SHIZUOKA 2013 - pt. 2

This year a record 228 modelling clubs from all over Japan exhibited literally thousands of models. There was a VERY HIGH number of Japanese aircraft entries with a great variety in subjects that made us really happy. As you can see Zero-sens were the most popular but this year there were surprisingly quite a few pre-War aircraft entries. The level of Japanese aircraft modelling was satisfactory but there were fewer really spectacular entries than last year.

This time we will present the creations of the modellers not by subject but by club starting with Hasegawa's Joyful Modeller's Convention.



Nakajima "Shoki" by Yoshida Akira (84 yo)
Hasegawa 1:32, built in 300h.

Mitsubishi F1M "Pete" by Abe Eiji
Hasegawa 1:48, built in 120 days.

 


 
    

Zero by Suda Takanori (18yo)
Hasegawa 1:48, built in 60h. 

 "Shiden" by Imai Katsuhisa
 (15yo) Hasegawa 1:48.



Silver "Raiden" by Ninomiya Toshio,

Hasegawa 1:32, built in 200h.

"Tenzan" by Usami Hadahiro (17yo)
Hasegawa 1:48, built in 45h.

     

Colorful "Shinden" by miss Noguchi Yurie (7yo!!!)
Hasegawa 1:72.

Biplane Modelers Summit.
Mr Gomi submited three models.
 

Nakajima A2N, Fine Molds 1:72

Kawasaki Ki-10, ICM 1:72



Bleriot-Spad S.51, AZ Model 1:72

Haneda Hane Hane Club


Type Ko-3 Fighter (Nieuport 24) by Yamagishi Seiji
Roden 1:72

Sopwith Camel by Yamagishi Seiji
Roden 1:72






"Spruce" by Sawatake Shinichiro

Nichimo 1:48



Kawasaki Ki-10 by Ogasawara Hideaki (?)
Fine molds 1:48

 



"Willow" by Ogasawara Hideaki (?)
Arii 1:48

"Pete" on the deck of Fuso
by Sawatake Shinichiro
Hasegawa 1:48

"Moke Sakuru Non-Stoku" club
 Matsumura Toshiro-san contributed eight models.


"Val", Fujimi 1:48,
all markings hand painted
finished in 5 weeks

Nakajima B5N "Kate", Nichimo 1:48,
all markings hand painted
finished in 1 month (!)

  


"Oscar", Hasegawa 1:48

  

A marvelous Tamiya (!!!) "Pete"
in 1:50 finished in 2 weeks!!!

"Rufe, Hasegawa 1:48

"Toryu", Hasegawa 1:48, finished in 10 days.
"Excelent kit" according to Matsumura-san.

"Hard & Light" club from Shizuoka prefecture


D4Y2-S "Judy" by Suzuki Jun
Fine Molds 1:48

"Francis", no details, 1:72



Many more photos tomorrow!

SHIZUOKA 2013 - pt. 1

The 52nd SHIZUOKA HOBBY SHOW was held on the 16-17-18 and 19 of May in the traditional "Twin Messe Shizuoka". Nothing had changed since last year regarding the organisation except improvements in the public transportation to and from the show, so what we wrote on this blog last year (HERE) is valid for this year’s show too.
The first big hall and about half of the second were reserved for the 77 plastic model, radio-control, car and railway modeling companies as well as the small number of publishers and bookshops.
The number of visitors this year was spectacular with every inch of the halls filled with fans trying to squeeze to get a glimpse of the makers’ booths. Not a particularly pleasant experience but definitely a sign of a successful event that more than 50 years later still attracts great interest.
What was unfortunately not interesting was the total luck of new Japanese aircraft releases in any scale by the "major companies". Absolutely nothing from Tamiya, Hasegawa or Fine Molds. Nada. Zilch.

Tamiya celebrated the arival of a restored Zero in Japan with a small booth.

Fine Molds had only a few previous released models and their belt series.

Sweet had a rather big desplay of their very popular Zero-sen series in 1:144.

Only Hasegawa is re-releasing in July their popular A6M1 Zero prototype and A6M8 in 1:48.

Various interesting releases were waiting for us in the BEAVER Corporation booth including:

CMR Douglas DC-2 in “Japanese Civilian Service” in 1:144

Yokosuka K5Y1 “Willow” and the seaplane version in 1:72 by AZ Model.

A new Nakajima C6N “Saiun” (Myrt) in 1:72 by SWORD

And various after-market sets by BEAVER.

The other new release was by TOMYTEC and GIMIX. Zero-sen Model 52 in 1:48, ready-made and painted with interior details that can be presented any way you want, undergoing maintenance or ready for action. There will be four different kits including a night-fighter Zero-sen, each with different figures. Release date is also July.

But the most pleasant surprise was in the tiny booth of ZOUKEI-MURA. A brand new Mitsubishi J2M “Raiden” (Jack) in 1:32, originally announced last year, is ready for release in a couple months. Price will be between US$90-100. We were happy to have a short conversation with very friendly Monden-san of Zokei-mura who revealed that releases for the immediate future will (unfortunately) include more non-Japanese aircraft subjects.

Stay tuned for an extensive coverage bonanza with A LOT of photos of the dozens of the modelers' exhibits. Coming up tomorrow. Need sleep.

“Scale Fest 2013”

IPMS North Central Texas 

“Scale Fest 2013”

May 11, 2013 Mesquite Convention & Events Center - Mesquite, Texas

Every May, modelers from all over North Central Texas converge on the Mesquite Convention Center to show off their creations, browse the vendors, and connect with those who share the same passion. Squadron also had a presence at the show as well as having their “open house” at their mail order facility, with plenty of good deals to be had. However, the main focus here is Japanese aviation.
While the turn-out for those who like hinomaru was a bit on the light side, there were some nice entries on the contest tables.

In 1/144th scale, there were a pair of N1K2-J Shiden-Kai and a Mitsubishi A7M Reppu. All well done for such a small scale. The first two are PLATZ kits, I believe, the latter I'm unsure of.

For those who like X-planes, there was a Ki-64 in 72nd scale. The kit manufacturer is unknown. (MPM?)

In 1/48th scale, there was a rather nice Mitsubishi A65M2 “Zero”, the Tamiya kit with added rivet details and painted on hinomaru.

Lastly, for the “what-if” fan was something I have yet to identify! Does anyone have a guess what the basis of this strange looking plane is?
If you see your model pictured, please leave a comment!

Thanks!
-D. Chouinard-

Vintage Modeling

Training of new IJNAF cadets especially those of the "Shonen Kokuhei" programme included modeling, to familiarise the teenagers with the basics of aviation. Those days it was wood and everything was completely scratch built.

Arawasi will be in the Shizuoka show this Saturday. Expect a lengthy and detailed report on everything regarding Japanese historical Aviation. New releases, the booths of the model makers and many many photos of Japanese aircraft models.
Stay tuned!