11th Exhibition of Plastic Modelling of IPMS CYPRUS

The show took place at the European University, Nicosia, Cyprus, 13-14 April 2013.

A few photos of Japanese subject entries courtesy of IPMS CYPRUS member, Kiriakos.

 A very good looking 244Sentai Kawasaki Ki-61 "Hien" in 1:32. Excellent shading!

Another 1:32 Nakajima Ki-84 "Hayate" of the 22nd Sentai. Note the discreet weathering. There might be some objection to the black IJNAF cowling though.

And a very nice Type 97 Shinhoto Chi-Ha.  

Thank you Kiki for the photos.

Kawanishi H6K (Mavis) - Film

We conclude this presentation dedicated to the Flying Boats of the IJNAF and especially the Kawanishi H6K "Mavis" with a film and we hope you enjoy the rare Mavis cockpit shot.

Title: "Nankai no Hanataba" (Flower bouquet of the South Seas)

Released by: Toho Eiga

Premiered: May 21, 1942

Length: 106min. b/w

Director: Abe Yutaka

Staring: Obinata Den, Okawa "Henry" Heihachiro & Kawazu Seizaburo

Supported by Dai Nippon Koku KK.

Story: The branch of airline "Koa Koku" in the South Seas sees the arrival of new director Igarashi (Obinata Den) who is bound to raise the spirits and expand the air lines beyond the equator. Starting his undertaking with vigorous medical tests strict rules including no drinking during flight, the pilots of the company show their displeasure since the airline worked perfectly with no accidents...

In the above two photos movie actors receive a walkaround from a Dai Nippon Koku pilot before the shooting of the film begins.

 Actors Obinata Den (left) and Tsukita Ichiro (right) in the cockpit of a Mavis.

The movie was released again on DVD in 2007 by Toho, check HERE, and is available in Japan.

Okawa "Henry" Heihachiro was born 9/9/1905 in Saitama, moved to the US in 1925 and lived first in Gainesville, then in Atlanda where he worked first in a Chinese restaurant then as a dishwasher in New York when he decided to join the actor's school of Paramount, becoming classmate with Gary Cooper. To pay for the school he had to work in a Japanese owned pet shop but the school closed after only a year. Entered Columbia University to study economics but changed his mind and decided to pursue an acting career. Went to Hollywood and found employment with Fox appearing as a stunt flier in the Howard Hawks movie The Air Circus of 1928. 

He returned to Japan in 1933 for family reasons and acted in many movies during the War. He continued his acting career after 1945 and changed his name to "Henry" Okawa in 1957 the year he starred in the most famous movie of his career "The Bridge on the River Kwai". His role was of Captain Kanematsu but he was also assistant director. Passed away in 1971.

 With US Navy Commander Sears (William Holden) in the begining of the movie.

With Colonel Saito (Hayakawa Sessue) and Major Clipton (James Donald).

Kawanishi H6K2-L "Mavis" by Otsuki Hajime

Otsuki-san created a beautiful civilian "Mavis" in 1:72, registration J-BFOZ named "Ayanami" ("Twilled Waves").

Kawanishi H6K "Mavis" - Vintage Artwork

Artwork by artist Kabashima Katsuichi (here) from childrens' publication "Kodansha Ehon - Sora No Mamori" (Kodansha picture book - Defenders of the Sky), October 1941. The ship in the background is probably the light cruiser Kuma.

The poem on the top right corner reads:
"Kaigun no Daihikotei
Ookina karada ni
Tsuyoi hane
Hiroi hiroi
Sora to Umi wo
Mamoru tanomoshii sugata"

(The Navy's big flying boat
Big body
Strong wings
Protector of the
Wide sky and sea
A reliable/promising figure)

Kawanishi H6K "Mavis"

The 934 Kokutai was formed on November 1, 1942 when it changed its name from 36Ku. It was a seaplane reconnaissance and interceptor unit mostly equipped with Mitsubishi F1M “Pete”, Aichi E13A “Jake” but also with Mitsubishi A6M2-N “Rufe”. On July 4, 1942 the unit advanced to Ambon island in Indonesia and on May 1, 1943 a single Kawanishi H6K “Mavis” was attached to the unit for transport duties. Pilot of this "Mavis" was Kitaide Daita.

During his time in Ambon with the 934Ku Kitaide-san usually flew transport missions with his “Mavis” which was purely a transport flying boat and didn’t carry any offensive equipment; not even bomb racks. So when occasionally enemy submarines were spotted, there was very little for the crew and plane to do. Following a request to the unit commander it was decided for the flying boat to carry one small size, 60kg, bomb during these transport missions with the fuse removed to avoid accidents. In order to “bomb” an enemy target two observers would have to carry the bomb to the tail gunner’s position, install the fuse and drop the bomb when the pilot would give them the sign with a buzzer. 

