but historically it's completely BS. "Rufes" left the Nakajima factory painted as fighters and did not change their overall color when assigned to trainer units.

Mitsubishi F1M ""Pete" is next.

Fujimi has released a series of kits in 1/72 but AFAIK only kit No. 72195 includes decals for a SaseboKu seaplane.

Hasegawa has released kit No. 19196 in 1/48.

It includes decals for one Sasebo/951Ku seaplane, "サ 951-8" that was featured in one of the photos of the previous post. (images of the Hasegawa kit from here)

As for the Aichi E13A "Jake" I know of no releases in 1/48 with SaseboKu decals. In 1/72, there is the ancient Hasegawa kit and thankfully Rising Decals has released this most interesting decal set which includes the "サ 951-47" we spotted in the photos of the previous post.

Rising Decals has also released this set for one of the "Jakes" featured in the photos of the previous post, with multiple exhausts and anti-submarine radar. A very interesting subject indeed.

Kawanishi E7K2 "Alf"

Avi Models is the only maker that has released a kit in 1/72 of this greatly overlooked seaplane model and includes decals for one Sasebo/951Ku seaplane. The Hasegawa kit in 1/72 is E7K1. I've never seen photos of E7K1s with SaseboKu markings.

Last but not least, I'd like to draw your attention to this exquisite and very highly recommended Rising Decals set in 1/72 which features decals for three types of IJNAF seaplanes, "Rufe", "Pete" and "Jake" including some from the Sasebo/951Ku.

Leave comments if you know of more releases of Sasebo Kokutai seaplanes we've missed or if you've tried any of the above releases or even if you've built any kits on this subject.