The 14 Sentai "Sally" that demands correction!

Four years ago ICM, with ARAWASI help, released the beautiful Mitsubishi Ki-21 "Sally" kit and everybody was thrilled and very happy. That is until...some modellers realized it was a Model 1 and that most of them were overall gray. Oh, the mysery! Little chance to show off and make squiggles with my expensive airbrush for camo!!!! Buhuhu... 

Rather than waiting for ICM to issue a Model 2 kit featuring numerous interesting camouflage and tail marking choices, there’s been a pursuit to discover "interesting" (i.e. highly camouflaged) Model 1 "Sallys" and push the matter, sometimes resulting in historical inaccuracies.

And so, the opportunity for this small piece came when I recently saw photos, splashed all over the net, of an absolutely beautiful model from a friend and a very respected Japanese modeller that is unfortunately historically inaccurate. I definitely wouldn't object to the occasional modeller who got the kit and had fun with it; I'm not out there looking to correct the work of modellers - I'd rather not be part of the "history police." However, when a well-regarded and fairly renowned modeller, recognized for creating highly precise models, produces an inaccurate one, I feel compelled to express my concerns before others begin to replicate his model.

Here goes...

There were two "Sally" Models. Model 1 had Nakajima Ha-5 engines, and Model 2 had bigger and more powerful Mitsubishi Ha-101 engines. In Model 1, the engines were fairly small, and half of the wheels were hanging from the nacelles. The Ha-101 engines were bigger and required equally larger nacelles, and the landing gear was enclosed with doors. Check the illustration below to see these differences in the engine, nacelle, and wheel areas.

Top, Mitsubishi Ki-21 Model 1 Otsu.

Bottom, Mitsubishi Ki-21 Model 2 Ko.

The illustrations are from Maru Mechanic #29 and although not bad at all, there are issues with the non-existent windows between the wing root and the fuselage door. But more importantly, note the differences between the two models in the engine, nacelle, wheel area.

As we described for the first time in our Eagle Eye #3 publication, according to the official unit history, the 14th Sentai relocated back to Japan in April 1942, where they exchanged their old Model 1 bombers for new Model 2s and trained for about a month. According to veteran recollections, the tail marking the unit became famous during the Papua/New Guinea campaign was adopted while in Japan, i.e. the unit used a different tail marking on their Model 1s. Then the unit moved to Kuala Ketil in central Malaya, where they spent the rainy season in Burma training with their new bombers, now having 27 (36) bombers in its strength. In other words, the unit DID NOT operate any Model 1s after April 1942. There are no photos or records indicating it had any. Yet, illustrations have appeared that show 14th Sentai Model 1s in the P/NG theater.

This photo detail taken from a US bomber during a November 2, 1943, raid against Rabaul, features a 14 Sentai 3rd Chutai "Sally" and a second one belonging to the 81 Sentai under a camouflage net. This has frequently been cited as evidence of a Model 1 14 Sentai "Sally."

Many who are not familiar with the differences between Model 1 and Model 2 "Sallys" overlook the wheel doors indicated by the red arrow. These doors confirm that this is a Model 2 "Sally"; definitely NOT a Model 1.

"Rising decals" has included decals of this particular "Sally" in its RD72105 set. As you can see it depicts a Model 1, which is inaccurate. Furthermore, the vast majority of 14 Sentai "Sallys" had the individual aircraft number painted at the bottom of the rudder.

Well-known, very highly regarded and respected (and a friend) aviation historian Michael Claringbould has included 14 Sentai "Sally" illustrations in one of his books. The books are top notch and VERY highly recommended but the artwork is occasionally not on par with the text. The attached illustration shows a misleading and incorrect combination of Model 1 fuselage with a Model 2 Otsu turret. I reached out to Michael and inquired about his source for Model 1 14 Sentai "Sallys," and he referred to the above photo in Rabaul.

This 14 Sentai "Sally" illustration far more accurately showcases the way the unit's aircraft looked when operated in the P/NG theater. There are some issues with the fuselage windows (the artist was probably inspired by the MM illustration) and again the aircraft misses the individual aircraft number at the bottom of the rudder. 

I really wish modellers could wait until ICM releases their Model 2 "Sally." And let's not forget there is a war going on there in Ukraine, and the ICM headquarters was bombed, not by innocuous requests but with actual bombs.