HASEGAWA 1/72 SHIN MEIWA PS-1 anti-submarine flying boat

[adey m]

 

I have been fascinated by this modern flying boat since first seeing one in the 1968 Observers Book Of Aircraft which my dad bought me with a school gift token.

 

I do not know when the Hasegawa model of this flying boat first appeared but it does appear in a 1975 Hasegawa catalogue that I have. Also the kit contains a choice of parts to build either the PS-1 ( Patrol Seaplane )  flying boat or the SS-2 ( Search Seaplane ) amphibian and both of these represent the prototypes so I would date the kit as early 1970s.

 

I managed to find a second-hand 1970s original issue in a faded box at a IPMS Nationals show in the 1990s. And as lady luck was smiling on me that day I then found somebody selling second-hand copies of the Japanese aviation publication KOKU-FAN featuring superb colour photographs of these flying boats in operational service. I now had no excuse not to start this model which I built in 1998.

 

The first prototype PS-1 numbered 5801 flew in 1967. There were two prototypes 01 and 02 and then two pre-series aircraft 03 and 04. These flying boats had an amazing STOL performance with blown flying surfaces and were able to operate in quite high wave conditions. They were probably the most water-capable flying boats ever built. The first full-series aircraft 5805 or 05 flew in 1972.  A total of 23 PS-1 maritime patrol and anti-submarine flying boats were built between 1967 and 1979. These were numbered 5801 to 5823 or 01 to 23. They served with the Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force until 1989 when they were replaced by Lockheed P-3 Orions.  Out of the 23 built 6 were lost in accidents with a total  loss of 35 aircrew which is a reflection of the difficult conditions that maritime patrol flying boats have to operate in.

 

An amphibious version the SS-2 was built for the search and rescue role. This aircraft has a strengthened retractable undercarriage which enables it to operate from runways and to just land on water when required. Ten US-1 and US-1A (SS 2A) aircraft were built.

 

I decided I was going to build an operational PS-1 and for that I would need to make a number of changes and additions to the kit.

 

 

1970s era Hasegawa instructions.

 

 

Not that many parts considering the size of the model which I think is great in these over complicated times......but what you get is beautifully moulded and shaped correctly.

 

 

If you built this model straight from the box it would be quite a quick build.

 

 

This is how the PS-1 was presented in the 1975 Hasegawa catalogue. It represents prototype number 02 and is missing quite a lot of things that the operational aircraft had, most obviously the lack of bow spray pressure suppression slots. Also note the narrow square-shaped cockpit side window of the prototype aircraft.

 

 

This is a PS-1 nicely built as Hasegawa intended straight from the box which I saw at Scale Model World. But there is such a lot missing for an operational aircraft.

 

 

This is a drawing I prepared during construction........looks like I had a lot of work to do....................

 

 

 

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Edited June 18, 2020 by adey m

[huvut76g7gbbui7]

I'll sit back and watch if you don't mind.

This and the Marlin are two aircraft I would love to see in the flesh

Richard

[Brandy]

This should be an interesting build, but you should ask a moderator to move it to the work in progress section!

 

Ian

[adey m]

16 hours ago, limeypilot said:

This should be an interesting build, but you should ask a moderator to move it to the work in progress section!

 

Ian

 

Hi Ian, I actually built this model a number of years ago and at the time I only took about six photos of the build with a 35mm camera. They are not up to today's digital quality but I will share these with you and then the majority of pictures will be of the completed model taken recently and of the full size aircraft as a comparison.

 

Hope I haven't disapointed you

 

Adrian

Edited January 27, 2017 by adey m

[polo1112]

Can't wait to see these pictures.

They must be impressive !

[adey m]

 

A Hasegawa model of the first prototype Shin Meiwa SS-2 rescue amphibian with a nice hangar diorama which I found on the internet and which looks to be built straight from the box as Mr Hasegawa intended with no additional detailing.

 

 

A later example of the Hasegawa PS-1 boxing

Edited January 27, 2017 by adey m

[71chally]

Nice build there Aidey.  Treated myself to a one about 30years ago and built it as a US-1

 

21 hours ago, Scimitar said:

This and the Marlin are two aircraft I would love to see in the flesh

I always hoped that they would fly one across to Fairford, sadly not yet!

[adey m]

Okay guys, so it is January 1998 and we are here in my model room, and the ugly brown carpet monster looks hungry..........................

 

 

 

Fuselage construction is underway. Plenty of hard reference material to hand ( we had no internet then...........) My tray of spare bits up on the left and a lot of parts which I will not be using in the model box at bottom which appear to be the wheels and sponsons of the amphibious version.

