I thought I’d share my latest project which was a quick out-of-the-box build for a friend. The Tamiya Aichi M6A1 Serian float plane. The Serian was apparently designed as an attack plane launched from the new Japanese I-400 class submarine carriers. Pretty interesting concept actually, aircraft coming out of the water. It was powered by the German DB 601 Bf109 engine, license built in Japan. So it was basically a Ki-61 with floats. That’s the extent of my knowlege of this subject.
Anyways, float planes are a bit out of my normal interest wheelhouse, but I did really enjoy this kit. It’s one of their vintage kits but falls together without issue. The only drawback is the closed canopy which is common on early Tamiya subjects (I just started their Brewster Buffalo, same deal).
Paint is Tamiya mix to my eye and all markings were paint on with Maketar masks. I did add some PE seatbelts that can be seen in there.
Turned out great LD. You’ve really been cranking out a lot of Japanese subects lately. I like the looks of most float planes and just picked up the old Tamiya Rufe a couple weeks ago. Did that dolly come with the kit? Very detailed and nicely painted.
Man I love float planes. Amazing work again, Joe. I popped in and saw the pics before I saw who it was and instantly knew it was your work. Scrolled up and yup it was you. Well done, she’s a beauty.
Excellent job, as is your usual work. I know it was a machine made for war and beauty doesn’t apply, but I think of this one as having some really slippery aerodynamic design features.
Question: What was the black cylinder protruding from the windshield about, maybe a gunsight???
A little operational history, which can also be found in Wiki.
These aircraft were assigned a mission to attack the Gatun locks on the Panama Canal in early 1945. That mission was called off and they were then assigned to attack the US bases at Ulithi where the invasion forces for the Homeland were being assembled. The Seirans were painted to look like USN aircraft. That mission was halted with the news of the surrender and the aircraft were dumped overboard. There’s one survivor at Udar- Hazy.
Another trivia tidbit was that the Seiran was made to fold up like origami to fit within the I-400 class sub’s watertight hangar. Up to three aircraft could be stowed per sub, and they were mounted on carriages that slid the plane out to the catapult for launch. The floats were separate, I think to conserve space within the hangar. The whole readying process could be performed under 15 minutes IIRC.
I had read about the the Seirans being painted in US markings. I have a book that showed an artist’s interpretation of the aircraft being in NMF. I wonder if there are any photos of the actual aircraft still tucked away in some dusty album in Japan?
[Y][Y] I love it! That is one sharp looking build Lawdog! Never really appreciated the lines of the design before, but after seeing your work here, oh yeah! [;)]
Been an age since I was here. Great work on this and your other past builds, you’ve nailed the chipping effects, well done. Looking forward to seeing your next build soon.