Koh Tse Hsien's 1/48 Scale Zero Fighter Quartet

Koh Tse Hsien from Singapore has kindly shared these images and details of his quartet of fine 1/48 scale models of Zero fighters all from IJN units associated with Singapore.

A Zero A6M2 Model 21 'II-131' of the 22nd Air Flotilla HQ attached Fighter Group, Malaya 1942, made from the 2009 1/48 Hasegawa kit # 09875 (Mitsubishi A6M2b Zero Fighter Type 21 '3rd Flying Group') with decals from the Rising Decals set RD48021, with Eduard photo-etch details FE358 and Eduard Mask EX040.

A Zero A6M2 Model 21 'B1-12' of 381 Ku at Tebrau, Singapore made from the 2022 1/48 Eduard kit # 82212 (Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero Type 21) with decals from the Berna Decals set BD4858, Eduard Brassin cannon barrels and cowling guns # 648723 and Aber armament and pitot tube set A48106 (Armament for Japanese fighter Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero). This aircraft was later flown and photographed by the Allied Technical Air Intelligence Unit South-East Asia (ATAIU-SEA). At one time the 'B1' tail codes were believed to be ATAIU-SEA designations but in fact they were the original codes for 381 Ku fighters. The unit also operated a few A6M2-K trainers with 'B2' tail codes, at least one A6M3 Model 22, code unknown, another Zero coded 'B1-21' and two Raiden with 'B1-01' and 'B1-02' tail codes applied on overpainted strips concealing a previous code. Both Raiden were test flown by Japanese pilots under ATAIU-SEA supervision.

A Zero A6M5 Model 52  'B1-05' of 381 Ku at Tebrau, Singapore made from the 2008 1/48 Tamiya kit # 61103 (Mitsubishi A6M5/5a Zero Fighter Zeke) with Eduard Mask (EX258) Eduard (491016) photoetch details Aviaeology Japanese tail codes (AOD48C23m) Dead Design Models Japanese National Insignia (VM48094) Aber armament and pitot tube (A48106), Quickboost exhaust (QB48230) and Kits-World seat belts. Another A6M5 of this unit was coded 'B1-26' and an A6M5 Hei coded 'B1-28'. The cockpit and centre section of 'B1-05' are now displayed in the Imperial War Museum, London, with the engine and cowling at the RAF Cosford museum, whilst sadly in 1956 the wings and tail were spotted in the Warrington scrap yard of the British Aluminium Co. Ltd from the top deck of a bus. Large numbers of other Japanese aircraft, including JAAF aircraft, totalling about 60, were burnt, bulldozed and/or scrapped at Tebrau on the orders of the then supreme allied commander South-East Asia Admiral Mountbatten who cancelled a British Ministry of Aircraft Production (MAP) and Air Intelligence plan under the auspices of the RAF to send one example of every Japanese aircraft to the UK for testing and posterity on the grounds that shipping should be prioritised for returning POWs and de-mobbed Allied personnel. The rare Ki-100 fortunately survived because it was mistakenly identified as an 'Oscar', the main fighter type encountered by the RAF over Burma, together with the surviving Ki-46-III, both of which were shipped. together with a 381 Ku Kyushu K9W1 'Cypress' coded 'B2-20' which was later damaged by a fire in storage at RAF Wroughton in the 1950s and subsequently scrapped. An Ohka found at Singapore had also previously been shipped to the UK but alas the Ki-44 made airworthy and flown by the RAF CO at Singapore's Kallang airfield was ultimately scrapped. 

A Nakajima-built A6M5 Zero Fighter Type 52 '11-22' of the Taiho Fighter Group at Singapore during March-April 1944, made from the 1/48 Hasegawa kit # 07385 (Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero Fighter Type 52 'Taiho Fighter Group') with Eduard Mask (040), Eduard (FE217) photoetch details, Rex exhausts (48029) and SX-ART Studio Mask (48044).

With special thanks to Tse Hsien for sharing these images and details of a fine Zero quartet. 

