Kawasaki T-4 'Blue Impulse 2013' 1:72 Hasegawa - Limted Edition Double Kit Boxing

[Julien]

Kawasaki T-4 'Blue Impulse 2013'

1:72 Hasegawa - Limted Edition Double Kit Boxing

Even though most would associate Kawasaki with the Motorcycles they make, Kawasaki are one of those mega Japanese companies which seem to make everything! They make Ships, Trains, Cars, Motorcycles Engines; and importantly for us Aircraft.

The Kawasaki T-4 is know as an Intermediate Jet Trainer. It is used exclusively by the Japanese Air Self Defence Force. The JASDF realised in the late 1970s that they needed to replace their existing Jet Trainers (The Lockheed T-33 & Fuji T-1) with a single type. This aircraft was to be known as the MT-X programme. In 1981 Kawasaki was selected as the main contractor under this programme. It was planned to build 220 aircraft with an in-service date of 1988. Given the requirements of the programme for an advanced two seat trainer it is no shock that the final result looks very similar to other two seat trainers. In total 208 production aircraft were built along with 4 prototypes. Deliveries started in 1988 as per the plan! At least 5 of these aircraft were lost at Matsushima AB during the devastating Tsunami in 2011.

Blue Impulse
The most visible presence the T-4 makes is that it has been used since 1995 by the Blue Impulse, the Aerobatic Display Team of the Japanese Air Self Defence Force. The Blue Impulse Team were formed in 1960 Flying the then F-86 Sabre, in 1982 they transitioned to the Mitsubishi T-2; and then in 1995 to the Kawasaki T-4. The team currently fly seven T-4s, though only six display at one time. The team aircraft are painted blue and white following previous schemes. They are equipped with a smoke system which can generate white, red, blue and yellow smoke.

The Kit
The Hasegawa T-4 kit is the only current kit of the T-4 in 1:72 scale, the kit was tooled back in 1989 and has been steadily re-released ever since. This Double boxing has been released with markings for the 2013 Blue Impulse Aerobatic Display Team.

Construction starts with the cockpit, you get a basic cockpit tub into which two seats and instrument panels are added along with the control columns. Decals are provided for the instrument panels and side consoles. After adding the cockpit, and the forward gear well the fuselage can be closed up..

The wings (traditional top & bottom construction) can then be joined to the fuselage along with the tail planes and intakes, once this is done the exhausts can be added along with the main and nose landing gear.

Finally the modeller can decide to add external tanks if they wish. Blue Impulse aircraft have been seen displaying with and without these tanks.

Decals
The decals are the star of this re-boxing. Decals are provided to make any two of the Blue Impulse Team.

Conclusion
This is not a new tool by any means, but neither is it an ancient tooling that is crying out to be replaced. For this scale the detail included in the kit is sufficient for a great many of us, and for the T-4 it is the only game in town in this scale, with little likelihood of a new tooling, given that it is not widely used outside Japan. Overall I would recommend this kit.

Review sample courtesy of UK distributors for