Hi guys… As alot of you may know, I live in Japan, and am a huge Japanese Airforce nut!.. Well, I am slowly building up a nice inventory of Modern and WW2 planes and Helicopters… And have just bought myself 3 new additions… First off, I have the Hasegawa 1/72 F-15J. … Hasegawa 1/72 Blue Impulse T-2… And the 50th Anniversary Fuji T-1B Double pack… (2 models in the one box)… One will be available if someone wants it!!
Now, has anyone built any of these models… And if so, I would like any advice or information you can add… Are there any other modelers interested in the J.A.S.D.F?.. If so, I would really love to talk to you about this subject, and maybe we can help each other out!
Chris, while I haven’t yet built any of those kits, I got the 1/72 XT-2 that I gonna build for the Prototypes & Paper Projects GB. I also have the 1/72 Mit. T-2 and plan on getting a Fuji T-1 soon. I’m at NAF Atsugi and I do enjoy building the Japanese aircraft! Just got my Famous Airplanes of the World PS-1/US-1 book for my 1/72 Hasegawa kit. There’s a couple of US-1’s stationed here & I’ve got a few decent pics of them. Oh, btw, I also have the Has. 1/72 T-4 “306 SQ” kit and the decal sheet is awesome! Later - Calvin
You know, I was just thinking about asking the forum if there was any interest in starting a Trainer Aircraft GB. What do you think?[8)]
I don’t have any modern JASDF stuff (although I’m very seriously thinking about that supercool new Hasegawa Mitsubishi F-1!), but I do have the old Hasegawa 1/32 F-86F-40 Sabre ‘J.A.S.D.F’ kit that I keep telling myself I’m going to get around to building soon. I’,m really more of a JGSDF guy, though…(said as he dodges rotten tomatoes)
Have you guys picked up the latest Model Art? It’s a JASDF 50th Anniversary special! Chock full o’ good stuff.
Thanks, Brian! Now I have to go out and get that Model Art mag! LOL My fiance doesn’t understand how I can have so many Japanese model & A/C mags and not read Japanese! ( But she does, hahaha!) - Calvin
Don’t worry, it’s chock full of pretty pictures, so you don’t need to worry about reading!
Look for the issue with the big F-15DJ Eagle in 50th anniversary colors on the cover.
Nice!
Hey, thanks for the reply guys!.. Well its good to find people with similar interests… My wife is indeed Japanese, and simply cant seem to understand my interest in Japanese military models?.. I myself dont understand it, but I guess I am kinda tired of the usual F-14 this, and F-18 that, so I am enjoying the novel little planes that the Japanese have in there inventory!.. And the fact that they are still flying the F-4’s is in my book, sweeeeet!..
I am also not only doing both a modern and WW2 set… But I am slowly doing a Blue Impulse set aswell… I just picked up a 1/72 Japanese F-86 last night on Yahoo Japan auction (310Yen)!.. So it will go nicely with my T-4, T-1B, and my T-2… ps Calvin… I will have a spare T-1B if you are interested in it… …
J-Hulk… I have only dabbled in the JGSDF stuff… I have built a diorama of the Iraq Humanitarian Assistance Vehicle and added the 5 man figure set… It is still a work in progress, but will take pics for you when I get home!.. As for your F-86… What color scheme will you do it in… Squadron colours, or Blue Impulse?
Yup, the F-1 is in 1/48. It’s been out about a month here now, so I reckon it should be making its way around the world sometime soon! I had a quick look in the box last weekend, and it is indeed supersweet.
Chris, I’ll do the 1/32 F-86 in its normal JASDF natural metal finish.
Looking forward to your pix![:)]
Yes, I forgot about taking some pics for you… Will do as soon as possible… I started my F-15J last night… I have a good feeling about this one… This Hasegawa kit is really simple and to the point… No real fiddely bits… Built the cockpi, and the body, and sanded her down all in one night… Very happy… Will look good next to the JASDF Phantom!
I’m in the process of building the Hasegawa F-15J Eagle. Here’s where I’m at now:
These are the rest of my Modern Japanese aircraft, all in 1/72 scale:
As for the Hasegawa F-15J, it is an easy build with no major fit issues. I had no problems with gaps or anything as you can see. The only issue I had was the exhaust nozzles. If you don’t remove them from the sprues carefully, it’ll make the fit of them a little difficult. There is supposed to be a tab on the ends that fit into slots in the ring. If you don’t place them correctly, you get gaps between the nozzle pieces that is difficult to fix. It is also difficult to get a good circle when building the nozzles. Watch them carefully when you put them on.
Duke, thank you heaps for your advice… I will certainly take it on board… I am actually leaving the engines till last on this one for some reason?.. I have just given it a light grey coat, and have now done the grey over the top… I decided not to mask it this time, and I am really happy the way the spray turned out… I masked my JASDF F-16 and it came out a little thick… So decided to throw all caution to the wind on this one, and well lucked out… I always sand my Japanese planes after painting as I find that they have the worste paint jobs for modern day fighters…
J-Hulk… Sorry to keep you waiting on the pics I promissed, but I have only taken one… I am sitting in my kitchen with fluro lights… When I get a sunny day, I will take it ouside and take a few snaps… It really is just a work in progress, and I have had to adjust the color on it, as it was too dark!
Thanks for that pic Chris, that Phantom looks good. Still, I don’t think my skills are up to trying that kind of pattern. The instruction sheet in my model kit shows the Light Ghost Grey/Dark Ghost Grey pattern used by the USAF on it, so for simplicity’s sake, I think I’ll go with that.
Keep those pics coming Chris and thanks again for the educating pictures. Your help is appreciated.
No probs Duke… I have plenty to share, if you know how to read Japanese?[:D]… Actually dont bother reading, just need to look at the pics… I am at work at the momment, but will post all the links that I have of the JASDF for you…
J-Hulk… Your in Japan… Tell me what you use here in replace of Futures floor poliish… Or anything for doing decals… Where do you go to get it, and what do you use, and pics of bottles and the like?.. Sorry for the big ask, but I cant seem to find anything…
