Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
This latest model is a Japanese Imperial Army fighter from the 101st Flight Regiment based at Fujieda Airbase Japan in 1945.
In contrast to my last model, which was a Japanese Navy Zero, probably the best fighter in the world at the time of Japan's entry into the war but fell behind in development, this aircraft was Japan's best fighter of the war and ranks alongside the later Spitfires, the Mustang and the FW190.
At this period the Japanese were not priming their paint very well and their aircraft suffered from a lot of paint chipping and wear. They were also heavily used deployed against American B29 bombers. I have therefore tried to capture that hard used, paint chipped look.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Great photos Barry - and a well-made plane.
Certainly looks battle-weary too, so well done on the painting of it.
Roger
Guest 767- Registered: 30 Aug 2012
- Posts: 458
Well done, again!
What model make is it, I'll guess at Tamiya,yes? How many man hours go into a model like this? I keep meaning to get back into the hobby but time and tide seem to conspire against me. I recently picked up a rather interesting twin box set, Fokker DR1 and Sopwith Camel in 1/28th, should prove interesting if I ever get time to get going!
Well done again, great model.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Thanks Roger.
Thanks to you too Phil.
The build was about 35 hours in all and the kit is a Hasegawa 32 scale model. I had to source it on eBay and this is currently not on their new catalogue.
If you are interested in WW1 aircraft I suggest taking a look at Wingnut Wings kits. This is a New Zealand company formed by the man who directed Lord of the Rings and are of a simply superb quality.
Guest 641- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,335
Excellent build Barry, especially the paint chipping detail, a very nice job
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Japanese warplanes had poor protective armour, making them - and their pilots - extremely vulnerable to strafing.
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
God job some of them were Kami-Kazi pilots them Alexander.
Roger
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
What happened, Roger, is that the best Japanese pilots were sent into combat, and inevitably many fell with their planes in battle. As the war drew on, the Japanese had less qualified instructors but numerous poorly trained pilots. Many kamikazi pilots were from these ranks. They barely knew how to fly a plane.
The Americans kept their best pilots as instructors, and so all the new American pilots received qualified training and instruction. What the Japanese had to offer after a year or so of combat was a very poorly trained air-force flying sophisticated planes.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
well yes ok alex what ever.it's a model plane made by barry.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
Alex, experienced kamikaze pilots were hard to find......no point spending good money teaching them how to land.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Brian Dixon- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
i know a kamikaze pilot his name is chow mien,chicken chow mien.
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
Excellent presentation Barry- ..."just like the real thing!"...
Never give up...
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Alexander. #6 - it is true that when Japan entered the war their aircraft had poor armour protection for pilots. As the war progressed they tried to correct that but, in the case of the Zero, as the armour increased the aircraft's relative performance dropped and the new allied types, the later Spitfires, Mustangs and Hellcats regained dominance of the skies.
In the latter part of the war the Ki84 Frank, the subject of the model, was a large fighter with good armour protection and performance up to the standards of the best British, American and German fighters. It was also well armed with two heavy calibre cannon and two machine guns to take on the American bombers.
You are correct in #8 also that Japan did suffer serious shortage of experienced pilots and for that reason the Ki84 did not reach its full potential in the air defence of Japan much to the relief of the B29 crews.
Yes, inexperienced but fanatical pilots were used as Kamikazis attacking Allied shipping with aircraft packed with explosives.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Thought I would post my next build - this, the Revell 32 scale JU88. This is my first twin engined bomber since the 1970's!!!
The kit is great value, good accuracy, but there are some omissions from the kit. As a result I have sourced resin bomb racks and bombs from MDC, seat harnesses and paint masks from Eduard, swastika decals and some thin brass rod and lead wire for detailing. Might be a longish build this and with a 23inch wingspan make up to a large model.... I just hope it fits on the shelf!
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
Look forward to seeing its progress Barry and of course the finished article.
Roger
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
Not to forget, Barry, that some German fighter/bombers carried drop-tanks.
These were added petrol containers to increase flight-range. Once empty, the crew would drop these tanks, usually over the sea.
Guest 725- Registered: 7 Oct 2011
- Posts: 1,418
Just a thought Barry - perhaps you could make up the missing parts using software and a 3d printer.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Yes indeed Alexander, but not the JU88 in 1940.
The Frank, if you look, has drop tanks, as did the Zero, Mustang and FW190 I made.
Already got the resin parts Philip....
Guest 705- Registered: 23 Sep 2010
- Posts: 661
Was this the main bomber which attacked the airfields in the Bof B and later London?
Never give up...
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
Hi Richard
The Luftwaffe used three medium bombers to attack the airfields and then the cities during the Battle of Britain.
The main bomber was the Heinkel 111, then they had the Dornier 17 and this one, the Junkers 88.
Revell have produce the Heinkel in 32 scale as well as the JU88 and it even bigger!!!
The other German aircraft used in the battle were the JU87 Stuka, which was not a success as it was vulnerable to RAF fighters and it had only limited success early on, the Messerschmitt Bf109E which was their main fighter and the Messerschmitt Zerstorer which was a twin engined fighter - another aircraft that was not a success in the day fighter role.
No Do17 produced yet as a 32 scale kit but we live in hope! I have a Bf109 and Bf110 in my stash to build. I wont be building the He111 due to its size!!
Interestingly the Luftwaffe was designed to be a tactical air-force in support of the army in a Blitzkrieg and was ill-suited to strategic bombing with its medium bombers. They had no large 'heavies' operational at all during the war though they did have them under development. Lucky for us!
