Kawanishi H6K "Mavis" by Mark Jahsan WIP#2

Follow up of Part #1

Once the pieces are together the dirty work starts. I used an automotive glazing putty for the filler, and did three applications, sanding between each one. I had previously sanded the whole fuselage so it had plenty to bite into. 

  You can see the front part of the keel had a pretty decent fit, but I’m glad I filled it with epoxy- the plastic is pretty thin and needs the reinforcement. 

  Just to make it easier to work with, I made the stand for it also. Beaching gear would be more correct, but all of my seaplanes and floatplanes sit on the same type of stand, gives it some continuity. Here she sits with the first of many coats of primer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In between the dirty work, it’s nice to do some clean stuff too, so I started on the crew stations and the walkway.

  There’s no secret to this step- fill, sand, prime, repeat... and it will be necessary! Combat models are male moldings and need lots of cleanup.

 

I took Arawasi’s advice and repainted my cockpit pieces. I used the same technique as I did in the interior- spray black, then spray the interior green lightly and at an angle. It provides variation in the tones and shadows under any overhangs. The pictures are a bit washed out, but it’s much darker than the first time.

I’ve also started on the wings. Normally I build into the top half of the wing, but since this is a parasol arrangement, the support went into the bottom half. Same procedure as the fuselage,  with the spars, then triangular buttresses. When joined, I’ll pour epoxy into the leading edge for reinforcement, the sprue scraps will bridge across the nacelles and I’ll do something else to strengthen those. I’ll make some stub spars for the outer wings with the correct dihedral that will slide in between the ends of the main spar.

 

Looking good, Mark! Can't wait for the next WIP.

Mitsubishi MS-1

Last year we had a posting about the Navy Type 90 Crew-trainer or Mitsubishi K3M "Pine" (here). Today we'd like to post two photos of a lesser known civilian version of the type, the Mitsubishi MS-1. Although built by Mitsubishi in 1936 it was equipped with a Nakajima Jupiter VI 420hp engine, without a Townend ring and could be fitted with floats as can be seen in the photos. It had one pilot, six passengers and only one was completed with the civilian registration J-BABG. It was operated by Tokyo Koku KK as an air taxi together with the company's own Aiba "Tsubame" (swallow). It turned into a floatplane when it was operated in the Tokyo-Shimoda route.
  

Aichi AB-4

I'm sure you all remember the amazing model by Kalle Kindel of an older post (here). Today we post a photo of one of the civilian Aichi AB-4s. Here's what wiki has to say about the type:

"The Aichi AB-4 was a Japanese flying boat of the 1930s. A single engined biplane, the AB-4 was intended to carry out night reconnaissance for the Imperial Japanese Navy. Six were built and accepted into service as the Experimental 6-Shi Night Reconnaissance Flying boat, three of which were converted to civil transports...

In 1935, three of the six AB-4s were sold to the Japanese Airline Nippon Koku Yuso Kenkyusho, (NKYK). The first aircraft was converted to a cargo transport, while the second and third aircraft were converted to passenger airliners, with the pilot's cockpit moved to the extreme nose (replacing the existing gunners position) and an enclosed passenger cabin, for five and six passengers respectively, added. The third prototype replaced the Gasuden engine with a more powerful Napier Lion.

The three AB-4s were used by NKYK in scheduled services from Osaka, and for sightseeing flights. One crashed into a factory chimney on 27 May 1937, killing all five aboard."

Nakajima "Kikka" #2 - Kits

Issue #36, October 1954, of Aireview includes an interview of "Kikka" test pilot Takaoka Susumu and we were about to translate it and post it here but since most of it can be found in "Monogram close-up #19" we continue with the kits.

 

Starting with 1/72 there are two kits by "Pegasus" and "Merlin Models" that are pretty bad. Lots of flash, no cockpit details, poor fit...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MPM is another company that has released a "Kikka" in 1/72; twice. The first was rather plain, the second "upgraded" with metal parts. I don't have either of their kits so I can't comment.

 

I'm also not familiar with the resin RS kit.

 and the more obscure Airmodel Frank-Modellbau.

The latest releases in this scale are from AZ Models. Actually there are five different kits with pretty funky paint schemes. "What-if" okay but a Navy aircraft in Army camouflage and operated by IJAAF units when the Nakajima Ki-201 "Karyu", the Army version of the "Kikka", was on the drawing board? Hmmm...  

AZ is the only company that has released trainer and night fighter versions of the "Kikka". 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 In 1/48 there is the Ventura kit. Pretty basic, no cockpit details but quite nice instruction booklet with good photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The very best of all kits is by Fine Molds. Initially it was released in a b/w box but the special version, further below, includes a beautiful metal Ne-20 engine that can be installed and shown with the cowling removed. An absolutely fantastic kit with good cockpit details, no flash whatsoever, excellent fit...anything you would want from a really good kit. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fine Molds re-released their kit without the engine and this version is the most commonly available now. The Ne-20 engine is sometimes available separately although most probably it's sold-out.

