Kawasaki Army Type Otsu 1 (Salmson 2A2) in 1/72 by Rob Ronconi

The first of two more 1/72 scale biplane masterpieces from the miniature aerodrome of Rob Ronconi. The Salmson 2A2 was a reconnaissance and light bomber aircraft designed in France during the First World War. The Salmson saw effective use in French service and also with air units of the American expeditionary force where it came to the attention of Japanese army observers. It could hold its own against enemy fighters too with several American pilots and observer/gunners becoming aces on the type.

After the war the Salmson was taken to Japan with the French military mission (Mission Française d'Aéronautique) of 1919. Kawasaki had acquired manufacturing rights for the aircraft and Salmson's 260 hp 9Za nine cylinder, water cooled engine but in 1920 the Japanese army began manufacturing a copy of the aircraft at their Tokorozawa depot in the pretext of repairing the imported aircraft. Following a protest by Salmsom Kawasaki mediated and manufacturing rights were established with the Army designating the aircraft the Type Otsu 1 Reconnaissance Aircraft and formally accepting it into service in December 1921. Two protoypes had been produced, one from Army parts and the other by Kawasaki from scratch. Kawasaki and the Army then collaborated to manufacture 300 aircraft before production ceased in August 1927. The first 56 were built with imported engines but the remainder with Kawasaki engines.

The Type Otsu 1 saw active and useful service over Siberia in October 1922 and during the Manchurian and Shanghai incidents, performing a diverse range of sorties from the original reconnaissance to include bombing, artillery liaison and supply drops. The Type 1 Otsu continued in Army service until 1933 when the Type 88 Reconnaissance Aircraft (Kawasaki KDA-2) replaced it. The Army adopted the Hai Ryoku Shoku (Ash Green Colour) as a standard overall finish for its aircraft from 1922, incorporated into the Army Aircraft Material Temporary Standards in March 1924 and revised in October 1927. 

With special thanks to Rob for sharing these images of his excellent model built from the Kovozávody Prostějov kit.

Image credit: All model photos © 2026 Rob Ronconi; Colour schematic © 2023 Aviation of Japan

New A6M2b Zero kits from Fine Molds in 1/48

Fine Molds are due to release two new A6M2b Zero kits in 1/48 scale. This month IJN Carrier Fighter Zero Model 21 (Mitsubishi early production) 'Aircraft carrier Akagi', Two schemes for Lt Cdr Shigeru Itaya (A1-155) and his wingman NAP 1/c Shinaji Iwama (A1-153). 

Fine Molds write about this new kit as follows:-

While we currently sell the Zero Fighter Type 52 series, for the development of this Zero Fighter Type 21, we redesigned and developed almost the entire model, including the wings, forward fuselage, cowling, first canopy, and vertical stabilizer (rudder), using new molds. Features of the kit include the ability to choose between folded and unfolded wingtips, separate parts for the canopy frame and glass, and a slide mold for the rear fuselage, ensuring ease of assembly. Furthermore, while there are differences in the ailerons of the actual aircraft depending on the manufacturing lot, this kit reproduces the early Mitsubishi-made type (up to aircraft number 326) equipped with a protruding mass balance.

For release in August A6M2b Zero (Nakajima production) 'Air Battle Over the Solomons'. Two interesting field camouflaged schemes from the 2nd Carrier Division at Buin airfield in April 1943, 2-2-103 and 2-1-128, and X2-113 of 202 Ku at Kendari airfield, Celebes in 1943 (attacks against Darwin).

Fine Molds write about this kit as follows:-

About the Type 21 Zero Carrier-Based Fighter (Nakajima-built)

The Type 21 Zero—the early production variant of the "Zero Carrier-Based Fighter"— performed remarkably during the opening stages of the war. It also saw intense action during 'Operation I-Go,' an air campaign conducted in the Solomon and New Guinea theatres. This operation took place from 7th to 15th April 1943, involving joint sorties by land-based air units and aircraft from the carriers Zuikaku, Jun'yō  and Hiyō. Since Mitsubishi had already ceased production of the Type 21 in June 1942, it is believed that the majority of the Type 21 Zeros participating in this operation were manufactured by Nakajima.

Kit Details

Nakajima Aircraft began mass production of the Zero in November 1941. Nakajima-built units are characterized by a spinner that is more pointed than the Mitsubishi version; additionally, due to the timing of their manufacture, they lack the protruding mass balances on the ailerons. While the airframe paint scheme was initially the same as that of Mitsubishi-built aircraft, Nakajima built planes began featuring a white border around the fuselage 'hinomaru' (red circle insignia) starting around the summer of 1942.

This kit accurately reproduces these manufacturer-specific differences; the canopy frame and transparent sections are molded as separate parts, and the rear fuselage is a single piece created using a slide mold. Markings are included to replicate aircraft from the carriers Jun'yō and Hiyō, as well as an aircraft from the 202nd Air Group finished in the characteristic 'light grey-green' (ame-iro) color.

PS The newly announced 1/48 scale Ki-32 kit from Classic Resin Airframes is resin with 3D printed details and Hannants are showing it as a future release for £159.99! 

