Airfix Pearl Harbor Trio II: New tool 'Zeke'

If the Tamiya 1/72 Zero was a really, really nice kit this Airfix new tool Zero is practically as fine but considerably cheaper. Especially when built with a closed canopy both kits look like they should. Of course Tamiya has the open cockpit option and details are little crisper and a bit more delicate, not to mention it's definitely easier to build, but all these features come with a price tag. 

Out-of-the-box except replaced pitot tube and tail number decal - because I wanted a Pearl Harbor one the AI-111 was obviously the easiest to make with cut-and-paste - so this model represents the Akagi fighter piloted by F1c Shinpei Sano of the second wave attack.  

Paint shades (same as my PH 'Val') and other decisions were made with the help of these websites:

#25 - PEARL HARBOR raid - Akagi's fighters

OUT OF AMEIRO CLOUD INTO HAI-RYOKUSHOKU SKY 

 Aviation of Japan: The Zero Colour Conundrum 1

Aviation of Japan: The Zero Colour Conundrum 4

Modeling Madness: Early A6M Colors

J-aircraft.com: Pearl Harbor

J-aircraft.com: Mitsubishi A6M "Zero" Pt 4

Still, I'm afraid my model is just a best guess about many details...

Fuselage nose top panel is a good idea that works well.

Basic painting done

Airfix GR3 Harrier as a donor sheet for AI-111

After some touch-up

Ready for decaling with Johnson Pledge floor wax (The Finnish version!)

Airfix Pearl Harbor Trio I: 'Val'

I saw three Japanese plane profiles in a high school history textbook and thought it would be nice a nice project for old and new Airfix 1/72 kits. So here's my interpretation of Aichi D3A1 Model 99 'Val' dive bomber in Akagi Pearl Harbor hikotaicho markings, the crew were PO1c Kiyoto Furuta (pilot) and Lt. Takehiko Chihaya (gunner/radioman). Mostly out-of-the-box except the lower two tail red stripes picked from my decal stash and original AI-201 black decal hand painted red. Nice kit otherwise with the usual exceptions of canopy and some parts fit. Yet it was cheap and fun even for a second-hand kit (just a couple of £'s GBP) and the Aichi D3A1 shapes are certainly there.

Airfix 1980 reissue #902014 Aichi D3A1 'Val'

Original decal sheet except the tail number for 'AI-201' hand painted red

Dive brakes, note ejector pin markings and some flash

1960's idea of a scale model cockpit interior

Airfix copyright 1965 inside the wing

I was tempted to use this painting diagram, but decided to go for a bit more realistic version of the basic out-of-the-box build

Minimum # of parts, but just enough I think

Is this supposed to be a 96 model bomb? Going to use it anyway!

 

Never been afraid with the filler tube, never will...

Fortunately the upper sides match better!

Left stabilizer painted with Revell 380 with some gloss 04 white added, right stabilizer with a little further matt 39 mix, trying to simulate this actual aileron fabric sample

Soviet Air Force MiG-25 "Foxbat" 'Red 31'/Lt. Viktor Belenko, Hakodate Airport, Japan 1976 1/144 Revell

Right after Soviet Air Force Lt. Belenko defected to Japan in 1976 there were MiG-25 scale model kits available too, and I recall I built one in 1/72nd scale at the end of 1970's. Later I thought it might be fun to have a Revell Foxbat model again, so picked up this in 1/144 scale this time. The kit is quite simple but captures the brutal style of MiG-25 very well. The motion-blur runway background is an A3-sized color print I made after real Hakodate runway dimensions and it should be at least roughly in 1/144 scale too.

Real Asahi Shimbun pictures of Belenko's MiG-25 at Hakodate

Jiro Horikoshi Design III: IJN Mitsubishi (made by Nakajima) A6M5 Model 52a Zero-Sen 'Zeke' 653-III 1/72 Tamiya

Jiro Horikoshi (Wikipedia)

This Tamiya 1/72 Zero-Sen kit (60779-1400) is possibly the best scale model kit I've ever built: no putty, no problems, no fuss. And the final result sure looks like a Zero!
Not only this model rounds up my anime-inspired 'The Wind Rises' Jiro Horikoshi project, but it nicely dovetails with my other models that were made after the photos and color profiles in the old "Aircraft in Profile" series. There is even a photo of the orignal 'Zeke' aircraft at Ohita Air Base, Japan on October 13th 1944!
Built out-of-the-box with kit decals, airbrushed Revell and Humbrol enamels. Turpentine umbra washes sealed with Revell matt varnish clearcoat.

Aircraft in Profile vol. 12 original photo caption: --Photographed on October 13, 1944 at Ohita Air Base, Japan, Zero-Sen Model 52a (A6M5a) fighters of the 653rd Naval Air Corps are being readied preparatory to embarking on the ill-fated imperial Japanese Navy carriers which took part in Operation Sho - the Battle of Leyte Gulf - two weeks later (Photo: via Takeshi Miyawaki)

Jiro Horikoshi Design (top to bottom): Mitsubishi J2M 'Raiden', A6M 'Zero', A5M

Mitsubishi 'Jack', 'Zeke', 'Claude'

Tamiya Zero 1/72 scale item 60779 1400

Tamiya 1/72 scale war bird collection 79 Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero Fighter Zeke