Jiro Horikoshi Design II: IJN Mitsubishi Raiden 'Jack', Genzan Flying Group ケ-1107 (Ke-1107) 1/72 Nichimo

Jiro Horikoshi (Wikipedia)

This is my 2nd Japanese anime-inspired old-school model of a plane designed by Jiro Horikoshi, Mitsubishi J2M3 Raiden, American name 'Jack'. This kit was a bit more difficult to build than the A5M4 Claude, parts fit was poor sometimes and the fuselage halves were warped out of alignment too. That's why I had to augment this kit with scratch-built items like a new tailwheel and guns, although tried to follow the out-of-the-box principle as long as possible. Original decals - coated with Micro Decal Film - were used, except the yellow leading edge stripes. These decals needed a very long soaking time in water before the backing glue let go. The three-part canopy was hazy and ill-fitting to the fuselage, so that's why this kit is perhaps more suited for a collector's item. The finished model isn't too bad overall, but obviously modern kits are preferable.

And yes, I've no idea what the real historical Ke-1107 Raiden looked like, but for this project the box art was quite adequate source for decal placement information. Here is another, perhaps more accurate Nichimo Raiden model in the Arawesi-Wild Eagles blog. Two Mitsubishi models ready now, Tamiya Zero 'Zeke' still to go!

The Wind Rises I: IJN Mitsubishi A5M4 'Claude' 1/72 Nichimo

Jiro Horikoshi (Wikipedia)

The Wind Rises (Japanese: 風立ちぬ Hepburn: Kaze Tachinu) is a 2013 Japanese animated historical drama film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and animated by Studio Ghibli. The Wind Rises is a fictionalized biopic of Jiro Horikoshi (1903–1982), designer of the Mitsubishi A5M fighter aircraft and its successor, the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, used by the Empire of Japan during World War II. The film is adapted from Miyazaki's manga of the same name, which was in turn loosely based on the 1937 short story The Wind Has Risen by Tatsuo Hori. (Wikipedia).

This Nichimo vintage (Copyright 1964 Nihonmokei Co., Ltd) Claude model was built out-of-the-box with original decals, using just the box art as a reference because the 2nd hand kit had no instruction leaflet. I have serious doubts about the historical accuracy of my model but still like the results of this Japanese anime-inspired old-school project very much. There are Nichimo Raiden 'Jack' and Tamiya Zero 'Zeke' kits already in the stash for further planes designed by Jiro Horikoshi.

There's a nice Nichimo 1/72 Claude in Harrow Modelling Society's Japanese Gallery by Jonathan Burns, which I think is more like museum-quality and periodically correct.

LSK MiG-15 Airfix 1/72 repaint & re-decaling

Ok, this isn't actually a new build but an old model restoration and re-decaling project. The original Soviet Air Force version had some damage with the landing gear and I decided to fix it into flying position. While I was at it, I re-painted the whole model again and applied the East German Air Force (Luftstreitkräfte der Nationalen Volksarmee) markings from a Revell MiG-21 F-13 kit decal sheet leftovers. Have to say I prefer this configuration, it wasn't too bad to start with but now it's got more character, I think. The original plane may have been a 'bis'-version, but same can be said of this Airfix model, too.

French Air Force M. Bloch 152 C1, No. 628 1/72 Smer/Heller

Bloch 152 C1, No. 628, of Groupe de Chasse II/9, 4th Escadrille,
based at Clermont-Ferrand on June 25th, 1940.

Smer re-issue of the old Heller 1/72 [Avions] M.[arcel] Bloch. Simple and vintage model kit but looks nice and right when built, as usual with Heller. Had to use a lot of putty, considering the small number of parts though. Scratch-built cockpit floor, unknown Revell pilot figure replacement and some cocades and blue dots from Airfix Devastator decals, otherwise straight out-of-the-box. Except the Hasegawa 1/200 civil airliner stand, of course!

Inspired by the Aircraft in Profile Vol. 201, paints used:
Gris Bleu Fonce: Humbrol matt 145
Brun Mat: Revell matt 84
Vert: Revell matt 39
Gris Bleu Clair: Humbrol 127
Humbrol Matt 49 clearcoat

Aircraft in Profile Vol. 201

US Navy Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless 1/72 Airfix

Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless,
VB-6, USS Enterprise (CV-6), Pacific Ocean, early 1942.

Old Airfix Dauntless re-issue, nice shapes and very nice decals but awfully distorted and warped canopy. This glazing is kind of a mock-up, I'll replace it right away when I find a better one.

Mostly out-of-the-box with minor modifications like scratch-build armament, exhaust pipes and some cockpit interior. Stock kit dive flaps drilled open with 1mm bit. Humbrol Matt 87 and Satin 196, acrylic furniture glosscoat before decals, semi-gloss floor varnish after decals, final dull clearcoat Humbrol Matt 49. All brushed with paintbrush.

Again a scale model which was inspired by Aircraft In Profile series, in this case the volume # 196.

TBD-1 (Torpedo Bomber Douglas) Devastator (US Navy), SB2C (Scout Bomber Type 2 Curtiss) Helldiver (Aéronavale), SBD-3 (Scout Bomber Douglas) Dauntless (US Navy)