This is Choroszy’s resin 1/72 kit of the Nakajima A4N1. Both the instructions and some online sources indicate these particular markings are for a Lt. Minoru Suzuki aboard the Carrier RYUJO, August 1937. Others say wingman or PO1c Yukiharu Ozeki of the 12th Air Group in China.
Also known as the Type 95 carrier fighter, these biplanes aboard RYUJO would have a brief but successful career on the front-line. There were twelve A4N1 units (plus four spares) aboard while conducting operations against China during August and September 1937. Online literature gives a total of 26, with one probable, enemy shot down at this period and no losses. Leaving for home early in November, RYUJO replaced it’s A4N1 with the Claude in February of the following year.
The A4N1 would continue to fly, as some were left in China to support land troops via tactical reconnaissance and close support with two 60 kg bombs, as well as base defense. On home land they were utilized for training, and at war’s end, some were also pressed into the kamikaze attack role.
… and couple shots comparison with the Claude, it’s successor:
Very nice! I suppose it is not that great to call an airplane cute, but that is the word that comes to mind. So I won’t say it, but can’t help thinking it
Jack - Now that is exceptional, both of those little buggers are just first rate work. The flying and landing wire rigging is totally representative of the 1:1 appearance, everything about the bi-plane model is so nice to see.
Those are both gorgeous, Jack. Perfect, in fact. I do not see a single flaw and that’s rare. I’m sure you can see your mistakes (if there are any) but they are both just beautifully finished. You should post these in the reader gallery.
Being a resin kit, there were flaws - only guessing, but I probably recieved one of the final castings before the molds were thrown out and new ones made for the next batch. A lot of the surface area was rough and pock marked, so there was a lot of filling and sanding sessions. The depth of engraved detail was also uneven, and this is one area I need improvement. Rescribing lines, I often went past the mark or ended crooked. These though, are all part of the modelling process. Biggest flaw on my part was a bad batch of Alclad gloss black. This stuff was still tacky after three months!
Anyone wanting to build a similar bird, I’d suggest Fine Molds plastic injected model of the Nakajima A2N1-2 Type 90.
