Fine Molds Ka-14 in 1/72 by Sergio Teixeira

Mitsubishi Experimental N.9 Single Seat Fighter Ka-14

This hard to find model came out as a magazine kit with Model Graphix January 2014 issue. I blessed to find one at a great price in Japan, in 2024. I decided to built it as an easy, relaxing kit after a much troublesome B-25 project. The kit comes with few parts but it’s very detailed and has excellent fit. I started with the cockpit, adding some extra details: I repositioned the throttle and added to it the trigger lever for the machine guns, I added the bungee cords for the seat, the flap lever and its cable; added the trimtab wheel, lever and its chain and the cable to lower and raise the arrestor hook; I added the seatbelts from Fine Molds set NA02, I scratchbuilt the ammo box and empty cartridges chutes and added a firewall. I painted the headrest with redbrown, the cockpit with AK RC306 Mitsubishi Interior Green and the other interior areas in MRP-410 aotake blue primer. 

After assembling the fuslelage halves I turned my attention to the engine: I painted it with Tamiya TS-17 silver (diluted via airbrush – not directly from the can) and applied a black wash, then I added the spark plug wires; I drilled the exhaust pipes and the carburator air intakes and added the tubes behind. I painted the propeller front with AK481 polished aluminium and the rear in flat dark brown. 

Wheel spats interior was painted blue aotake, tyres with Mr. Hobby H77 Tyre Black and wheel hubs silver.

The navigation lights where replaced with drilled transparent sprue leftovers sanded and polished. 

Model assembly was smooth, fitting was excellent and required very little putty. I painted the whole model in ash green, obtained by mixing AK RC302 Hai iro and RC 306 Mitsubishi Interior Green. The color obtained is very similar to IJA Grey Green… I painted the tail surfaces and rear fuselage with Mr. Color 385 Red and the cowling with Vic Hobby CA049 Mitsubishi Cowling black. Before  applying the few decals I airbrushed Tamiya X-20 clear; then MRP-125 semigloss varnish. I then washed the whole model with AK paneliner black and sepia (and tamiya grey for the cowling). Finally  airbrushed little exhaust stains with MRP-180 Exhaust Soot.

I simply love the Ka-14 lines! It was very enjoyable built and I couldn’t resist adding extra detail to an already awesome model. Hats off Fine Molds!

Aichi D3A2 "Val" in Action - video

 

A video I recently discovered from NARA features Aichi D3A2 "Val" in action somewhere in the Pacific. Unfortunately the tail markings are not visible (they could be in red with very thin white border or they could be censored) and I know nothing about the unit the where or the when.

In any case, I believe it's an extremely rare video showing land-based "Val" units in action.

Michael Claringbould commented:

Model 22s definitely at Buin (have walked the former airfield and see the familiar mountain backdrop). Unit confirmed as 582 Ku, likely mid-1943. This is when it became known as the “Inoue Butai” after Lt Inoue Buntou. The kokutai's Zero component was disbanded around this timeframe and 582 Ku became solely a dive-bomber unit. These land-based Vals carried one 250 Kg bomb slung under the fuselage or two to four wing-mounted two 60 Kg bombs, a common ordnance loading from Buin.

Anatoly Sklyarenko also commented:

MATSUNAMI Kiyoshi, Meirei ikka idetatsuwa:

zai Rabauru 582 kû no shito (Take off to carry

out orders: desperate struggle of the 582nd Air

Corps at Rabaul), Tokyo: Kojinsha , 1981. :

"On the morning of April 7, 1943, having completed loading our bombs and preparing for takeoff, we, the crews of the 582nd Kokutai's carrier-based bombers, gathered near the command post in Buin, chatting among ourselves and awaiting the order to take off.

While we were talking about steam, a large, clumsy Petty Officer 2nd Class, Kudo, approached with an Aimo movie camera slung over his shoulder. Apparently, after the attack on Oro Bay, while we were in Rabaul, he went to the war correspondents and borrowed the Aimo from them. I had seen him and the war correspondents several times at the crew waiting area in Rabaul, holding the Aimo camera and talking about something. It all immediately became clear to me.

"Hey, Kudo, you look serious. Are you sure you can handle the Aimo?"

"Yes, Senior Officer. I can handle the camera; I've had special training." "War correspondent training. We'll capture some amazing, real-life scenes with this camera during today's attack. I also have three spare rolls of film, so everything is covered..." Indeed, in addition to the Aimo, he was also carrying a small bag.

"Hey, Kudo, don't get carried away filming, don't forget to keep an eye on your surroundings. If the Grumman gets close, you're finished."