Image credit: All photos © 2023 Koh Tse Hsien

Navy Type 13 No.3 carrier-based attack aircraft modified seaplane (Mitsubishi 3MT2) by John Haas Pt.1

Another masterpiece in the making from John Haas, inspired by the Choroszy models range but scratch-built to 1/48 scale, the modified seaplane of Mitsubishi's 3MT2 design as the Navy Type 13 No.3 carrier-based attack aircraft modified seaplane (一三式三号艦上攻撃機改造水上機). The Mitsubishi 3MT2 design was the last production model for the Type 13 carrier attack aircraft and adopted in January 1931. Over to John then:- 

'Dear Modellers,

'I had much pleasure in building my  last model; so after further searching the excellent Choroszy collection I found another interesting model. This time the Navy Type 13 carrier attack aircraft seaplane variant. Fortunately I found some useful photographs and even an 3-view drawing in the 1990 Putnam book 'Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941' by Robert C Mikesh and Shorzoe Abe, and in Volume One (Mitsubishi Aircraft) of the 1981 Shuppan-Kyodo 'Encyclopedia of Japanese Aircraft 1900-1945'.  

'I built this model in the same usual way as my other models. For the fuselage frames I used 2mm plastic sheets and the sides were covered with a thin 0.5mm sheet. That was the easy part, now I had to fabricate the fuselage top with three cockpits. I solved this by carving a piece of wood and using this form with the 'heat and smash' method to fabricate a thin plastic cover. 

'With the fuselage ready I could carve a piece of wood for the engine which fitted the dimensions of the fuselage. The next step was to make the tail structure. Again I used some 2mm sheet and to make it more interesting I fixed the elevators in a lowered position.  

'Now I could turn to build some wings. Well, compared with the fuselage they are really BIG! Again Mr. Harry Woodman* came to rescue me so I made two wings from thin sheet material and paid special attention to get a solid and stable construction of the middle part. I cut the lower wing into two halves and drilled two holes to insert a piece of large paperclip to get a sturdy connection with the fuselage. 

'The next chapter was to fit the upper wing. The first step was to drill some holes for the wing struts, those being cut from 1mm sheet and sanded in profile. Fortunately the wings have no stagger which made things a bit easier. I fixed some struts in strategic places on the lower wing, then turned the model upside down and placed it carefully on the upper wing. I cemented the struts with liquid glue. When everything had dried I cemented the other struts in place. This important step went well, the wings lined up as planned. Now I could make two coolant radiators and fix them to the fuselage. 

'Now I had some forward planning to do; I had to paint the wings before the rigging adventure. This was also a good opportunity to try Revell's Silver Metallic No. 361/90 Aqua Color for the first time. I had used Humbrol enamel for many years, but unfortunately, in my opinion, the present quality is no longer what it used to be (Agreed! Ed.). So the experiment with Revell turned out very well, with two brush painted coats achieving a nice result.

'Now followed some old fashioned woodworking; making the two wooden floats, I was glad that they had flat surfaces, because it is already difficult enough to get them both equal and to the right size. I painted the floats in white primer and glued copper wire on the upper part with AC.'

With very special thanks to John for sharing these fascinating work-in-progress images and details of this challenging scratch-built project. 

* Scale Model Aircraft in Plastic Card by Harry Woodman, (Model & Allied Publications, England, 1975-77)

Image credit: All model construction photos © 2023 John Haas; Aircraft photo © 1981 Shuppan-Kyodo Publishers, Tokyo.

Pat Donahue's Model 22 Zero in Field Camo

Pat Donahue has waited very patiently for over a year for these images of his Solomons Campaign Model 22 Zero in field applied camouflage to be shown here. Here it is as the first of a series of Zero models long pending. And representing a most unusual scheme too, interpreted from a photograph as shown below. When I first saw the images of this model I presumed it to be 1/48 scale but it is in fact the Tamiya 1/72 scale kit which Pat built to the IPMS/USA new Basic Kit Build rules which replaced the older out of the box rules.

Pat added an antenna wire as it is shown in the instructions. The kit decal seat harness was also used, cut closely off the sheet but not immersed in water just carefully draped over the seat with the edges painted in a tan to match the decal colour.

The amber gray airframe colour is a mix of Sovereign Hobbies Colourcoats paint with the green being Xtracolor from Hannants. All markings were painted on, and the kit stencil decals and aftermarket codes were used.

Pat's model represents a Solomon’s based Zero that had been repainted in the field. There was much conflicting information of the model type and tail codes. Some assert that it was a model 22A but all the photos Pat had of this machine and others like it showed no extended cannon barrels. There are many different ideas of the actual tail codes applied and Pat hopes he got it in the ballpark, as the original markings were censored in the photos. He commented that he would pay some real money to see some correctly exposed photos of those field applied schemes other than "105"! And I suspect he is not alone!

