Stew Dapple Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 Here is my fourth completed kit of the year, the Airfix Nakajima B5N2 Kate representing E1-311 of Attack Unit 5 flying from the Imperial Japanese Navy carrier Shokaku on 7th December 1941: This is the second Airfix Kate I have built (the last was from the Dogfight Double boxing with the Grumman F4F Wildcat) and I had forgotten what a nicely engineered and beautifuly detailed kit it is. Construction took about two weeks as a sort of 'side-build' to the Mitsubushi Raiden I am currently building mainly because I wanted to test painting the national markings with Maketar masks. I added Eduard etched lap-straps to the seats and used their mask set for the canopy. I also used the leftover 250Kg bomb from my previous Kate build so the aircraft carries 2 x 250kg bombs rather than the 1 x 250kg and 3 x 60kg bombs advised by Airfix for the bomb load, as suggested by Nick Millman here. I replaced the kit pitot with some Albion Alloys brass tube and rod. The model was 'black-based' then painted overall in Colourcoats ACJ17 Nakajima Amber-Grey (Ameiro); the green mottling is ACJ03 IJN D2 Green Black (this may well not be the correct green, Airfix recommend Humbrol 116 US Dark Green) but the correct green is not documented; some Japanese sources say the mottling was green and brown but I'm not sure if conclusive evidence will ever be found now. My mottling may be too dense and too granular, I was only able to find one photograph of the original aircraft and it was a side view which didn't really give much away; also I free-handed it with my Badger 150 and I don't think I could have done it any better even if I had better reference material - as it happens I am quite pleased with the way it looks anyway. The national markings were sprayed (with mixed success) with ACJ20 Hinomaru Red, the white tailband masked and painted with Citadel acrylic Ulthuan Grey which is indistinguishable from white unless you put it next to white but has the benefit of not being brilliant white on your model. The model was then sprayed with Alclad matt varnish, the navigation lights painted in with Tamiya Clear Red and Clear Blue; the final touch was the R/T antenna wire which was added using Infini White Lycra thread (the 70 Denier one). Thanks for your attention if you made it this far Cheers, Stew 58 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CedB Posted March 25, 2018 Share Posted March 25, 2018 Another lovely build Stew - good job matey 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kapam Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 Fantastic! Taking on one of those mottled schemes is a huge challenge and you look to have pulled it off extremely well. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 ... Sorry I didn't see this until now. This is extraordinarily good, I really do like the colors on this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinChipmunkfan Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 Very impressive- not only the beautifully painted model but also getting four models finished this year already! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knight_Flyer Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 An excellent build. I've held off on the Kate as I wanted to do a mottled scheme - looks like I will need to use an airbrush as all of my hairy stick efforts doesn't give the desired effect. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reini78 Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 lovely camo job 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invidia Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 very nice looking build 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinnie Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 Nicely done, Stew. The paintwork is great. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zegeye Posted March 26, 2018 Share Posted March 26, 2018 Great job with the Kate. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookenbacher Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 That mottling is fantastic Stew, top notch free hand airbrush work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob85 Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 As ever top notch work stew, she looks a treat! Really like the paint work Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted March 31, 2018 Share Posted March 31, 2018 Great job, Stew! The paintwork on the camouflage is superb, I can imagine that took a bit of time. Now you have me thinking I should build a Japanese subject next. Hmm... Cheers, Bill 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Dapple Posted April 1, 2018 Author Share Posted April 1, 2018 Thanks very much gents @Navy Bird Bill, I should very much like to see that once your Anson is complete, there are some interesting and very elegant Japanese types that I think you would find interesting builds Cheers, Stew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurricane39 Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 Fantastic. Finish is top notch. My local hobby shop has had this kit on the shelf for a couple of months now along with the B5N1. Just may have to pick this one up. Would be happy with half the result of yours. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arbrownra Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 Superb camouflage work. Looks a beaut! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nigel Heath Posted April 1, 2018 Share Posted April 1, 2018 That's a stunning build, the camouflage is quite lovely, superb job. Fourth kit of the year - that's most impressive work. The neatness of the canopy framing is also very noteworthy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted April 2, 2018 Share Posted April 2, 2018 Very nice indeed Stew,....I don`t normally go for Japanese subject but I can feel this one drawing me in! Cheers Tony 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Laidlaw Posted April 2, 2018 Share Posted April 2, 2018 That is gorgeous! And done in two weeks? Takes me that long to get parts off runners! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch K Posted April 2, 2018 Share Posted April 2, 2018 Super! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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