Yokosuka D4Y3 "Suisei" (Judy)

A less known NARA photo today of a Yokosuka D4Y3 "Suisei" (Judy) Model 33 found at Clark airfield in the Philippines; unit unknown. Serial number was 3957 and it was in generally good condition. She was restored and evaluated by the TAIU receiving the registration S16.

 

"Ah! My Goddess! Shinden by Verena Wirnig

The J7W1 "Shinden" as an aircraft ‘Ah! My Goddess’

The idea, to make a fantasy painted a/c is a nice one and completely unusual for me. Therefore, it came to build it. I am a female modeler from IPMS Austria and am very convinced in Japan, its history and its country. So even Manga is part of my thoughts, but actually never read one. On one of my trips to Japan, I bought one ZukeiMura Shinden.

My husband built the Shinden sometime before, but in the WWII painting (HERE). My decision was a bright colorful a/c. The idea for the diorama was a long time growing idea. The ladder is part of accessories for a WWII RAF bomber airfield. The two ladies are from ZukeiMura. The suitcases I found accidently. The hut for the dog I found in a shop in Krakau (Poland). The dogs I bought via internet. So, the diorama was a build up over a long time. Like a puzzle.

The painting of the a/c was something else. The proposed painting from ZukeiMura was too dull, without life. Beside this, the painting was unpractical to me for flying. Since the big blue surfaces without distinction at the rudder surfaces are not good looking. The development of the paint scheme was easy, since my husband build at the time before a Trojan T-28 and a Texan II T-6. This colorful paint schemes as trainers of the USAF and IAF where the basic for the development the Shinden paint scheme.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think with this explanation, you can understand a little bit the history of this a/c. To note: The engine I painted in the maximum unreal paint as possible. In metallic green and gold!

 

I don't know about you guys but Verena's "Shinden" is really very interesting and a beautifully built model. Excellent!!!

Mitsubishi G3M "Nell" and fuel track

Photo from a vintage publication of  Mitsubishi G3M "Nell" getting re-fuelled. The "Kinsei" engine used 92 octane gasoline. The fuel track was painted dark blue (navy blue).

Kawasaki N2K1-Ja "Shiden-kai" (George) by Jean Barby

Here is my first model of the new year and it depicts a Kawasaki N2K1-Ja "Shiden-kai" (George) from the famous 343 Kokutai. The model is the Hasegawa in 1/48th, late version with the smaller vertical tail surface. The model was riveted and the excellent SBS cockpit was used instead of the parts of the kit. I also detailed the wheel bays and added the break line from solder wire. The Kawanishi color is a mixture of Gunze RLM70 and Gunze Sky blue (15%), underside is alclad with different shades on some panels to break the monotony.

Hinomarus were painted, and the canons are from Fine Molds. Cheers from France, Jean Barby.

 

 

I love it Jean! Brilliant paint job, perfect weathering. Merci beaucoup for sharing.

Kawanishi N1K2-Ja "Shiden-kai"

More NARA photos today, this time of a Kawanishi N1K2-Ja "Shiden-kai" Model 21ko found at the end of the war in the Akishima factory of Showa Hikoki in Tokyo. It was sent there as a sample since Showa was going to start producing the type under licence from Kawanishi together with Mitsubishi and the 21st Navy Arsenal. Eventually Showa produced only two "Shiden-kai" by the end of the war. Note the Japanese built DC-3 in the background.

 

The original NARA caption is most interesting:

"Front view of the Shiden-kai fighter-bomber, Japanese copy of the P-47. Only two of this model were manufactured, one for the navy and the other for the army. Neither of them have been flown."

 

Kawanishi H6K "Mavis" by Mark Jahsan WIP#7

WIP#1, WIP#2, WIP#3, WIP#4, WIP#5, WIP#6

  After the initial overall coat of primer, some problem areas were cleaned up, then a bit of pre-shading was done. I like using brown instead of the usual black, comes out a bit “dirtier” IMO.
  Then the walkways were taped off, at least my interpretation. The nacelles are shaped a bit different, so I had to fudge a little to make them work. And of course, finding out too late they should be in yellow! Then the IFF stripes were sprayed and masked.
  Decals came from a couple sources- fuselage hinomaru are from a Nichimo Kate kit, the large wing ones being a good size for the “small” ones on Mavis! The wing ones are 25-year-old or more ones from a Bandai 1/24 Zero that I converted into an A6M3. Tail codes are also from that kit, pieced together to get the correct codes.
  I’ve started with some washes & such. She’ll be lightly weathered- I like my planes to look used, not used up. Some of the pre-shading is visible, and the wingtops have a slightly splotchy look where the topcoat is thinner over the white base.
  Getting there, I always had a picture in my mind, but it’s cool to see her take shape.

 

 

And finally here's the finished Mavis in 1/48 by Mark Jahsan.