A stunning model which belies the small scale and is testimony to Pat's skill. With special thanks to Pat for sharing the images and details of his model and for his patience in waiting so long  for it to appear here. Pat's previous field camouflaged Zero models can be found here and here. 

Image credits: All model photos © 2023 Pat Donahue; Photo via Pat Donahue. 

Revell's Ginga Part 3 - Kyokkô Night Fighter Supplement

One attraction of Ginga as a model, despite its rather limiting warpaint and whether the old Revell or more recent Hasegawa kit is selected, is the potential for conversion to various experimental or night fighter variants. Only one IJN combat unit operated Ginga as a night fighter, that being the 2nd Hikotai of 302 Ku at Atsugi, which operated a Gekko buntai and a Ginga buntai. Coverage of the type in the original Revell kit and by Hasegawa has confused Ginga with the re-designed night fighter variant Kyokkô ( 極光 - Aurora) manufactured by Kawanishi rather than Nakajima but the detailed relationship between Kyokkô and the Type 16 Ginga is an ongoing problem so far unresolved. 

In May 1943 the IJN directed Kawanishi to produce Kyokkô based on Ginga but with the engine changed to the Kasei Type 25. This request was reportedly made in response to the high demand for the Homare engine  and problems due to increased production. In addition to the engine change which required a re-designed cowling, bombing equipment was removed, a retractable tail wheel was installed  and fuel tank capacity was reduced for the rationale that the night fighter would not require a long range capability. 

Kawanishi production of Kyokkô at their Konan (or Fukae) plants replaced HSK2 'Emily' flying boat manufacture, with some parts being manufactured at the Takarazuka plant. Progress was slow, with the first and only aircraft completed in June 1944 against a requirement for three and only 28 produced by the end of the year against an order for 162. From January to May 1945 only 68 were produced against requirements for 428, so when production ceased that month only 96 Kyokkô had been manufactured, the majority of which were converted back to bomber configuration as the Type 16. The USSBS (United States Strategic Bombing Survey) report on Kawanishi production referred to the type as the 'Frances fighter' but it is unknown exactly how many were accepted into IJN service as Kyokkô and how many were re-purposed as the Type 16 Ginga.  

Comparison of Type 16 (left) and Type 11 (right) cowlings of Revell Ginga kit 

(from Model Art # 68, November 1972)

Kyokkô was designed to have a fairly heavy armament of twin oblique 20mm cannon and/or the Type 5 30mm fixed machine gun also firing obliquely. But uncertainty lies around the P1Y2-S being re-purposed to the Ginga bomber configuration as the Type 16. The only known 302 Ku Kyokkô photographed with the 30mm oblique armament is YoD-181 (page 52-53 of the FAOW Special Edition on Ginga).  There is a fixed panel or patch in front of the 30mm weapon perhaps from the twin 20mm oblique armament being removed or replaced. 

The Type 5 30mm fixed machine gun originated from an Auguat 1942 17-shi requirement for a special, large calibre machine gun with the design of the 17-shi otsu weapon. It was formally accepted as the Type 5 30mm fixed machine gun Model 1 in April 1945, an original Japanese design considered 'efficient' by the USSBS. It fired a 30 x 122 cartridge from a disintegrating belt at the rate of 500 rounds per minute, achieving a muzzle velocity of 760 metres per second. There is little doubt that this weapon was intended for Kyokkô as official drawings exist from the IJN's 1st Technical Arsenal (formerly Aeronautical Technical Arsenal) showing the method of installation between fuselage stations 17-19 and at a fairly low angle of 20°.

The 20mm oblique weapons used were the Navy Type 99 Mk 2 20mm fixed machine gun of which there were five models utilising various belt or drum feeds. The model used in converted Ginga and in Kyokkô are uncertain. The D4Y2 'Judy' was fitted with an oblique Model 4 with Kawamura belt feed, whilst Gekkô was fitted with the Model 3 with 100-round drum magazines.  