 

 

Completed cockpit and forward compartment in place. Working retractable MAD probe in rear fuselage with bits of rubber to provide friction.  Plastic card strips to assist fuselage alignment and strength. And you will see that I have blanked off any open holes in the fuselage sides........you will probably all have a good laugh now..........but in a moment of madness at the time I decided to try and build my model so that it would be watertight and be able to float....................no............. stop tittering...............

 

 

Okay and here we have an attempt to divide the hull into .....watertight.......compartments below the waterline.................stop it.......

 

 

Okay and here I have taped the fuselage together and clipped the wheels on so that I can start to determine how much weight it will need in the nose to stop it turning into a Marlin...............

 

TO BE CONTINUED...............

Edited June 18, 2020 by adey m

[Brandy]

No disappointment  at all, it's  a fantastic build no matter where it's  posted!

 

Ian

[adey m]

10 hours ago, 71chally said:

Nice build there Aidey.  Treated myself to a one about 30years ago and built it as a US-1

 

I always hoped that they would fly one across to Fairford, sadly not yet!

 

You never know chally as they have built a new up to date version.........and they did send a couple of Kawasaki P-1s over in 2015.

 

Would love to see the STOL performance.....even better if it was on water............

 

cheers,  Adrian

[Radleigh]

Lovely, I have one to build and I will build it in the next year or two, a lovely aircraft. That drawing will come in handy too, I never knew so much was missing. Looking forward to seeing more Adey.

[adey m]

 

The first thing to note in this photo is that I appear to have had a decluttering session......the shelf which created a shadow on my modelling table has gone and the table now has a more open and airy feel to it.............now to carry on with the PS-1.  I have applied the light grey to the fuselage from a Humbrol spray can.

The areas of the aircraft that need to remain light grey have been masked in preparation for the White paint, again from a Humbrol spray can.

The model is supported by a temporary wooden spar supported on two blocks of timber.

Also visible is the paper card trestle which I made to support the model during construction and then later when being stored and transported in its box.

A jar of Humbrol Maskol paint-on masking fluid is just visible, I used this to mask the transparencies.

 

 

The fuselage and wings were painted seperately before they were finally joined up. This is made easy on this aircraft by the wing joint being the paint demarcation line on the real aircraft. Final detailing and painting is being carried out with the model on its trestle, this being made easier by not having propellers fitted yet.

As a tin of Humbrol red is in use I must have been overpainting the grey shadows on the fuselage Hinomarus.

I had decided at this stage to complete my model as the second prototype aircraft 02 after it had been brought up to a full-series aircraft specification.

 

 

And finally completed, 5802 in full operational configuration. I scratchbuilt the stairs from plastic card.

 

 

And here she is with the beaching wheels fully retracted and the MAD probe extended.  She now awaits water trials..................................

 

 

And yep, she did float, a bit lower in the water than I wanted but she definately floats..........................stop laughing at the back.................................

 

Edited June 18, 2020 by adey m

[adey m]

 

 

 

This is how I displayed my PS-1 at the IPMS Nationals in 1998. The base was inspired by the photograph above of PS-1s taxiing out of their parking slots on the apron at Iwakuni.

 

Edited June 18, 2020 by adey m

[adey m]

 

I decided later to renumber my PS-1 from 02 to 07. The reason for this was that on 26 April 1983 aircraft 02 crashed during an air display and 9 crew were killed.

I did not want my model to portray a tragic aircraft so I renumbered it 07. And here she is a few years ago.

 

 

 

This view illustrates all the intakes, doors, vents and exhausts associated with the Auxiliary Power Unit that provided electrical power on the ground and sea and the Boundary Layer System air turbine which blew high pressure air over all the flying surfaces to create the amazing STOL performance. All these had to be added to the basic kit.

Edited January 29, 2017 by adey m

[adey m]

 

 

edit

Edited June 18, 2020 by adey m

[adey m]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CLOSE UP DETAILS COMING SOON............................

 

 

Edited January 29, 2017 by adey m

[adey m]

 

 

 

Close up of the retractable beaching wheels. Brass rod pins attach the strut to the hull, fuselage, boaty-shaped bit.

 

 

Beaching wheel in retracted position.

 

 

Detachable nose wheel bay made from plastic card which slots into the hull.

 

The removeable nose wheel bay in place.