 

 

Kawanishi N1K1-J "Shiden" (George)

Four NARA photos today of a Kawanishi N1K1-J "Shiden" (George) found by the US forces at Clark Airfield in the Philippines in 1945. Serial number is 5511, one of the 300 "Shiden" built in Naruo factory, Hyogo prefecture, with serial numbers from 5251 to 5550. The tail number "201-53" indicates that it belonged to the second 201 Kokutai a unit formed on March 4, 1944 with four fighter units 305, 306, 301, 311 all equipped with Zeros. It operated in the Philippines and on September 1, 1944 it was equipped with 210 Zeros, but only 130 operational. It suffered great casualties, eventually becoming a tokko unit. In January 1945 the remaining pilots escaped to Taiwan but the rest of the unit members stayed in the Philippines and fought as foot soldiers.   

There is no record of the unit operating N1K1-Js so this particular "Shiden" was probably given to the unit because there were not enough Zeros. It either suffered some engine failure or some trouble with the tail wheel but is in overall pristine condition.

 

NEW Kit Releases!!!

Today I got a few new kits by Fine Molds and Hasegawa.

Fine Molds re-issued some of their older kits including seat belts and some different decals.

Nakajima Ki-43-II "Hayabusa" (Oscar) 
Kit Code: FB-17
Scale: 1/48
Price: $US30

From top-bottom, left-right:
50 Sentai, 3 Chutai, Sgt. Anabuki Satoru Burma 1943
64 Sentai, 2 Chutai, Burma 1943
59 Sentai, 3 Chutai, Sgt. Hirohata Tomio, New Guinea 1943
48 Sentai, Commander Maj. Matuo Massao, China 1944
64 Sentai, Flight Leader Capt. Miyabe Hideo, Burma 1943
Hitachi Kyodo Hiko Shidan, Ibaraki Pref. Japan 1944

Nakajima Ki-43-IIIa "Hayabusa" (Oscar) 
Kit Code: FB-18
Scale: 1/48
Price: $US30

 

From top to bottom:
33 Sentai, 3 Chutai, 1st Lt Yamamoto Hitoshi, Sumatra Oct. 1944
48 Sentai, 1 Chutai, Sgt. Okabe So, Nanjing 1945
54 Sentai, 2 Chutai, 1944
204 Sentai, Commander Cap. Murakami Hiroshi, Taiwan 1945

Mitsubishi J8M "Shusui"
Kit Code: FB-19
Scale: 1/48
Price: $US30

From top-bottom, left-right:
Experimental "Shusui", first flight by Lt. Inuzuka Toyohiko, Oppama June 7, 1945
Captured experimental "Shusui", No. 403. Planes of Fame.
Captured "Shusui", No. 81, Glenview Naval Station
"Shusui", 312Ku, what-if
"Shusui", 70 Sentai, what-if

 

In December Hasegawa released a new "Dinah" kit with different decals.
Mitsubishi Ki-46-II/III Type 100 Commandant (sic) Reconnaissance-plane (Dinah) "Tiger Unit"
Kit Code: 02128
Scale: 1/72
Price: $US30

It includes decal options and canopies for three different aircraft of the 18 Dokuritsu Hiko Chutai, two Ki-46-II and one Ki-46-III.

If only they could do something about the English on the box...

 

All kits are available through our on-line shop. Email us if interested.

Douglas DC-2 "Aso-go"

On February 5, 1940 the Dai Nippon Koku Douglas DC-2 registered J-BBOT and named "Aso" (named after Mount Aso the largest active volcano in Japan) took off at 10:59 from Fukuoka bound for Taipei. After making a brief stop at Naha, Okinawa arriving at 14:40 and taking off again at 15:09, the crew experienced trouble with the starboard engine 15 minutes before flying over the biggest island of the Senkaku island group, called Uotsuri-shima. The crew consisting of pilot Kuroiwa Toshio, co-pilot Mori Ryoitchi, engineer Soga Haruyuki and radio operator Senda Hideo decided to continue their flight and try to reach their destination. First they tried to lighten the plane by throwing out some of the luggage but the aircraft kept loosing altitude and out of consideration for the nine passengers they decided to make an emergency landing. After they radioed back their position, the crew announced to the passengers to put on their life jackets. They were all surprised but the crew stayed calm and did not let the situation get out of hand. The Uotsuri island does not offer a proper spot for landing, being full of stones but they managed to locate a flat area where they could land. This happened at 17:05 and everybody reached safely and uninjured the island which was (still is) uninhabited and offered no food or shelter. While busing themselves putting together a shelter and starting a small fire, at around midnight they heard the sound of a small aircraft flying over them and made the fire bigger to spot them. Of course there was no area for the aircraft to land so it flew away and left them to spend the night there alone. At 8:30 the next morning, another DC-2, registered J-BBOQ and named "Tsukuba", flew above them and threw blankets and food. One "Aso" crew member signalled "arigato" (thanks) by flag semaphore and a while later they finally saw two ships "Shonan Maru" and "Keiun Maru" reaching the area. The crew of "Keiun Maru" dropped a boat which picked everybody up and finally took them to Keelung, Taiwan. 

The photos below from a vintage publication were taken by one of the passengers, Kawashima Minoru.    

 

In the photo below, one of the passengers is using a red piece of cloth to signal for help.

In the two photos below the stranded crew and passengers are getting in the small boat of "Keiun Maru" and reach the safety of the ship.