CPO Hideo Hayashi tested Kyokkô at the flight test centre of the Technical Arsenal and then with 302 Ku. In his opinion Kyokkô was inferior to Ginga in terms of manoeuvrability and subsequently under Lt Hamano the 2nd Hikotai used the Type 11 Ginga converted to night fighter configuration and referred to in the unit as the Type 21. The so-called Type 21 night fighter retained the bomb bay for intruder missions and for the dropping of air-to-air ordinance. 

Hasegawa have released a number of Kyokkô and Type 21 night fighter kits beginning in 1996 with CP2 (51202) with options for the overall yellow prototype, depicted on the box art (shown above), and YoD-196 of 2nd Hikotai, 302 Ku with twin oblique 20mm armament. This kit was re-issued as a Limited Edition in 2016 with the same two options but with new box art (shown below).

Also in 1996 Hasegawa released their standard Ginga kit in Type 21 night fighter guise as 'Kugisho P1Y1-S Ginga (Frances) Type 11 'Night Fighter 302nd Naval Flying Group' CP 101 ((51261) with box art as shown above. This kit had options for two 302 Ku night fighters both armed with twin oblique 20mm fixed machine guns; YoD-176 and YoD-191, the latter with a DF loop. As depicted on the box art YoD-176 has four fuselage kill markings, two outlined cherry blossoms signifying claims for enemy aircraft destroyed and two without outline signifying claims for enemy aircraft damaged.

Another 'Type 21' kit was issued in 2010 as # 00998 'Kugisho P1Y1-S Ginga (Frances) Type 11 Night Fighter' featuring options for three 302 Ku aircraft; YoD-161 fitted with twin oblique 20mm cannon and radar equipment as depicted on the box art above (and shown on page 54 of the FAOW Special), YoD-158 and YoD-163 both with twin oblique 20mm armament. The Yagi-type radar antennae for YoD-181 was provided as a photo-etch sheet. In the photo of that aircraft the top of the fuselage is obscured by the wing so any oblique armament is presumed rather than confirmed. 

Kit no. CP 115 (51275) 'Kugisho P1Y2 Ginga (Frances) Type 16 w/30mm Cannon' was released in the 1990s but further details are unknown at time of writing. The box art, shown above, depicts YoD-181, the  Kyokkô or Type 16 with single oblique 30mm armament.   

In 2017 kit no. 02230 was issued as a Limited Edition 'Kugisho P1Y1-S/P1Y2 Ginga (Frances) Type 11/Type 16 Night Fighter' with box art as shown in this article's heading image, Kyokkô YoD-181 with the Type 16 engine cowlings and single 30mm oblique armament. provided in the kit as a white metal part.  Options include YoD-181, YoD-161 with radar, again with Yagi-type antennae provided on a photo-etch sheet, and YoD-176 with the cherry blossom kill markings. The latter two aircraft so called  'Type 21' (converted Type 11 Ginga) with twin, oblique 20mm armament. This kit includes both Type 11 and Type 16 engine and cowling parts. Watch out for the tail wheel configuration if building one of those. 

Finally in 2022 kit no. 02413, another Limited Edition, was released as 'Kugisho P1Y1-S Ginga (Frances) Type 11 Night Fighter 302nd Flying Group' with box art as shown above. Options include YoD-153 as depicted on the box art and YoD-191 with a fuselage DF loop, both converted Type 21 night fighters with twin, oblique 20mm armament.

Radar and Hakkô

Other than the photo of YoD-161 there appear to be no other photos of night fighting P1Y with radar equipment. The equipment on YoD-161 does not have the antennae configuration of the FD-2 radar installed on the Nakajima J1N1-S 'Gekko' (Irving) and appears to be of the H-6 type more usually associated with ASV, as asserted in Model Art 595 on Japanese night fighters, than AI search radar. Without confirmation of the armament it is difficult to determine whether the equipment was an experimental night fighter AI radar installation. However, author Bill Gunston in 'Night Fighters - A development and combat history' (Patrick Stephens Ltd., 1976) asserts that 'Radar was fitted (in the P1Y1-S Ed.) related to the J1N1-S (e.g. the FD-2 Ed.) but derived from the widely used ASV installation with a completely different dipole aerial array, there being a single large Yagi array in the nose and an axial trio of dipoles along each side of the rear fuselage.' The book is without source notes so Mr Gunston's proposition might have been based solely on that photograph of YoD-161. Extraordinarily in a book which contains photos and schematics of most night fighting aircraft and although Japanese night fighters are described, there are no photos or schematics for any of them!