Image credit: All © 2026 Fine Molds

Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-kai in 1/48 scale

Ronnie Olsthoorn is an accomplished and skilled 3D artist who has collaborated with me on Osprey projects and contributed far more than just the cover art, profiles and plans. Here he demonstrates an equal skill in model making too with his N1K2-J Shiden-kai made from the original 1/48 Hasegawa kit. Over to Ronnie then:-

'This is my finished Hasegawa 1/48 Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-kai ('George'). This model was started way back in 1997 and this kit is still made from the original 1980 mould, with raised panel lines and all. Despite its age this is a decent kit and it went together without fuss and minimal putty.

Noteworthy modifications to the kit are:

• resin wheels (which were included in the kit);
• seatbelts from scratch (I think I used foil from a wine bottle, but this was back in 1997 so I am not sure...);
• navigations lights cut off and replaced with clear sprue leftovers, sanded to shape
• all raised panel lines were re-scribed (also done back in 1997/1998);
• fully riveted;
• stressed skin effect added by taping off all rivet lines and fabric and detail areas, spraying a thick coat of Mr Surfacer, and then sanding this back to smooth out the edges;
• upper fuselage inspection window drilled out and filled with clear UV resin;
• typical details added like an EZ-Line aerial wire, copper wire brake lines, drilled out the exhausts pipes and clear plastic sheet gunsight glass;
• custom colour scheme markings cut out with a Silhouette plotter. (The only kit decals used are the fuselage data stencil and an inspection hatch inside the chin air intake, which both went down beautifully despite being 30 years old);
• lastly a quartet of Luminaero 20mm cannon barrels replaced the horribly thick sticks provided in the kit.

Back in the 1990s all Japanese aircraft supposedly had aotake cockpits, so that's what I did back then. With oil washes I tried to bring it more in line with the grey-green upper cockpit decking. Instrument dials were painted with a needle. All exterior painting was done in recent years. The plane was primed with Mr Surfacer and sprayed in Mr Hobby SM208 Super Duralumin with my 1990s-vintage (and surprisingly good) Badger 150, while the top camouflage is Tamiya XF-11 J.N. Green, with the markings in X-7 Red and Mr Hobby H24 Orange Yellow.

Some historical notes: the 343rd Kokutai was the only user of the N1K2-J with the later narrow-chord vertical fin, so my choice of colour schemes was very limited and I chose 343-37/A as I'd never seen it done before. Note that the no-step flap area warning stripes are done in aluminium paint and not in red. This was standard Kawanishi practice and literally all N1K/N1K1-J/N1K2-J decals sheets are wrong in providing these in red colour! (Thank you Nick and also Taizou Nakamura for pointing this out). Also, the gear oleo pressure indicator stencil on the wheeldoor was red-blue-red and not "traffic light" style red-yellow-blue, as usually given in decal sheets.

I finally completed the model on New Years Eve. More could still be improved, but I'm calling this done and move on with an Eduard 1/48 A6M2, which has been in the works for some time.'

With special thanks to Ronnie for sharing these images of his superb and convincing Shiden-kai model with Aviation of Japan.

Image creditL All © 2026 Ronnie Olsthoorn. 

Tojo, Jack and Shiragiku Kits in 1/72 Scale

Sword have (re-)released a 1/72 scale Nakajima Ki-44-II Shoki 'Tojo' kit with two markings options (shown above), containing PUR parts for the engine and pilot seat, with masks, retailing at £17.99 in UK. Also three Mitsubishi Raiden 'Jack' variants in the same scale and same price, with PUR cockpit details. 

Additional images of kit parts and decals: SW72158 J2M2 here, SW72160 J2M3 here; SW72161 J2M5/6 here.

Kovozavody Prostejov have announced a new 1/72 scale kit of the Kyūshū K11W Shiragiku IJN crew trainer. Rather than one kit with three scheme options it appears to be three kits depicting different schemes. 

No price given yet or whether each kit offers additional schemes and markings options but a very welcome release of a long neglected type.

Image credit: © 2026 Sword and Kovozavody Prostejov

Pete Quartet For Sale!

Not one, not two, not even three, but FOUR surviving Mitsubishi F1M2 'Pete' airframes for sale from Classic Aircraft Sales Ltd.! Hat tip to Chad Atkins  for this astonishing news, who discovered it whilst looking for internal details for a potential Hasegawa Pete build project  

 

And to round off this Pete presentation here is a look at an early Hasegawa version - in 1/75 scale circa 1965!

This simple kit is moulded in green plastic with scribed engine detail on the cowling face and no cockpit detail. Two head and shoulders crewmen mouldings plug into the cockpit apertures. The underwing bombs shown on the box art are not included. The small decal sheet has six hinomaru, four with white borders, the red and white warning band for the main float and alternative tail codes for 'P3-18' and 'RI-15'. 

Thanks to Chad for alerting to this sale.

Image credits: Photos © 2025  Classic Aircraft Sales Ltd.; Box art and instruction sheet © 1965 Hasegawa Corp.

Ginga Night Fighter by Felix Gossler

Felix Gossler has kindly shared images of his Ginga model, representing YoD-181 of 302 Ku's 2nd Hikotai as a so-called Type 21 mentioned here. Felix has set the model on a well crafted display base featuring ground crew figures re-painting the Hinomaru which provides a real sense of scale for this elegant night fighting twin.

With special thanks to Felix for sharing these excellent images. 

Image credit: All © 2025 Felix Gossler