Yokosuka AB1Y Tsuru

[Librarian]

Conceived by Mitsubishi, design work was passed to Yokosuka. The Navy, worried about the proliferation of aircraft types (with consequent crew members, parts etc) had asked if a new type of aircraft could be produced...a powerful heavy single-crew fighter capable of delivering bombs and torpedoes whilst under light fighter escort, but nimble enough to fight their way back to base. Yokosuka succeeded with their AB1Y, entering service in 1937. Seen here with a practice Type 93 torpedo and experimental extendable tailwheel/hook under consideration for the proposed AB2Y ( ) :

[kerick]

Fearsome spats! She's a beauty!

[Tophe]

Surprising!
Is this all scratch? or did you use kits as basis?

[sandiego89]

Excellent.

As for the recipe, I spy some JU-87 Stuka in the ingredients, with a dash on Italian dressing perhaps for the cowling and fuselage tops.....?? 

-Dave

[KiwiZac]

Got me fooled! I see Stuka too, but otherwise I'm lost. Wow!

[Librarian]

The fuselage is HS123 intact, including a sanded down rear cowling. I sanded a concave into the vertical stabiliser to make it more Mitsubishi. The front of the cowling is from an I-16 with the louvres cut out and then sanded smooth.

The spats are half Stuka and half einzweidrei. A lot of fun really .

[stevehed]

Lovely job, very inventive.

Steve

[strobez]

Wow. She's a beauty.  I agree that the spats really sell it.... adds real class and character. I would've said Italian for the cowling as well... looks like a Macchi M.C.200.

Nice nice work!

[Old Wombat]

Great job, mate!

[Dizzyfugu]

Nice one! I am just not certain about the dice, though...

[zenrat]

Lovely.

[Librarian]

Nice one! I am just not certain about the dice, though...

...I agonised over them but wanted to put an unofficial nod to "Zatoichi"...very popular form of gambling in Japan. The problem was that very few Japanese aircraft carried personal markings...they did occur, but rarely.

[comrade harps]

Wonderful 

[DogfighterZen]

Great work, the paint scheme looks very good!

[NARSES2]

Terrific, she does look Japanese