PLATZ T-34 Mentor JASDF Trainer Aircraft - PLATZ (PF-21) 1:144 scale

[bootneck]

T-34 Mentor JASDF Trainer Aircraft

 

PLATZ 1:144

 

The years following the end of WW2 were very unstable in the Far East, especially in Korea, and Japan needed to rebuild her forces for reasons of national defence. The need to re-establish a military force was becoming paramount and therefore the Japanese government authorised the formation of the Japanese Defense Force. This was later split into Army (JGSDF), Air (JASDF) and Maritime forces (JMSDF) with the USA providing T-6 Texan trainer aircraft in order for the Japanese forces to train new aircrew ready for defence.

Japan needed to re-establish her industries as these had been lost when they were disbanded in 1945; however new companies were emerging, with some using elements of the original infrastructure that still remained. One such company was Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd (FHI) and they undertook a programme which would give them more autonomy in the development of aircraft, rather than relying solely on the USA whose attentions had been severely distracted by the Korean War and now with the emergence of a major conflict in Indo-China/Vietnam. FHI obtained licence to construct Beechcraft T-34A Mentor trainer aircraft and work started at their factory in Utsunomiya City, Japan in 1962.

The T-34 Mentor was a two seat, piston-engined trainer aircraft designed and produced by Beechcraft. It was a development of a civilian trainer called the Beechcraft Bonanza. A total of 162 licence built T-34A's were built by FHI; 121 for the Japanese Air Self Defense Force (航空自衛隊, Kōkū Jieitai or JASDF) and 37 for the Philippines. FHI further developed the T-34 into a four-seat version, designated the LM-1 Nikko which was operational from 1962, and a turbo-prop two-seat version designated the T-3 in 1974.

The Kits

This is another welcome addition in the trainer aircraft series from Platz. As with their previous kit, the T-6 Texan, there are two kits in this box. Each kit contains a two part fuselage, a single piece main wing, tailplanes, propeller and undercarriage components etc. The cockpit area is open and clear for the fitting of a small deck containing two seats that is also included in the kit. There are two instrument panels for the cockpit which gives a bit more detail in this tiny little area.

The propeller has a stub fit which passes through the separate front cowling unit and is to be glued to a backing piece behind. This will allow for the two bladed prop to be moved/rotated to a position as desired by the modeller.
 

Panel lines on this kit are recessed and rather fine and they appear to be quite good representations, rather than some kits that have heavy channels as panel lines. The main undercarriage can be assembled raised or lowered with separate parts for each configuration.
 

Two A4 size portrait sheets provide a short history, in Japanese and English, plus an illustrated assembly process chart. This model is diminutive, only 2.2 inches (55mm) long, so there is not much explanation needed to assemble the kit.

 

The canopy is a single piece unit but strangely has four tabs, two each side (they look worse in the photo than by normal viewing) which will need a little
sanding and polishing back to recover the transparency of the glass. It's not much but worth mentioning.
 

The last but not least is the inclusion of stand for those who wish to depict the model in flight mode. There is also a small clear piece, part no. 14, which can be used as a support under the rear fuselage if you end up with a tail-sitter!

 

Decals

Quite a comprehensive decal sheet is included with the kits; with 12 pairs of hinomaru (red circle) national insignia; 2 sets of walkways and anti-glare patches, plus a whole host of side letters, serial numbers and colourful emblems etc.

With so many hinomaru and markings available it is helpful that Platz has provided some good placement guides. The first is an A3 size sheet, on the reverse of the instruction sheets, and shows placements for 8 different aircraft. Beware! the lettering on the sides of the fuselage are in Japanese script and not that easy to distinguish each force they belong to. I have provided some details here; they are from left top to bottom then right top to bottom:
109 - early Navy, the Maritime Guard (Kaijyo Keibitai 警備隊) in 1954
107 - Army, (Rikujō jiei-tai 陸上自衛 隊) JGSDF in 1954
109 - Navy, (Kaijō Jieitai 海上自衛隊) JMSDF in 1954
7109 - Army, (Rikujō jiei-tai 陸上自衛 隊) JGSDF in 1954
0323 - Air, (Kōkū Jieitai 航空自衛隊) JASDF in 1973
0297 - Air, (Kōkū Jieitai 航空自衛隊) JASDF in 1960
0390 - Air, (Kōkū Jieitai 航空自衛隊) JASDF in 1970
0781 - National Defense Academy (Bōei Daigakkō 防衛大学校) NDA in 2014
 

The second is a colour display that has been printed on the base of the box containing the kits. This shows two aircraft, 390 & 297 already shown in the sheet above, with each providing the colour demarcations. It is important whilst applying the decals to differentiate the japanese texts for all these models and hopefully the list I have provided above may help to avoid an embarrassing mix up of incorrect writings on the sides!

Conclusion

These little kits can be built as any of the three forces; Army, Air or Maritime and even a Defense Academy version. The look of the sprues suggest that these are from short-run moulds; which possibly means that there won't be a massive production of these and should be of interest to anyone who builds and collects trainer aircraft in 1:144 scale.

Review sample courtesy of

[Julien]

Nice, that canopy looks a bit strange tho.

[Paul J]

Looks cute. I still have one of the 1/72nd (the only one ever in this scale I think) by Hasegawa. Its built but is in limbo during retoration.