Kawasaki Ki-48 "Sokei" (Lily) by Panagiotis Koubetsos FINISHED! Photo Set 1

These are the final photos of my finished "a Lily mishap" diorama. It took me 15 months to complete but I enjoyed every minute of it, especially looking at pictures of the Malaysian jungle on the internet just to get to the atmosphere of the setting. The bad AZ model kit with the wrong shaped nose gave me some difficult time but everything came to a satisfactory end!
Cheers,

Panagiotis Koubetsos

WIP#1, WIP#2, WIP#3, WIP#4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mitsubishi Ki-51 "Sonia" - 44 Sentai- "Imon bukuro" - video

We first presented the "imon bukuro" here. Today we present a short news-reel from the NHK collection featuring 44 Sentai personnel and their Mitsubishi Ki-51 "Sonia" bombers receiving small presents from home.

 

 

 

The narrator says:

-Oi, mina atsumare

(Hey, everybody. Gather around.)

Higemusha ga ogoe de soko o kuzushite imasu.

(The bearded warrior with the loud voice smiles)

-Nanda, nanda

(What? What?)

to atsumata no wa okuchi bakugeki de tekigun o sukkari yowarasete iru riku no arawashitachi.

(and the Land Wild Eagles, who completely exhaust the enemy forces in the hinterland, gather around)

-koitsa ii

(Oh, these are good!)

-korya steki da

(How lovely are they!)

to oyorokobi no imonhin o kakonde

(and they joyfully surround the small comfort articles)  

orikara bakugeki kara kaete kita senyu mo isho ni natte naka yoku janken de bunpai desu 

(they were joined by more comrades who have just returned from a mission and they all together share the small gifts by "rock-paper-scissors")  

 

Two things worth explaining in more detail.

First the reference to the "riku no arawashitachi". As you probably know by now "Arawashi" (Wild Eagles) was the nickname given to all pilots. The Navy-Army rivalry is well documented and this came to extend to the nicknames too. So the IJNAF pilots became known as "umi no arawashi" or "umiwashi" (Sea Wild Eagles) while the IJAAF pilots became known as "riku no arawashi" or "rikuwashi" (Land Wild Eagles). Funny enough novice pilots were called "hinawashi" (Wild Eagle Chicks).

 

Second the "jankepoi" (rock-paper-scissors). Check here for the origins of the game. It is still extremely popular in Japan played by children and adults. When you visit Japan don't be surprised if you get invited to a game of "jankepoi" to settle the restaurant bill.

P.S. Note the "Radetzky March" of Johann Strauss Sr. in the background. Check here for a most enjoyable performance of the classic piece.

NEW MODEL ART RELEASE!

MODEL ART just released a brilliant brand new publication entitled "Nihon Riku-Kaigunki Dai Zukan" or "Imperial Japanese Army & Navy Airplanes Illustrated Book #1". It has 170 pages full of illustrations by the well-known duo of Sato Shigeo & Sato Kunihiko. The late Sato Shigeo (father) was a Navy veteran while Sato Kunihiko (son) is the illustrator and co-researcher and both have released the other Model Art title "Nihon Kaigun Kokutai Gunso To Sobi (MA #655)" (Aviator Uniforms and Equipment of the IJN)  (here) and are regualr contributors to Model Art monthly magazines.

The "Zukan #1" publication is a collection of these monthly magazine contributions and covers in great detail a wide variety of technical IJN & IJA aircraft subjects like cockpit and instruments, engine, wheels and wells, fuel tanks and a lot more. The aircraft types covered are a bit random (Zero, "Raiden", "Toryu", "Hien", "Seiran", "Renzan" among others), there is no English and there are few vintage photos but there are colour photos of surviving relics when possible and the illustrations are so finely detailed that makes this publication invaluable for modellers and aviation historians. 

Note that this one is not part of any series. The number is Model Art #927. 

TOTALLY RECOMMENDED!!!

Avialable from our on-line store HERE, together with other out and in print Model Arts.

 

 

Nakajima E8N1 "Dave" in German Service

The following very interesting information and photos were sent for our blog from Miro Herold:

One Nakajima E8N1 Dave was in service on board the auxiliary cruiser “Orion”. The fuselage insignia were overpainted with fictitious RAF roundels and white serial number L 5196.
On May 26, 1941 there was an accident during take-off and the E8N1 with pilot Oblt. zur See Klaus von Winterfeld and observer Oberflugmeister Pässler sunk in a position east from Madagascar 18°52’ S and 51°06’ O.

A second Nakajima E8N1 Dave was ordered from Japan for the auxiliary cruiser “Stier” as replacement for the two Arado Ar-231. The Germans found that they were not suitable for the kind of service they wanted them since the engine could not be started once on water. The German supply ship MS “Tannenfels” then loaded only one E8N1 from Yokohama and cruised back to the Atlantic to meet the “Stier”. On September 25, 1942 finally the two ships met in the South Atlantic and the German team was able to take a look at the seaplane. Upon close inspection the seaplane was declared as in bad condition and therefore unsuitable for front-line service. "Stier" didn't take the plane and stayed on MS “Tannenfels”. Two days later, the “Stier” was sunk after a sea battle with the armoured Liberty ship “Stephen Hopkins”.

 

Question: what happened to the "Dave" on board "Tannenfels"?

 

E8N1 Dave on board MS "Thannenfels"

Nakajima Ki43 "Hayabusa" (Oscar) by Richard Holak

Some photos of my Ki43-II "Hayabusa" (Oscar), Hasegawa 1:32, 59th Fighter Group Headquarter Capt. Nango Shigeo's November 1943 -December

Richard Holak, Poland -Krakow

 

Nakajima E8N "Dave" in action - video #2

One more video from the NHK collection featuring Nakajima E8N "Dave" seaplanes in action. According to the commentator, seaplane units based on Yangtze river operate against targets in Hunan and Jiangxi provinces. The ground crew members prepare and bomb-load the seaplanes for one more mission against junks sailing the river carrying provisions and enemy positions in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province. The video was shot on August 26, 1941. 

I hope David can identify the unit from the tail marking.

 

 

Hasegawa E8N1 "Dave" #2

You didn't really think we'd just post photos from Hasegawa's site, right? Here's a very close look of the kit. Crisp and very fine details especially in the cockpit, the engine and the main float. Can't comment on the decals and the paint options yet. More on that soon.

Very special thanks to Hasegawa for the pre-production review sample.

  

Hasegawa E8N1 "Dave" - OUT NOW!

It's finally out and it looks absolutely amazing!
Price is about $US40 but we will have more details about our special discount price very very soon.

Vintage magazine cover

"Hiko Shonen", February 1943

Nakajima E8N "Dave" in action - video

With the forthcoming Hasegawa kit release, here's a video from the NHK collection featuring Nakajima E8N "Dave" seaplanes in action.

 

To intercept the flow of supplies to the Nationalist China forces of Chiang Kai-shek the Japanese forces in South China undertook a series of operations in August 1940 combining Army and Navy units. Following attacks against Ningbo and Wenzhou, the Japanese turned their attention to important harbours north of Hong Kong.

As the video commentator explains, on August 15 a surprise attack commenced against Xiachuan Island in order to stop completely this south supply route. The South China Navy Kokutai bombed military targets and supported the landings operations which centred around the Pearl River Delta.

Any ideas about the Dave unit?