 

 

This view shows a number of details. Towing and mooring cables made from fuse wire. Yaw and pitch vanes on the mast in front of the cockpit and the cockpit windscreen wipers and fluid sprayer. The spray pressure outlet slots were formed by making one long groove and then using PVA glue to seperate the slots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The black square under the right wing root is the Wave Height Meter.

 

 

This view shows the torpedo weapons pod under the wing, the observer's blister window and scratchbuilt access ladder. If the engines look familiar to you it is because they are the same ones fitted to Lockheed Hercules. And I have just remembered the propwash deflectors on the inboard engines.

Edited June 18, 2020 by adey m

[Mountain goat]

Hi Adey,

 

Now this is rather superb..! I like the ShinMaywa flying boats a lot as it is but your depiction of them is stunning. 

 

Nice idea including photos showing the evolution of the model. It looks like you've taken good care of it all those years. No yellowing at all. The close-up pics in the last post are my favourite, almost fooled me into thinking it was the real thing.

 

Jay

[kev67]

Very nice in deed, if I recollect there was one built at the Nationals in 2015, I think some modellers should bring their old models to shows, modellers like me would love to see all this type of stuff

[Booty003]

What a great post, full of information, lovely pictures and history; I guess that the model isn't too shabby either...!!!

 

Love seeing your work Adey!

 

Phil

[adey m]

 

 

This view shows a door that opened under the hull, I am not sure what it is as I do not understand Japanese but it was only fitted to the PS-1 and not the US-1.

The PS-1 had a dipping sonar which it would deploy when on the sea, maybe this door covered the sonar...........

Also visible is the exhaust for the Auxiliary Power Unit turbine.

 

 

This view shows the Boundary Layer System Turbine Exhaust and the huge blown flaps which gave the aircraft its amazing STOL performance.

 

 

Number 10 with everything hanging and blowing...............

 

 

 

This view shows the retracted MAD boom and the tail navigation lights.

 

 

The MAD boom fully extended.

 

 

This view shows the three rocket pylons under the wing which need to be added to the model to make it operational.

 

 

And here we see number 19 firing a rocket from these pylons.

 

 

In this view we see the various aerials and intakes which need to be added to the basic model. Note the added propwash deflectors on the inboard engines. Later aircraft had them added to the outer engines. The tactical compartment portholes are also visible.

 

 

Boarding stairs scratchbuilt from plastic card and brass rod.

 

 

Scratchbuilt boarding ladder.

 

 

Scratchbuilt fire extinguisher ........and that very busy chap again............

 

 

Number 09 approaches the slipway at Iwakuni with its beaching wheels down.

 

[adey m]

 

 

 

 

[adey m]

 

 

The crew of a PS-1..............is the AO having a cup of tea ?

 

 

 

Is there anybody reading this who can translate the Japanese caption for the door under the hull  please................

[vh-bob]

What a great effort on one of my favourites. Well done . I see you have added the baffles or fences to the inboard engines, film on Youtube shows that they are now fitted to all four nacelles and the airframes in use for rescue duties (call sign "Ivory") are the true amphibious version with the bulbous wheel fairings although they seem to be different to those supplied by Hasegawa. I had a go at building this aircraft  a while back but it fell at the  last hurdle when the decals disintegrated on contact with water. The loss of the Hinomaru I can cope with but the Japanese script defeated my efforts to piece it together. She is now awaiting suitable decals.

 

  My cap is off, Great Work,   Trev.

[adey m]

6 hours ago, vh-bob said:

What a great effort on one of my favourites. Well done . I see you have added the baffles or fences to the inboard engines, film on Youtube shows that they are now fitted to all four nacelles and the airframes in use for rescue duties (call sign "Ivory") are the true amphibious version with the bulbous wheel fairings although they seem to be different to those supplied by Hasegawa. I had a go at building this aircraft  a while back but it fell at the  last hurdle when the decals disintegrated on contact with water. The loss of the Hinomaru I can cope with but the Japanese script defeated my efforts to piece it together. She is now awaiting suitable decals.

 

  My cap is off, Great Work,   Trev.

 

Hi Trevor, thanks for your comments. I have just been watching a fantastic quality colour video on YouTube of a US-1 Ivory being prepared for flight, the crew boarding and the aircraft taxiing out and taking off in a very short length of runway. I could be tempted to build one of those too.

 

If old decals look dodgy or if one has already broken up then a tried and tested method of keeping the others together is to paint the decals with two coats of gloss varnish. This holds them together. Then take care cutting them out before putting them in the water. It used to work a treat with the dodgy NOVO decals.

 

Adrian