One such occasion was on the 18th of June 1943 when Kitaide-san received orders to transport cargo from Ambon to Surabaya in Java, a route which was not often visited by enemy planes and was a relatively safe one. While enjoying a cup of hot coffee with the auto-pilot having taken over, the crew noticed a beautiful rainbow. At the edge of the rainbow near the Kangean island the waves of a ship were visible. Flying at an altitude of a few thousand meters, Kitaide-san grubbed his binoculars and saw that it was actually an enemy submarine, confirmed by information that no friendly submarines were located in the area. He immediately gave an order for the two observers located in the front of the flying boat to gather and rush to the rear end. His instructions were to prepare the bomb and press the buzzer twice when they were ready, while he would hit the buzzer once to give them the signal to drop the bomb. And to be extra careful how to handle the fuse! 

Kitaide-san brought his “Mavis” to a dive with the enemy submarine becoming gradually bigger in the windscreen. The submarine crew suddenly realising the enemy flying boat started for a crash dive the whole situation turning into a contest who would dive faster... At about 300 meters and when the coning tower of the submarine was clearly visible he pressed the buzzer and the rear crew released the bomb. At the same time he swiftly banked to the starboard gaining altitude and getting out of the dive he watched the bomb falling towards the submarine from his side window. The bomb could explode only on impact and exactly when the conning tower was about to get underwater, it hit it. A big explosion with a huge fireball and black smoke were clear indications that it was a direct hit. A few seconds later the dark rear end of the submarine appeared out of the water and slowly the submarine started sinking leaving only the calm emerald waters behind while the "Mavis" crew were wondering if what they had seen was actually true. A dark oil spot was all that was left to indicate the sunk submarine…

Extract from the book: ""Kiseki No Hikotei" (The Miracle Flying Boat)

Kawanishi H6K "Mavis"



The June 5, 1940 issue of the magazine "Asahi Graph" featured an ad of the forthcoming civilian passenger flights by "Dai Nippon Koku" from Japan to South Pacific with the new "Mavis" flying boat:

"Kuroshio" in the sky of the South Sea

Very soon the flying connection to South Pacific will be serviced by two 17-passenger flying boats. Initial test flights were very satisfactory and the forthcoming flights will be on the Yokohama-Saipan-Palau route.

The Kawanishi Flying Boats have a max speed of 280km/h and are the first civilian 4-engine flying boats of Japan. There are beds for four passengers and seats for 17 while there is a crew of eight members including an "air-boy". An amazing flying boat built in Japan. Together with the forthcoming Mitsubishi MC-20 11-passenger airplane, the transportation capacity of our country over the air and the sea will receive an excellent representation.

The new flying boat of "Nippon Koku", photo above, received the name "Kuroshio" and the registration J-BFOR. In the photos below on the left we can see the luxurious beds for four passengers while in the photo on the right we can see that the passengers can enjoy the outside view from every seat.

There are not many interior photos of the Kawanishi H6K "Mavis". Here we present two of the interior of one of the 16 H6K2-L, the civilian version that was operated by the airline Dai Nippon Koku.
The name "Kuroshio" comes from the ocean current, HERE.

Kawanishi H6K "Mavis"

"Encyclopedia of Japanese Aircraft" vol. 3 indicates that this particular flying boat was a Navy Type 97 Transport Flying Boat or Kawanishi H6K2-L. I'm not 100% sure because the windows in the nose are too few and square, not round, shaped which is indeed an indication of an H6K2-L but no windows are visible in front of the fuselage side door; if they were there they would fallen on the hinomaru. Perhaps the wing float is covering them. Note the absence of side blisters, another transport indication.

IJNAF FLYING BOAT BIBLIOGRAPHY #2

Publications useful for modelers with plenty of photos, artwork and illustrations.

Title: Maru Mechanic Extra #2 - Kawanishi Type 2 Flying boot (sic) (H8K)

Author: Various

Published by: Ushio Shobo, 1984 pb, out-of-print

Pages: 170, Size: 19X26cm

A Special Maru Mechanic publication combining MM#19 and #24 full of photos and technical illustrations of the Kawanishi H8K "Emily". Old but recommended.

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Title: Famous Airplanes of the World #49 - Type 2 Flying Boat

Author/artwork: Nohara Shigeru

Published by: Bunrindo, 1994 pb, out-of-print 

Pages: 88, Size: 18X26cm Photos: 149 (21 in color)

FAOWs are best for their collection of photographs. Good but now outdated.

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Title: Aero Detail #31 - Kawanishi H8K "Emily" Type 2 Flying Boat

Author/artwork: Nohara Shigeru, Iinuma Kazuo

Published by: Dainippon Kaiga, 2003 pb, in-print

Pages: 104, Size: 21X30cm Photos: 315 (most in color)

Although it includes parts of the maintenance manual and not all the FAOW photos, this is the best overall publication on the "Emily" and is highly recommended to all modelers interested in an in-depth coverage of the plane. The text is in Japanese and English. There are two most helpful pages with sample pieces of the original paints found on the last surviving "Emily".

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Title: Model Art #541 - Type 2 Flying Boat & IJNAF Flying Boats

Author/artwork: Nohara Shigeru

Published by: Model Art, 1999 pb, out-of-print

Pages: 200, Size: 18X26cm

MA#541 includes all the maintenance manual of the "Emily" with plenty of photos but also (and more importantly) the maintenance manual of the H6K "Mavis" also with a good number of photos. There is also brief coverage of the earlier types of flying boats and a modeling guide in the back pages. All the text is in Japanese but if you are looking only one publication for the Flying Boats of the IJNAF, this is the one.

