1/48 Hasegawa B5N2 Kate Akagi "Pearl Harbor" (Finished)

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Hello, I continue builds of Pearl Harbor machines. Here I offer up my recently completed Hasegawa B5N2 Kate Torpedo bomber in the markings of AI-308 off the carrier Akagi during the attack. AI- 308, piloted by Jinichi Gato, was one of several Kates that hit the USS Oklahoma on that day during the first wave of attacks.

The boxing I used was a Pearl Harbor addition which came with the parts necessary to do a torpedo plane, but Hasegawa did not include the wooden fin attachment used a Pearl. I scratch built this with Evergreen plasticard using a picture as reference. I painted it to simulate wood then later learned these were usually painted silver. I liked the look of it as wood and left it alone. It’s my understanding these were fairly new at Pearl so I kept weathering to a minimum. I did some chipping on the cowl and added some upper surface fading, as I figured these sat on the deck in the hot Pacific sun often. The lower surface is AK Real Colors IJN J3 SP Amber Grey and the upper is my custom mix of Tamiya Paints. I thought AK’s IJN Green was too dark to my eye. All markings except “AI-308” on the tail were painted on. I added some PE seatbelts and thats about it. Like their N1K2, Hasegawa makes a beautiful Kate as well.

I’ll be doing a Val soon.

A few in-progress pics…

2

Turned out very nice. Are these comissioned builds or for your own Pearl collection. The base is very nice- how did you do that?

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Thanks! Interestingly this one is a commission build that inspired the other two (zero/P-40). I just decided to build those first. The zero and P-40 I still have as I find myself having trouble parting with my models lately…lol.

The base is Verlinden cardboard I glued to a wooden plaque. It looks ok for pictures but is nothing special in person. I need to find some Japanese carrier decks.

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Beautiful [Y] My favorite torpedo bomber. The Skyrader really is but since it never was able to fulfill it’s original roll…

Very well done salt and sun dried finish…love it![:P]

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Excellent build as always Lawdog.

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Nice fit and finish as usual LD!

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Very VERY well built, detailed and painted/ weathered Joe. You really do have a good system going with your builds. Love it man.[Y]

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It’s another dandy fine job, Joe. They had a heck of a large wing surface area, didn’t they.

Thanks for the text and photos.

Patrick

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Beautiful Kate!! I love that torpedo too. =] I wish I could sling one of these on top of my truck to run around with in traffic when people want to drive like maniacs.

I’m a stickler for details, but I’d have stayed with the wood as well. Good move. =]

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Thank you, I have the Tamiya Skyraider in my stash. I may give it a whirl one of these days.

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Thank you

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Thanks Chad

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Thanks Joe

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Indeed Patrick. I was surprised on the wingspan of this plane. Your welcome.

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Me too. I keep eyeballing that one

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Thanks Britt. It would work better with a boat I suppose…lol. It was one of my better wood simulation paint jobs, so I had to keep it.

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Well done, Joe. It really is nice kit. I did AI-308 from a kit that had a folded wing option. We could start a squadron if Modelcrazy Steve would just build us a carrier in 1/48!

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Lawdog! I love it! How was the overall build? Some Hasegawa kits can be tricky. In my experience, their WWII planes are nice though! I have always been impressed with your speed.

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Thanks bud. Let’s do it!

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Thanks Andrew. It’s one of their more recent toolings. Detail was good and I had no fit issues. My main gripe was the weak panel line detail in the fuselage sides in certain areas. I had to make several deeper with a scriber.