It is summer and I am in the modelling doldrums so I thought I would do my first WIP thread. I am an average modeller, at best and have done a handful of GBs, so don’t expect too much.
I got this kit last week off of Ebay for $9, probably overpaid, but WWII floatplanes are just so interesting. I checked on Scalemates and the kit mold is older than I am.(1963) 
At first glance, there is some “flash” and the decals are sketchy.
Is 50 year old glue still good?
Should be a fun build. Do I see an operating wing fold on the instructions?
…And the first minor issue. Warped and slightly twisted.
Paste… warps… questionable decals… what scale is this?
Oh, forgot that little bit of info. It one of those weird, early Japanese 1/50.
Looks about the same as the Nichimo 1/48 kit…
Yes it dose !
Yes sir, they “should” fold. Last night while prefitting the rudder,it probably moves 2 degrees right. Hopefully have better luck with the wings and flaps.
Stik, I did some research and it is the same kit. Marusan made the kit from 1963 to 1967. Financial woes led to a U.S. company called UPC to import them for a couple of years. Nichimo apparently bought the molds and released it as a “NewTool” in mid 70s. They lied, Swannys model did a review and the pictures of the sprues are excactly like Marusan! But somehow it went from 1/50 scale to 1/48th…MAGIC!
Awesome! I saw where you posted this on Tojo’s ‘Latest Purchases’ thread and was hoping you’d build and post her. A WiP is even better!!!
I’ve tried building a few of these ancient Japanese kits and though lacking detail they seem to fit pretty well. Except for those insanly warped fusilage halves. Good luck with that, I have no idea how to correct it. [:|]
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Very interesting…
I had the Nichimo boxing. “Pilot pit is very eloborate”, or something like that, was on the box side. The cockpit is just a shallow tray to make space for the the battery pack to run the electric motor for the prop. Yep, loved those folding wings! Base-u boru size ribbets too! Or were they more like ping-u pong-u saizu?
It’s a primitive beast of a kit, but I have seen nice builds come from it.
Hasegawa-san, please give us a new kit of this rather important aicraft type.
Yes, a new tool kit of this aircraft by Tamigawa would be great…
Well, RealG, here are the pieces of the “elaborate pilot pit”. This kit has the saddest, most pathetic excuse for a cockpit. And those are strong words from me who builds nothing but sad, patheticexcuses of models. I guess I have 3 options.
Build as is even though I have never painted figures…And they so small.
Scratch build a whole new cockpit.
No AM for this model but saw review where a Val Bomber could fit with a little help.
Any Ideas? Highly open to suggestions.
Last night on the fuselage, I did all of the usual tricks on it to try an straighten it out. They worked a little but still ended up gluing it one section at a time. The seams are not great but for someone who has built mostly Revellogram airplanes just another day at the office. Some pretty big sinkhole needed filled. Tomorrow the wings, hopefully.
…But on my porch I found this, so all things considered a good day of modelling
The Ventura is nice! That’s a great diversion from your current challenge. As far as the cockpit goes, I was planning to use a salvaged Val cockpit on my Jake project whenever I get around to it. Anything has got to be better than what comes with the kit…
Finished the cockpit. I had to cut out the bottom of their “Tub” and make my own. I used salvaged old parts out of the junkyard. B17 seats, P38 radio, and I think a P51 IP and joy stick. Didn’t turn out great but is better than what came with the kit. Please do not ding me for historic accuracy either…not alot of info. 
