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Arawasi's "Eagle Eye Series" # 1 on the "Sonia"/"Ida" duo is now available and highly recommended (see side bar). Just a few years ago modellers could only dream about having this amount of in-depth, quality coverage of such types - and in
English! An excellent choice of subject matter for this first edition and full of information and inspiration. The format is very good with a substantial text interspersed with well captioned photographs and colour profiles, contemporary colour art and detail sketches. There are also two modelling articles with colour photographs and fold out plans for both types with a wealth of detail.
Fortunately 1/72nd modellers are well-served with good kits by Hasegawa (ex-Mania) and Fujimi. In 1/48th scale there is only the Nichimo Ki-51 and the Gull vacform of the Ki-36 - which is very hard to find. I suspect I'm not alone in thinking that 1/48th scale state of the art mainstream kits of these two important Army types would have been more welcome than a 1/32nd scale Shinden - even without the "big kit", "ooh-aah" factors involved. Both types lend themselves to interesting colour schemes, markings and dioramas.
Further to the subject of anodised aluminium finishes on the Claude,
Bob Alford has very kindly shared these images of a genuine IJN "Bento box" style ration tray lid which he recovered from the crash site of Mitsubishi m/n 5414, tail code T-359 of Takao Ku, which was shot down over Darwin on 23 November 1942. Bob notes that there are also some images of the ration containers and their preparation on p. 106 of Model Art No. 655, Aviator Uniforms & Equipment of IJN.
The next few updates will concentrate on catching up on showcasing photographs of some very excellent Japanese aircraft models kindly sent in by correspondents and also on featuring some newly released kits of interest.
Image Credits: Book cover & pages © 2010 Arawasi (with permission); IJN ration tray lid courtesy Bob Alford.
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3 comments:
I received my copy of Eagle Eye and can confirm Nick's comments. It is truly an outstanding addition to the library and the drawings themselves are worth the money I paid.
The only omission I have found was the use of the Tachikawa Ki-36 by the 70th DCS of the 10th Hikoshidan. But that is covered in a history I have prepared of 70 DCS for the next edition of Arawasi magazine.
Cheers,
Bob Alford
Lampang Thailand
I can confirm Nick's comments re the new Eagle Eye - it is excellent and great value for money with the usual previously unpublished photos, cutaways and technical descriptions. In this case the separate fold out plans and skethes of both aircraft are worth the money in themselves.
My only criticism is that the 70th DCS (10th Hikoshidan) hasn't been included as user of the Tacikawa Ki-36. A small detail that is to be rectified in an upcoming article on the 70th DCS in Arawasi magazine.
Cheers,
Bob Alford
Lampang Thailand
...and because I couldn't get the first one to travel across the ether I tried again - now there are two messages saying the same thing! Isn't technology great?!
Cheers,
Bob Alford
P.S. It's still an excellent publication though - there, that's three times!
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