"Senior, don't worry. Kudo won't die that easily. I need to capture this attack and show the whole country in a newsreel"...

.... The second plane of the 5th Flight, led by Petty Officers Second Class Nishida and

Kudo, was also hit and crashed into the sea immediately after dropping its bombs."

pacificwrecks:

On April 7, 1943 took off during Operation I-Go Sakusen on a dive bombing mission against American shipping in Tulagi Harbor off Tulagi. Over the target, shot down and crashed on land. A total of three Vals went down in the jungle within sight of USS Niagara (AGP-1) and USS Rail (AT-139).

One of the dive bombers had two rolls of exposed 35mm film. These contained numerous views of the new Type 99 Model 22 Dive Bomber dive bomber and allowed the U.S. to make a detailed visual comparison with the earlier Type 99 Model 11.

Michael Claringbould replied:

Many thanks to Anatoly Sklyarenko - Arawasi at its best ! Yes, the photographer was FPO2c Kudo Shigenobu (see attached), the observer/ gunner in #2 D3A2 of #2 shotai of #2 chutai, from a total of 18 582 Ku Vals which flew the mission.

Michael Claringbould added:

Looks like Matsunami's recollections are accurate too. He claims his Val turned back due to low oil pressure on the 7 April I-Go attack. He was right - here is the "return" entry due to low oil pressure with his pilot listed as Nakanishi Yoshio, exactly as described in his memoirs.

Peter Monoton also commented:

The photo caption from FAOW33 would say its a still from the opening of the clip

in the pic the tailcore T3 is visible on the tail of the second Val

Thank you, Peter, Michael and Anatoly!

Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily" various details - video

A video I stiched together highlights interesting details of the Kawasaki Ki-48 "Lily", especially the armament and the interior of the aircraft.

It primarily consists of stock footage featuring various aircraft, but presented in this manner, we have the opportunity to examine the different armament combinations.

The standard way for the crew to board this aircraft is to use the footrests and handholds on the rear left side of the fuselage to climb up onto the wing, and then enter through the pilot’s or radio operator’s seat. However, only the bombardier can board directly through the door at the base of the front gunner’s position. But usually, a stepladder would be used so this sequence makes the entrance more dramatic.

The rear dorsal gunner is taking his position.

In case the usual hydraulic operation using high-pressure oil pumps fails, and the landing gear doesn’t lower properly, every aircraft is equipped with a manual hydraulic operation device using a pump.

The process for the “Lily” is: 1. Leave the selector cock as is and lower the leg lever on the hydraulic control box on the port side. 2. Connect the manual pump lever, which is stored in its designated position, to the pump base. 3. Operate it back and forth until the green warning light illuminates. This part of the video shows a passenger performing this operation while sitting on the auxiliary chair to the right of the pilot’s seat.

The black protrusion visible to the right of the radio mount is the formation command signal device, used to transmit signals such as “open the bomb bay” and “drop the bombs” from the leader’s aircraft via yellow, red, and white flip-up signal panels.

The nose gunner in this part is operating a Te-4 machine gun.

While normally "Lilys" were loaded with six 50kg bombs, in this part of the film the particular bomber is loaded with eight 50kg bombs in two rows of four.

Instruments on the top of the instrument panel. The right is the fuel gauge. The left is the altimeter, and the two needles indicate an altitude of 600 meters. The missing instrument in the middle would be the direction finder.

The rear, dorsal gunner operating a Type100 or Type 1 7.9mm twin machine gun

The rear ventral gunner showing his position and gun. In this case it's a Te-4 machine gun.

Another view of the nose gunner, this time operating a Type 98 7.9mm flexible machine gun, a licence copy of the German MG15.

Again the ventral gunner position but this time equipped with a Type 98 machine gun.

Another view of the dorsal position equipped with Type100 or Type 1 7.9mm twin machine gun

A different view of the ventral position.

View from the radio station looking forward. You can clearly see that the cockpit is located to the left. The wall-like structure on the left is the 225L No. 4 fuel tank.

This part shows a radio operator tapping a morse key. However, in actual combat, radio communications were routinely silenced from the moment of takeoff to prevent detection by the enemy. I'm not sure what the instrument with the number "15" on is.

The aircraft in the clip appears to be leaking oil or fuel...

...so the ventral gunner is hanging outside to take a look. I definitely wouldn't like to be doing that.

The radio operator discussing something with the pilot through a speaking tube. The angular goggles are an older model with poor lateral visibility; to address this, the crew began using oval-shaped goggles with curved lenses. The fourth fuel tank is visible on the right, and the radio, secured with rubber bands, can be seen at the bottom left.

The pilot looking completely nonchalant is getting the message about the leaking engine.