I couldn’t resist putting a Japanese flag behind this kit. Its the 1/48 Hasegawa Tojo, w/ Eduard photo-etch. The P.E. includes a seat, belts, wheel covers, screens, & even gun barrel jackets. If you want to add a Tojo to your collection, the Eduard set REALLY makes a difference ! Hope you like it, & thanks for letting me share ! Pix.
Another fine job, Pix. Keep em coming!
Good one pix
What is the Japanese name for this plane? I like those a lot better than the American names that we gave them. I know most of the Japanese fighters, but the KI44 is a new one to me.
My favorits are the KI84 and the N1K2. If they had had those early in the war, we might have been in a good deal more trouble.
madda
THANKS, all ! ! !
maddafinga - the official Japanese name for this bird is the “Nakajima Army Type 2Single-seat Fighter Shoki.” Shoki means “Demon.” The Japanese names were so foreign-sounding and cumbersome that it was decided to give them western names. It was probably easier for a wingman to say : “Four Tojos at 11 o’ clock !” than, “Four Nakajima Army Type . . .” It WAS named after Hidekki Tojo, the Prime, War, & Army Minister. If you’re into Japanese aircraft, a book by Robert C. Mikesh, called “Japanese Aircraft Code Names & Designations” is a great resource. It explains who a lot of the people after whom the planes were named.
GLAD YOU LIKE IT, THANKS, pix.
I think the Ki-44 Japanese name is ‘shoku’ or ‘shoki’ which translates to ‘Demon Queller’
Very nice. I love the mottling.
I scanned the names of Japanese aircraft. Those of you who build them, and even those that don’t, may find this interesting. They really had a system.
Aurora - they even had a plane named for you !
Thanks, Michaelvk. I was nervous enough painting this bird. Didn’t want to ruin the detail of the P.E. !
Goodonyer Pixilater.
The Tojo looks good. The Hinomaru look a bit bright though, it could be the resolution on my monitor though. a good mix for the Meat Ball is Ident red Methuen ref ((C-D)8 humbrol HT5. This not meant as a denegration of a fine model but as an help from an old modeler to a younger (and probably better) one. Thanks for the list of code names, Hamp was originaly Hap as in Arnold but he didnt like it much. Likewise one of the Japanese bombers was named after his wife but after reading a verse describing the bombers physical atrabutes he didnt like that either so the name was changed.
Keep building and showing them.
Dai
Yeah, that’s the problem with kit decals. I’ve only found a couple of kits that had a better, darker shade, but I use them anyway. Who’s to say that another company’s aftermarket sheets would be different. I did get some nice ones from Aeromaster, but they’re for a Jack.
Thanks, it’s a great little kit to build.
Nice job on the Tojo. The background gives it more appeal. Nice work again, Pix.
Thanks, Keywoth ! It must be my "imaginary box-art phase ! Thanks, Pix.
I always assumed that we game them code names because we didn’t know what the Japanese were calling them. Communication between US and Japan was not great at the time, and I dont’ imagine that they’d call us up and say “Hey, we’re coming out with a new plane, we’re calling it the hyabusa, what do you think?” I always figured that once our pilots started seeing a new plane in the skies, they’d just stick a name on it for easier identification. Of course, we all know what assuming does. [:D] I loved that chart by the way, several planes on there that I didn’t know. I love ww2 planes. If they had decent production capabilities left by wars end, some of the newer planes the Japanese came out with were the equal of just about any of ours.
madda
There were even some “planes” that were published in Japanese magazines that didn’t exist. Our intelligence network at the time was abysmally uninformed. Some of these hypothetical planes even recieved code designations ! After the war started, there were reports of sightings of aircraft that were described differently. As a consequence, some Japanese planes in the early-war stages had multiple names ! Add to this the foreign names, and you have an unknown force, of unknown types, swallowing up the Pacific at an alarming rate. What a mess it must have been for the de-briefers !
The Japanese had many nimble, fast aircraft. Their failure to install armor plate & self-sealing gas tanks until late in the war led to the loss of their most seasoned pilots.
Nakajima made a large percentage of their aircraft engines, and with the fall of the Marianas, the factories were bombed relentlessly. By war’s end, Japan no longer had sufficient #s of equipment or aircrews.
After the war, Mc Arthur ordered the destruction of ALL JAPANESE OFFENSIVE WEAPONS ! ! ! Trying to find reliable, complete resources for accurate Japanese aircraft models may be the reason they are not as popular as U.S., British, & German types, though they are no less interesting. They really made some beauties !
They sure did, and so do you!
Another gem!
Just as a point of interest, that flag ( the rising sun with radiating rays) is quite controversial in modern Japan (and Asia in general), as for many it still symbolizes Japan’s agression in WWII. It’s used by many right-wing groups and organizations, and even newspapers (like the Asahi Shimbun (a newspaper)) and the Japan Self Defense Forces at times.
Personally, I thinks it’s a beautiful design and much more interesting than the more acceptable Hinomaru (“disk of the sun,” the red ball on white background), but I certainly can understand people’s feelings about the old flag.
THANKS, J-Hulk ! ! ! I also think it is a beautiful flag. I think its a shame that OBJECTS from history are regarded the same as the IDEALS for which they stood. If the war had never happened, the flag would be taken for just what it is - a beautiful design. When it becomes analyzed, it turns into a REPRESENTATION of of something else altogether. I hope I didn’t offend anyone by the use of the flag, and I apologise if I did so.
I think it’s fine in the context it’s used in this beautiful piece, Pix. It fits the aircraft perfectly!
It is sad that history might offend some people. It must all be remembered, as accurately as possible!
If not, you know what they say…
It shall be repeated!
Anyway, I wouldn’t worry about offending anybody with the use of that flag here.
In any case, this symbol is NO WHERE NEAR as controversial as the swastika issue!
Hey Pix;
I just came to this conclusion-You missed your calling, should be working for Industral Light & Sound, or ole Georgy Lucas, you and all the others have seriously missed your callings to be a Spec EFX modeler then you’ll be able to show the next generation the correct equipment that was used in history
cuda
For those who would be offended by historical accuracy, I have two pieces of advice:
- Grow up
- Get a life
History is the past. It’s done. Learn from it so it doesn’t repeat itself. It’s hard to learn from something that has been revised
to avoid hurting some fool’s feelings.
Ray
Ray - please don’t take this personally. Your opinions are yours, and that’s fine. Please don’t deny someone else the right to their own opinion, even if it differs from yours. Your advice is insensitive and hostile. I do not believe that this forum is the place for tips on behavior. That’s just my opinion. You have every right to disagree, but please respect the feelings and convictions of others.