fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 The Mitsubishi L3M1 named "Nippon" (Japan) was the protagonist of a 50.000 kilometers "good will" long flight around the world in 1939, backed by the newspaper Mainichi Shimbun, and stopping at a large number of important cities -among them Buenos Aires, the city where I was born, and Los Angeles, the city were I now live-. A comprehensive article -in Spanish- by Eloy Martín on the Presidente Rivadavia airport with a mention of the Japanese landing in Argentine (pages 48 and 49) is here: https://www.histarmar.com.ar/AVIACION/EloyMartin/Aeropuerto-Presidente-Rivadavia.pdf That document, good as it is, has nonetheless a couple of small inaccuracies, for a more reliable account please go here: http://arawasi-wildeagles.blogspot.com/2015/12/mitsubishi-g3m-nippon-go.html?m=1 The lines of this plane are simple but graceful, and I decided to build one in the registration J-BACI, one of the many civil machines made from conversions of the Mitsubishi G3M. For the step-by-step building article please go here, to see what was changed, added and corrected: Clips of the plane and its voyage are here, courtesy of Getty Images. Many details can be observed that otherwise will go amiss, showing how important research is, in order to obtain a model with a modicum of accuracy: https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/crew-posing-next-to-nippon-a-converted-mitsubishi-g3m2-news-footage/540549862 https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/pilot-of-converted-bomber-nippon-sumitoshi-nakao-poses-news-footage/540550058?adppopup=true https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/video/crowd-of-men-women-and-children-surround-plane-follow-it-news-footage/540550256?adppopup=true https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/video/men-in-suits-push-airplane-nippon-a-converted-mitsubishi-news-footage/540549928 I have build and presented here at BM a few Japanese (or with a Japanese connection) planes: Unfortunately, due to lack of reliable information regarding the interior of this specific machine, I left it alone, and did not open, as I tend to do in models, doors and hatches and the like. In this case I don't think it detracts from the rendition, which shows the pleasant lines of the design. Hasegawa's G3M it's not a good choice to render a civil version. Certainly not a big improvement over the LS/ARII kit, -but at least it doesn't have the golf-size dimples in guise of rivets-. Convert one as it is, presents the serious problems of making many modifications and solving its various shortcomings, hence my choice of the ARII kit, much more affordable and readily available. Strangely enough, in many ways, ARII's kit has a much more intelligent design, pity those golf ball-size dimples. 50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baldy Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Beautiful Mitsubishi Moa - lovely build quality and finish. As you say - it's a shame about the "golf ball-size dimples"! I wonder if it would have been possible to fill them and smooth out the surface? - I know - life is too short. Cheers Malcolm 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted September 3, 2019 Author Share Posted September 3, 2019 1 minute ago, Baldy said: Beautiful Mitsubishi Moa - lovely build quality and finish. As you say - it's a shame about the "golf ball-size dimples"! I wonder if it would have been possible to fill them and smooth out the surface? - I know - life is too short. Cheers Malcolm Hi Malcolm. I actually sanded the surface, but soon after starting, I discovered that the panel lines were much more shallow than the dimples, and I was erasing them (as explained in the WiP). So I stopped and engraved back the lines that were lost, and decided to call it quits. If I would have sanded down everything (which of course would take days of boring activity) new panel lines would be needed. I opted to spend time in other areas of the build, replacing and improving things bit, considering also (regarding effort invested) that this is no princess anyway. With all the caveats, I am pleased with it nevertheless, and it is still a better rendition than an out the box one. Live is short, Malcolm, and the stash is BIG 😉 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobo Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 (edited) Fantastic result Moa. Thank you for the extensive history and build report. The natural metal looks excellent. That kit goes back to 1966! Edited September 3, 2019 by Hobo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronzemeister Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Very pleasing build on this one Moa. In mid/late '80s at Brookhurst I sold a ton of LS kits, but have rarely seen any built other than the 1/144 jet fighters. I think most went straight to the kit horde, so it's really great to see one built (especially so nicely). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navy Bird Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Nice work on the old gal. I think I have this LS kit in my stash, but I'll bet it's buried. For their age, they're actually quite nice kits. Cheers, Bill 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72modeler Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Beautiful model, Moa, and the work you put in to make corrections and refine the panel lines/rivet dimples (more like divots!) really paid off. A beautiful, graceful-appearing aircraft and model. In some of the photos, your build looks like the real airplane! Well done! Mike 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted September 3, 2019 Author Share Posted September 3, 2019 1 hour ago, Hobo said: Fantastic result Moa. Thank you for the extensive history and build report. The natural metal looks excellent. That kit goes back to 1966! Thanks Hobo WOW!! 1966? I wasn't aware it was that old! Thanks for the date. It makes me respect it more. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted September 3, 2019 Author Share Posted September 3, 2019 1 hour ago, Bronzemeister said: Very pleasing build on this one Moa. In mid/late '80s at Brookhurst I sold a ton of LS kits, but have rarely seen any built other than the 1/144 jet fighters. I think most went straight to the kit horde, so it's really great to see one built (especially so nicely). Thanks Bronzemeister. Yes, one wonders, where are those millions of kits that have crowded closets and attics for decades and decades? I guess they will provide the oil for the next civilization in a million years. 1 hour ago, Navy Bird said: Nice work on the old gal. I think I have this LS kit in my stash, but I'll bet it's buried. For their age, they're actually quite nice kits. Cheers, Bill I agree Bill, and their original date was just posted, 1966! respect indeed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted September 3, 2019 Author Share Posted September 3, 2019 23 minutes ago, 72modeler said: Beautiful model, Moa, and the work you put in to make corrections and refine the panel lines/rivet dimples (more like divots!) really paid off. A beautiful, graceful-appearing aircraft and model. In some of the photos, your build looks like the real airplane! Well done! Mike Thanks Mike! It looks better than I thought I would. I guess those few details helped. Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeaton01 Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 1 hour ago, Moa said: Live is short, Malcolm, and the stash is BIG 😉 Exactimundo! Lovely, C! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted September 3, 2019 Author Share Posted September 3, 2019 1 minute ago, jeaton01 said: Lovely, C! Thanks, J.! We are also one more step closer to complete the Lumbering Giant now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Poultney Posted September 3, 2019 Share Posted September 3, 2019 Very nice indeed! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billn53 Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 Another impressive Moa build! The metallic looks very convincing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted September 4, 2019 Author Share Posted September 4, 2019 The "aerial" shots: 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted September 4, 2019 Author Share Posted September 4, 2019 1 hour ago, Adam Poultney said: Very nice indeed! 42 minutes ago, billn53 said: Another impressive Moa build! The metallic looks very convincing. You guys are very kind, thanks! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bronzemeister Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 Love the dorsal stripe! Gives it a bit of hidden flair. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted September 4, 2019 Author Share Posted September 4, 2019 11 hours ago, Bronzemeister said: Love the dorsal stripe! Gives it a bit of hidden flair. Thanks, its true, the ventral stripe puts a note of color. cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invidia Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 Fantastic looking model. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomthounaojam Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 Immaculate Sir, lots of love and dedications I see, thanks for sharing Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toryu Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 Thanks for a bigger model this time Moa! Looks absolutely great - very elegant in its silver livery. I wouldn't mind the oversized rivets. I sometimes wonder about the real size of sunk rivets even in 1/48, but never made an effort to measure them. I think a model looks more realistic with (large) rivets than with a flush skin, and I hate riveting a whole kit... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted September 4, 2019 Author Share Posted September 4, 2019 10 hours ago, invidia said: Fantastic looking model. 10 hours ago, tomthounaojam said: Immaculate Sir, lots of love and dedications I see, thanks for sharing Cheers 7 hours ago, Toryu said: Thanks for a bigger model this time Moa! Looks absolutely great - very elegant in its silver livery. I wouldn't mind the oversized rivets. I sometimes wonder about the real size of sunk rivets even in 1/48, but never made an effort to measure them. I think a model looks more realistic with (large) rivets than with a flush skin, and I hate riveting a whole kit... Thanks kindly to you all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted September 9, 2019 Author Share Posted September 9, 2019 Interested as I am in Golden Age civil Japanese aviation, I just acquired this book, that I find both, useful and charming. It has a number of great photos (the "useful", practical part) and a large amount of memorabilia images, like ads, objects, posters and similar, that makes it interesting and entertaining, conveying the "flavor" of the era.. The book is in Japanese, but the captions are also in English (phew!). In my humble opinion it makes for an inspiring reading, if you are so inclined. Thought I would share it for fellow modelers with similar tastes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Learstang Posted September 9, 2019 Share Posted September 9, 2019 Beautiful model, again, Claudio! Best Regards, Jason 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted September 9, 2019 Author Share Posted September 9, 2019 11 minutes ago, Learstang said: Beautiful model, again, Claudio! Best Regards, Jason Thank you, Jason! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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