Japanese Airfields, Equipment & more #44 - revised

Modelling 2 
IJNAF pilots and ground crew

This time we start with the 1/72 scale.

First up is the RedBox release with 42 figures in 14 poses!!! Some a bit rough but very correct and in very useful poses. This is the only set I can't tell from experience the quality of all the rest of the sets presented here.

"Beaver Corporation" has released three sets in 1/72. The first here is IJNAF pilots; 20 figures in 10 poses. A bit rough but overall very nice and correct.

The second set is presented as aircraft carrier maintenance crew but could also be used for ground-based units with 22 figures, all in different poses.

The third set by Beaver is ground crew in summer clothing; 18 figures. The upper and the lower body parts do not match nicely and they all look weird but I guess this can be fixed with some surgery. The promotion images where the figures are placed on a "Betty" look nice but they also include figures in short trousers. Not sure if these are included in the set as optional. All in all, not bad but would need some work from the modeller.

Hasegawa has also released a set of flight crew for its "Betty" kit. Quite nice and even separately they could be very useful.

An unnamed company has also released three sets in a characteristic semi-transparent plastic. The first is an aircraft carrier deck crew. It looks nice but the overalls of the mechanics don't look exactly correct. On the positive side you get a good number of figures.

The next set from the same unnamed company is more interesting as it includes a torpedo with its trolley and a few crew members. I like this set and I think it could be useful for ground-based torpedo units.

The third set from the unnamed company is again, aircraft carrier deck crew. Looks good and by removing the gas masks they can be turned into ground-based unit mechanics.

"White Stork Miniatures" has released a set of two IJNAF pilot figures that, from what I can see, are the most beautiful in this scale. WOW!

Moving on to the 1/48 scale, the first set is from "A.B&K" and consists of two sets of IJNAF pilots, one standing one in the cockpit. Not bad at all, I would say.

The next set is from "Orion" and consists of 10 figures in 10 poses. I can see eight pilots and two mechanics, the latter in tropical uniforms. They all very crisp, of high quality and very correct. A set I'd like to purchase.

Next up, is four sets of IJNAF pilots from "Chino Model" I've never heard before. They are all in seated positions and they look absolutely amazing! Very crisp, super high quality and perfectly correct. These are the only sets that offer the option to have the pilots with their goggles on. I'll try to get my hands on these sets very soon and will let you know more.

"Chino Model" has also released a set of six Navy mechanics. Very correct, they would look great with Japan mainland-based fighter units flying "Raiden" or "Shiden-kai" fighters.

"Chino Model" has also released one pilot set in 1/32. I could find only their "vol.1" so either I couldn't find the "vol.2" or it's forthcoming. Again, a very very crisp and beautiful-looking figure.

Which comes with a set of mechanics also in 1/32. Very useful and correct.

"Allarmi" has released an impressive set of one IJNAF pilot whose head could be exchanged to represent Aces Sakai Saburo or Nishizawa Hiroyoshi. Very correct and from, what I can see from the photo, really beautiful.

"Ultracast" has also released one IJNAF pilot. Very very nice and overall correct. A small detail: compare the front of the boots of the Ultracast figure (not exactly accurate) with the Allarmi figure (perfectly correct).

"ProBuiltModel" has released a pre-painted IJNAF pilot figure in 1/32 too and it looks very very nice. The choice of colors is not perfect but fairly close.

In the same scale, "Black Dog" has released two Navy pilots that can be found boxed either separately or together. They look quite nice and correct but weirdly the sculptor opted to leave the pilot goggles out and their heads look bizarre without them.

"Border" has released a set of figures (mechanics, pilots and officers) that goes well with their "Akagi" deck kits which come either separately or with a "Kate" included! The figures look great and very correct.

I also discovered this figure available for 3d printing. No scale is specified but I guess the dimensions can be adjusted to any scale. I like it but the legs are way too long for the average Japanese pilot of the time.

Last but not least let's not forget the Tamiya release in 1/16.

Japanese Airfields, Equipment & more #43 - revised

Modelling 1
In this post, I'd like to present what kits and accessories are available that could help a modeller depict a Japanese Army airfield more realistically. Feel free to leave a comment if you have used any of these sets or if you know of other sets not included here.