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Title: "Nippon No Hikotei"

(Imperial Japanese Navy Flying Boat [sic])

Author/artwork: Nohara Shigeru

Published by: Kojinsha, 2007 pb, in-print

Pages: 233, Size: 15X21cm, Photos: 200 (26 in color)

Nohara-san re-released the out-of-print MA#541 with Kojinsha in smaller size and expanded it to include whatever has survived of the blueprints of the Type 98 Reconnaissance Seaplane or Aichi E11A1. Cheaper, convenient and more readily available but of smaller size, this publication is highly recommended.

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Title: "Ni-shiki Taitei To Hikotei"

(Type 2 Flying Boat & IJNAF Flying Boats)

Author: Nohara Shigeru, Fukushima Iwao, Horiba Wataru, Saito Yoshiro

artwork: Kobayashi Katsumi

3DCG: Harada Keiji

Published by: Gakken, 2008 pb, out-of-print

Pages: 161, Size: 18X26cm

A very good publication by Gakken in their "Rekishi Gunzo Sirizu" on the Japanese flying boats including those employed by the JIETAI (Japanese Self Defence Force). Excellent 3DCG illustrations detailing the "Emily" and a good selection of photographs. Recomended as supplementary to the above books but out-of-print and quite difficult to be located.  

ALL publications are available through our on-line store HERE but note that availability of FAOW#49 and the Gakken is erratic. 

IJNAF FLYING BOAT BIBLIOGRAPHY #1

Following a request by a reader of our blog, we present here a selective bibliography of Japanese titles on the undoubtedly elegant Flying Boats (hikotei) of the IJNAF.

Title: "Saigo No Hikotei"

(The Last Flying Boat)

Author: Hitsuji Tsuneo

Published by: Konnichi No Wadaisha, 1988 h/b, Out-of-print

Pages: 246, Size: 14X20cm, Photos: 61 b/w

Hitsuji-san was a seaplane and flying boat specialist flying with the Tateyama, Maizuru and Sasebo Kokutai  among others. During the Sino-Japanese War, he served on board Kamikawa Maru then took part in most of the major operation theatres in the Pacific. Became unit commander (hikotaicho) of the 851Ku and then of the Takuma Ku finally serving with the test team of the Naval Aviation Arsenal in Davao. After the War he flew the last surviving "Emily" from Takuma to Yokohama to be evaluated by the US Forces and later became adviser with the Sinmeiwa Co.

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Title: "Kiseki No Hikotei"

(The Miracle Flying Boat)

Author: Kitaide Daita

Published by: Kojinsha, 1969 pb, Out-of-print

Pages: 237, Size: 14X20cm, Photos: 34 b/w

 

Title: "Kiseki No Hikotei"

(The Last Flying Boat)

Author: Kitaide Daita

Published by: Kojinsha, 2005 pb, in-print

Pages: 388, Size: 11X15cm, Photos: 35 b/w

Kitaide-san served with the Tateyama and Yokohama Sugita Kokutai. At the time of the Sino-Japanese War he was serving with Kojo Ku becoming a test pilot with Kugisho. At the beginning of the Pacific War he was serving with the 934Ku. The end of the War found him in Jawa with 7,000 flying hours (!!!) to his credit mostly with "Mavis".

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Title: "Yokaren No Sora"

(The Skies of Yokaren)

Author: Honma Takeshi

Published by: Kojinsha, 1981 hb, out-of-print

Pages: 275, Size: 14X20cm

Title: "Yokaren No Sora"

(The Skies of Yokaren)

Author: Honma Takeshi

Published by: Kojinsha, 2002 pb, in-print

Pages: 364, Size: 11X15cm, Photos: 19

Honma-san served in the beginning with Yokosuka, Tsuchiura, Suzuka, Sasebo and Yokohama Ku. Flew "Emily" and "Mavis" in the South Pacific from Makin in the Gilbert Islands and Jaluit in the Marshalls. Became an instructor with the TakumaKu, served on the heavy Cruiser Tone flying "Jake" during the battle of Leyte, later flying "Saiun" with the 171Ku over Okinawa. Total flying time: 2,500 hours.

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Title: "Testo Pairoto"

(Test Pilot)

Author: Minamihori Eiji

Published by: Kojinsha, 2007 pb, in-print

Pages: 693, Size: 11X15cm, Photos: 35

Author Minamihori has dedicated this book in the personal history of Kawanishi test pilot Morikawa Isamu who was the main pilot of the "Emily" prototypes and had a very long and colorful career.

All the above biographies are in Japanese and none has been translated into English.

Kawanishi H6K "Mavis" by Chas Bunch

Here's the "Mavis".  Hasegawa 1:72.  Built OOB a few years ago, I can't remember anything special other than the rear turret glass was broken, so I glued it back together and used it as a pattern to heat smash a new one from clear acetate. Model Master paint, the hinomarus are painted, the only decals are the tail codes. Even in 1:72 this is a big model!

-Chas Bunch-