Model Art # 595 also has an interesting article by Mr. 神野 speculating on the identity of the night fighting aircraft 'Hakkô' (Corona of the Sun) reported as possibly the provisional name for Kyokkô, but Hakkô and Kyokkô have been reported to have differed in the following points;  

Hakkô - a modification of Ginga (with Homare engine) with installation of oblique firing 20mm machine guns

Kyokkô - Ginga upgraded with Kasei type 25 engines and with installation of oblique firing 20mm machine guns

The first Japanese document to reveal the Hakkô  name was the October 1943  'Plan for the production of aircraft in 1944'. This document set out the intention to produce 180 Hakkô armed with six 20mm cannon, positions unspecified. The second Japanese document to reveal the Hakkô name is a report from the Navy Aircraft Division Headquarters (海軍航空本部部報) of January 1944. In this report Hakkô  was required to be equipped with one 30mm and four 20mm guns. But after this report the Hakkô  name does not reappear in any IJN documents. Then in March 1944 the Kyokkô name suddenly appears with the same proposed armament. In July 1944 Kyokkô armament is re-proposed as four 20mm guns (presumably similar to Gekkô with two dorsal oblique and two ventral oblique?) The author of the article asked Mr. Takehiko Shibata of the National Institute of Defense Studies Library what the reason might be for the disappearance of Hakkô and appearance of Kyokkô, and Mr Shibata suggested the following;

'When the national budget was approved by the Diet in 1944, the Imperial Navy had concerns about the availability of the Homare engine (produced by Nakajima), and decided to produce a night fighter version of Ginga with Kasei engine (produced by Mitsubishi). This night fighter was initially named as Hakkô (白光), but 白 is quite similar in shape to 月 when hand written. (The Nakajima J1N1 Gekkō was named 月光 - 'Moonlight' Ed.) Also 白光 (Hakkô) has the same pronunciation as 発光 (ray of light), so quite confusing. Probably the Hakkô name was used for application of the budget, but soon afterwards the IJN stopped using confusing Hakkô and changed it to less confusing Kyokkô.'

Schematics accompanying the article show a P1Y2-S equipped with the 玉-3 (Gyoku-3) radar equipment and armed with one 30mm and two 20mm oblique dorsal machine guns. 玉-3 had an annular-type antenna of two rings and a central circular plate contained within the nose of the aircraft. The article contains photos of the equipment and a test-bed instalment speculated for Kyokkô. An accompanying model is shown as Yo-201 (red) with a solid nose and single 30mm oblique machine gun. The scope views of this radar are also illustrated. According to post-war Allied intelligence documents 10 sets were constructed and a few installed. A solid nosed Kyokkô night fighter equipped with 玉-3 radar would make an unusual and interesting model but the question of the armament configuration remains uncertain.

Model Art No.595 (2001)

Colour Schemes

The Hasegawa kits suggest upper surfaces of dark green - Gunze Mr Color 15 IJN Green (Nakajima) with silver (natural metal) under surfaces and cowlings variously dark green or Mr Color 125 Cowling Color (blue-black). Robert C Mikesh assessed the upper surface colour of the NASM Ginga in night fighter configuration (s/n 8923 manufactured June 1945) as comparable to Thorpe's N2 (Munsell 10 G 3/2) and measured it as close to Munsell 5 G 3/1, closer in appearance to D2, and confirming that the under surface was natural metal. He noted in particular the intensity of the red of the hinomaru on this aircraft. The question of D2 vs D1 probably warrants a blog article on its own but is explained further in the AoJ IJN Greens PDF, now updated with some additional data on this issue. 

With special thanks to Keishiro Nagao of Lifelike Decals for his kind assistance in the preparation of this blog post.

Image credit: All box art © Hasegawa Corp 1996-2022; Cowling comparison © 1972 Model Art magazine; Paint chips © 2023 Aviation of Japan

Message

To 'Phillip' who emailed me on 15 June enquiring about ordering a PDF. I did reply but my email was rejected as undeliverable by your email service provider. I contacted them about this problem but they informed me that I would need to send you an email requesting that you add my email address to your 'safe' addresses in order for my emails to get through to you (the flawed logic of that suggestion defeated them and they terminated the online 'chat') 

Hope that you see this to know that I did not ignore your email!