The Edward set "Japanese Army AF personnel World War II" is another option in that scale. I purchased the set with the thought of using it with the bases of my models for this contest but, although the box art is accurate in every respect, to my great disappointment all the ground crew figures wear pilot boots. Also, instead of the very natural and correct poses shown in the box art, the three poses are much less useful to place on an aircraft and show that it is being maintained. The bicycle is a welcome addition although slightly inaccurate, but the two pilots ready to get on the plane and take off and the officer are all shown saluting. So this set gets very high points for the crisp mold and overall quality but minus points for the inaccurate crew footwear and the limited poses. I guess the mechanics could be shown in different poses after some surgery as various body parts are included separately (that's a gruesome sentence!) and also correct the footwear...but couldn't they just have the mechanics as they are shown on the box cover?

Fine Molds has released kit #48994, entitled "B-339 Buffalo "Japanese Army" w/ Ground Crew & Equipment #1".

It is the Tamiya "Buffalo" kit with extra parts like the seat belts, the ground crew and the decals from Fine Molds.

The ground crew set is particularly interesting with many different options. For example, although tinny, they give different rank badge options and headgear. The ground crew is nice but, unfortunately, they wear puttees. The ladder and the stool are especially welcome.

Fine Molds has also released kit number #48995, entitled "Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-7 "Japanese Army" w/ Ground Crew & Equipment #2".

As before it's the Tamiya kit with extra parts like the seat belts, the ground crew and the decals from Fine Molds.

The ground crew and equipment set is again very interesting with a variety of equipment. This time the mechanic is perfect!

The mechanics of these two kits were first included in the Ki-10 kits of Fine Molds.

Perhaps we will see a separate release with only the mechanics (without puttees!) and the equipment?

There is also the Jaguar set "WWII Japanese pilot & crew" with actually two IJAAF pilots, one of them tying a hachimaki around his head ready for a tokko mission. Very very accurate and fantastic in every respect although very specific as a subject.

The Tamiya old ground crew set is not bad and actually is the only one with mechanics in tropical or summer uniforms but the poses are limited.

CMK has released a set called "Japanese Army mechanics (2 fig.)"

The mechanic on the left is okay if this is a tropical uniform, the mechanic on the right is okay from the waist down, completely wrong from the waist up. I have no idea why they keep releasing figures with mechanics waving instead of more natural poses of maintaining an aircraft.

CMK has also released a set called "Japanese Kamikaze pilots (2 fig.)"

I don't know what's going on with their buts or if they are Army or Navy pilots but they look okay except for the green scarf which should be white.

There are more options in 1/72.

The best available set is from "Red Box" with 14 figures. Some are very accurate, some have the mechanics with puttees and there is a mechanic with neck cover on his field cap which is 50% correct. This is a really very nice and highly recommended set with very natural poses and good detail.

Czech Masters have a set of "Japanese Army AF Mechanics, WWII (3fig.)" accurate overall but with really bad molding that needs major surgery to bring the bodies to a more natural pose, face etc. Check the guy on the right for example carrying the tool box or the shoulders of the middle guy.

CMK has released two more sets in 1/72 "Japanese Army Pilots (2 fig.) And Mechanics WW II"

From what I can see in the illustrations, there are no mechanics, only pilots. The figure on the left (B) looks correct for an Army pilot's summer flight suit (copied from the Jaguar set?) but the color of the flight suit in the illustration is wrong, the flight suits of the other two figures (C & A) are very wrong. Maybe they were going for Navy pilots but even so their flight suits and boots are completely incorrect.

Special Hobby (or CMK?) has released a set called "Japanese Army maintenance crew with 250 kg bomb". It could be useful with the ICM/Revell "Sally" kit but some of the figures are inaccurate with mechanics wearing pilot's boots, most wear belts, their trousers have pockets, the guy on the far right is wearing a weird helmet etc.

I also spotted online photos of amazing figures in 1/72 and it seems they have been released by Orion/Haron but I've never seen them. Leave a comment if you know more about them.

CMK has released a set in 1/32 called "Japanese mechanics WW II (2 fig.)"

Quite accurate. The bucket is a possible. Useful for a Japan mainland or China airfield setting. The poses are not bad.

I also discovered these three sets of unspecified scale by "King And Country". Beautifully made but the top "mechanic" should not carry his water canteen while going to service the aircraft and he looks more like a regular infantry officer. I have no idea what possessed them to make the four mechanics with Viet Cong sandals!

