Japanese Aircraft Models ~ IPMS Roanoke Show 18-19 October 2013

Ken Glass has very kindly shared some of his excellent photographs of Japanese aircraft models displayed at the IPMS Roanoke Show in October this year. The superb models and equally superb photography speak for themselves but unfortunately some of the builders are unknown. If you should recognise your model here please do drop me a line and I shall be very pleased to update this blog with full attribution and any details about the kit and build you might care to share here, thanks.

Expertly finished 1/48th scale Mitsubishi A6M2 from the carrier Hiryu

Impressive 1/48th scale A6M5-K two-seat trainer of the Tsukuba Kokutai built by Kevin Hensel using an Eduard zoom set for the cockpits, Master gun barrels in the cowling, pitot from Aluminum tubing, and some other added details. Kevin notes that the panel wash is not as light as it appears in the photos.

Beautifully finished 1/72nd scale Mitsubishi G4M2 'Betty' in TAIU-SWPA markings by Scott Bregi of IPMS/ Tidewater won best aircraft of show.

Splendid Nakajima Ki-27 Otsu of 244th Sentai in Home Defence markings

Lovely 1/48th scale Nakajima Ki-44-II Hei of the 29th Sentai

Simply stunning 1/32nd scale Nakajima Ki-44-II Otsu (Ho-301 armed) of the 47th Sentai in Home Defence markings also built by Kevin Hensel with added Eduard seatbelts, Quickboost exhausts, wired engine and other minor additions.  Kevin also filled and rescribed the fuselage panels on the forward fuselage which he found was the worst feature of the kit due to the way Hasegawa moulded the separate panels.  He says that he probably spent more time on those panels than on any other part of the kit!  Kevin used homemade masks to paint the Hinomaru and the canopy with masks by Montex.

Awesome Kawasaki Ki-61-I of 244th Sentai Hombu 

Image credits: All © 2013 Ken Glass; A6M5-K and Ki-44-II Otsu model details courtesy of builder Kevin Hensel