And last but not least is the rather obscure ZModel "Kikka" in 1/32 which I found on this blog.

 

 

If you have in your collection or have built any of the above kits we'd like to hear your impression on them.

Nakajima "Kikka" #1 - Bibliography

Below is a list of most, if not all, Japanese publications about the Nakajima "Kikka". All books are in Japanese with no English text. The vintage photos of the aircraft are relatively few and are featured in most publications. The aircraft manual or other technical drawings did not survive the war and therefore are not included. MA#525 is the only publication with a cockpit drawing probably based on post-war photos of the "Kikka" in the Steven Udvar Hazy Center.

"Kikka wa Tonda" (The "Kikka" flew) by Yaguchi Syoichi, published by Gensyu Publishing co. ltd, August 2005, p.268

About the "Kikka" and the the Ne20 engine:

"Jeto Enjin ni Toritsukareta Otoko" (The man possessed by jet engines) by Maema Takanori, published by Kodansha, July 1989, p.432

"Kaigun Tokushu Kogeki-ki Kikka - Nihonhatsu no jeto enjin Ne20 no gizutsu gensho" ("Kikka", The special attack aircraft of the Navy - A technical inspection of the first Japanese jet engine Ne20) by Ishizawa Kazuhiko, published by Miki Press, July 2001, p.221

 

For modellers more helpful are the following publications with photos and illustrations:

"Shusui to Nihon Riku-Kaigun jeto, roketo hikoki" ("Shusui" and the jet and rocket aircraft of the Japanese Army & Navy) Model Art #525 by Nohara Shigeru, published by Model Art, 1998, p.184

"Koku Kessen Heiki" (Aviation weapons for the decisive battle) Gakken #56 by Komine Bunzo, published by Gakken, November 2006, p.181

Kawasaki Ki-48 "Sokei" (Lily) by Panagiotis Koubetsos WIP#1

My next project is about a Type 99 Ki-48 "Sokei" somewhere in New Guinea in 1943. The diorama will also include an Isuzu fuel truck or a Toyota starter truck or even both! The kit comes from 1/48 AZ models with thick plastic, wrong nose shape and no detailing except for a styrene Nakajima Sakae set. Therefore it's recommended only to those who want to add a lot of scratchwork detailing and definitely not to beginners.
Starting with the cockpit apart from the other details  I also made the type 89 dual mount MG which I find very attractive, from a modeller's perspective of course!

Cheers,

Panagiotis Koubetsos

 

AMAZING work Panagioti!!!! Absolutely incredible considering a big part will not be visible once the kit is closed.

Nakajima B5N "Kate" remains - Trincomalee, Sri Lanka

Perhaps you remember our February posting (here) about the first Pacific War victory of IJNAF ace pilot Iwamoto Tetsuzo during the Easter Sunday Raid against Colombo, Ceylon (Sri Lanka).

Mr. Dharshana Jayawardena, a diver from Sri Lanka, shared with us a few photos from a Nakajima B5N "Kate" crash site during the attack on Trincomalee Harbour on April 9, 1942.

Wiki mentions: "According to eye witness Michael Tomlinson (author of The Most Dangerous Moment and RAF Station Intelligence Officer at Ratmalana and later at China Bay in Trincomalee), one Japanese pilot deliberately crashed his plane into one of the giant fuel tanks just north of China Bay aerodrome. Inside the aircraft were three Japanese — Shigenori Watanabe, Tokya Goto, and Sutomu Toshira. After carefully circling the area they plunged unerringly into the tank igniting their own funeral pyre. The resulting fire lasted seven days. Parts of the aircraft's engine and the flattened remains of the fuel storage tank have been placed in a barbed wire enclosure 1 ½ km from the turn off at the 4th mile post on the Trincomalee-Habarana Road."

All photos by Mr. Dharshana Jayawardena except when noted otherwise. 

The sign at the crash site

Aircraft remains

Photo by: Jayesh Nanayakkara, Sri Lanka

 

 And the fuel tank remains

Mr. Jayawardena is one of the contributing divers to the "Dive Sri Lanka" website with many interesting ship-wreck and beautiful underwater photos.

On THIS page there are photos of aircraft wrecks but the identity of the plane(s) is not clear. British or Japanese? Can our readers proficient in non-Japanese aircraft types offer their help?

Also, Mr. Jayawardena explained: A few days ago I dived a site where a fisherman had found a piece of aluminum and thought it was a plane and informed me. At 42m I found a wing, two tires and part of the engine with the propeller.
HERE is the video Mr. Jayawardena shot.
What type of aircraft do you think this is?
 

We are particularly thankful to Mr. Jayawardena and Mr. Nanayakkara for their contribution to our blog.