On August 4, 2024, ICM released the most recent set of IJAAF pilots and ground crew, in 1/48.

The Army pilots look great and very correct with very natural poses. On the other hand, the mechanics wear pilot boots (AAAAARRRRGGGGGHHH!!!!). WHY?

The colors recommended are also generally correct for winter pilot flight suits and for the ground crew overalls. Perhaps surgery and putty can turn them into short boots....hmmm...

Japanese Airfields, Equipment & more #42 - revised

IJNAF pilot flight suits
As with the IJAAF, the very first Navy pilot flight suits were made of leather but from the mid-1920s new designs were introduced.

After evaluating British pilot flight suits, the IJNAF introduced the Model 1925 which had an exterior made of gabardine and an interior of white karakul (astrakhan) wool. The outside color of the suit was brown-blue and on the chest, a big map pocket was first introduced and repeated on all subsequent designs. The boots were of red-brown leather and were fastened by laces. The two pilots in the background wear examples of this Model 1925 flight suit but the two pilots in the foreground, VERY unusually, have the front wrapping to the left side of the chest and their chest map pockets are on the right side.

The IJNAF continued to evaluate various imported fabrics to find the best one, and, in the end, came up with the Model 1929 made with waterproof fabric (Cravenette). For the first time fasteners were introduced for the sleeves and the trouser bottoms. In the photo, we can see the summer version of the Model 1929 with the characteristic crotch fly.

The photo features a Navy pilot wearing the winter version of the Model 1929 flight suit.

The flight suits we saw so far were found to be too heavy and cumbersome and the Navy introduced the Model 1934 incorporating different "Cravenette" fabric for the exterior and silk for the interior making the whole suit a lot lighter. The pilot in the photo is wearing the summer version of the Model 1934 flight suit which featured buttons on the sleeves. On the life vest, it says "Ishihara PO2c". Navy pilots often wrote their names on the life vests and boots.

Until a sufficient number of Model 1934 flight suits became available, Navy pilots in the same unit wore different models. The pilot standing on the right photo edge is wearing a Model 1929 while the pilot standing on the left edge is wearing a Model 1934.

More Navy pilots wearing the summer version of the Model 1934 flight suit.

This pilot is wearing the winter version of the Model 1934 flight suit. Instead of buttons, the winter version had fasteners on the sleeve and trouser ends.

Another IJNAF pilot wearing the Model 1934 winter flight suit. The fur on the collar was made from rabbit and could be white, brown or black.

The Model 1942 flight suit was basically the same as the Model 1934 but instead of silk, poplin was sometimes used. The pilot in the photo is wearing the summer version of the Model 1942 flight suit.

Until enough Model 1942s became available, pilots in the same unit often wore mixed types. In this photo, the pilots in the darker flight suits wear Model 1934 while the two pilots in the middle of the photo with the lighter color suits wear Model 1942 summer. This particular summer Model 1942 version, had buttons that went from the middle of the collar down to the middle of the crotch and didn't have a left flap wrapping to the right side of the chest.

More Navy pilots wearing the summer version of the Model 1942. Characteristic was the patch, usually green, on the left side of the top of the chest, perhaps to write the name of the individual pilot. In this case, the flight suits have the flap wrapping on the right side of the chest.

Another IJNAF pilot wearing the Model 1942 summer flight suit. On his chest, he wears an oxygen mask with a microphone and receiver.

Difficult to be 100% sure but these pilots probably wear Model 1942 summer suits. The particular type of life vests they are wearing was adopted in April 1942 and were filled with kapok.

The winter version of the Model 1942 flight suit. On his chest, he wears an early type of speaking tube.

At the Pacific front, Navy pilots often wore their official summer uniform with a life vest. Note that the pilot on the left is wearing a rather unusual black scarf (muffler). The IJNAF pilots characteristically wore white scarves made of silk. Also of interest is the "gunto" (katana sword) the pilot on the right has stuck in his life vest.

Another photo of Navy pilots at a Pacific base some wearing their summer uniforms others wearing Model 1942 summer flight suits.

This Navy pilot wears an unidentified flight suit. Note the many buttons on his chest. It might be an Experimental Type B Model 1938 that had separate top and trousers.

Another flight suit type I was not able to identify. Veteran pilots occasionally had their suits tailor-made, so maybe this is the case here.