Well, despite the usual Texas heat (and I do mean HEAT, 100 degrees HEAT), I have managed to finish off a couple of builds that I’d been working on for a couple of months. (Easier to do when one finds themselves out of a job, sadly, as of last Friday, so I’ve managed a lot of bench time along with job searching).
Over the last couple of years I’ve been adding kits to my stash of Japanese subjects. The “Nell” has always been an interesting Jap bomber due to its unusual tail alignment, with the twin rudders attached atop the stabilizer rather than buttressed to the end such as on the B-24. Additionally I have been fascinated with this bomber since I first saw a vacu-formed kit in 48th scale (Bill Koster) but this Hasegawa 72nd scale kit was the only one I could readily find. I’d rather have this in 48 scale to go along with my now ancient Tamiya G4M Betty, but this is the best I could do.
The kit presented absolutely zero challenges. It falls together like a Tamiya. There was only a little need for filler. The one thing I decided early on was that I did not want a standard green over gray paint scheme. I found some other kits built with this brown/green/gray-green scheme, but I never could find any color photographs or other reference materials confirming that the Nell was actually ever painted in such a scheme. But since I thought it looked interesting, I went with it as a matter of artistic license.
With Japanese aircraft, I cannot resist doing a good bit of weathering typically, but for this one I did actually keep the weathering to a relative minimum. I pre-shaded the panel lines, which actually shows up pretty well especially on the under-side, and then I used a silver graphite pencil to replicate wear along walkways, the engine cowlings, near the cockpit, and near a couple of wing access panels. Paints are a mixture of Tamiya and Model Master. There are a couple of coats of Future to help with decal application and to seal the decals in, then followed with an overall coat of flat clear to finish it off.
This was truly an enjoyable build. Highly recommend this diminutive kit for fans of Japanese warbirds.
Very nicely done. Great paint and weathering. I have a question, is your canopy actually foggy as it appears in the photos? If so, did you do that on purpose? Just curious. By the way I’m an Aggie also.
Thanks. Well regarding the fogging, I just checked it in better lighting and yes, it is fogged as it appears in these photos. That was not intentional. I thought I had the windows masked off from the airbrush when I did the flat coat, but apparently not well enough.
Very nice indeed. I am looking for this exact kit and can’t find it for sale except in Japan. I’ve searched the net and it is a bit confusing if Hasegawa did release this kit once again. Can someone point me in the right direction please? Am looking to re-create the death of H.M.S. Prince of Wales and the Nell would be included in a future diorama. With thanks. Danny
I am pretty sure I got this one from Sprue Brothers, but I did not find it when I checked their site just now. This was one of the rare kits that never found its way into my stash upon receipt, instead it went right to the bench.
I don’t think this was a new release but I know that Hasegawa has released at least two versions of this kit. Try looking on eBay to see if you can find any reasonable deal.
Thanks mate. I have found one on eBay but I find it a tad pricey for me so I will be attending a Hobby Store tomorrow and see if they would have it. I hope it’s worth my drive as it is 70 miles away. Cheers!
As a plan B, there is a kit at CharliesPlasticModels.com of a Mitsubishi G3M3 Type 96 Mk.23. I just need to research if first to check if that type would have been part of the strike squadrons against H.M.S. Repulse and Prince of Wales.
Very good looking build off a not-often-seen aircraft! Don’t know how I missed your original post. Like others I would like to see this subject in 1/48th, but yours is so well done that it’s hard to read the scale from the photos.
SgtDannySgt, the kit you are after is #01924, which has the right markings for your intended dio. I know this because I went to www.scalemates.com to see how many releases there were and when, and from a google link to a review in cybermodeler.com - hope this helps you find the kit you’re after.
