Yes, another new build fo the 60's GB but this one should be super quick (famous last words).

Firstly, just look at the box art.
Kawanishi N1K2-J by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
A fine example of a Hasegawa box of the period.

This'll be built wheels up on an airfix stand.  Scheme, load out, and transfers from one of the many Academy A-37s I seem to have acquired.
My thinking is in this timeline the home islands were invaded by the Red Army from the North and the Allies from the South.  Japan became a divided country (along the lines of Berlin but on a national scale) with Russian, US, and Australian zones.
Both the Americans and the Soviets rebuilt the bombed weapons factories in their respective zones and began supplying various supported regimes around the world.

Quote from: zenrat on March 29, 2024, 03:11:59 AMMy thinking is in this timeline the home islands were invaded by the Red Army from the North and the Allies from the South.  Japan became a divided country (along the lines of Berlin but on a national scale) with Russian, US, and Australian zones.
Both the Americans and the Soviets rebuilt the bombed weapons factories in their respective zones and began supplying various supported regimes around the world.

A very interesting scenario. Will there be a 'Honshu Wall' perhaps?

Quote from: PR19_Kit on March 29, 2024, 04:45:45 AM

Quote from: zenrat on March 29, 2024, 03:11:59 AMMy thinking is in this timeline the home islands were invaded by the Red Army from the North and the Allies from the South.  Japan became a divided country (along the lines of Berlin but on a national scale) with Russian, US, and Australian zones.
Both the Americans and the Soviets rebuilt the bombed weapons factories in their respective zones and began supplying various supported regimes around the world.

A very interesting scenario. Will there be a 'Honshu Wall' perhaps?

I have a lot of WW2 Japanese aircraft to whiff.  This gives me a scenario for further builds.   

You're right about that box art. Hasegawa's was some of the best of the period.

Quote from: zenrat on March 29, 2024, 03:11:59 AMJapan became a divided country (along the lines of Berlin but on a national scale) with Russian, US, and Australian zones.

Interestingly from a historical point of view the planned Commonwealth Corps for the invasion of Honshu was to include 1 British, 1 Canadian and 1 Australian division with a second British division arriving on about D+40. This was to be a "Floating Reserve".

This has me interested Fred ,,,and im kinda thinking of adding another build to this GB too ...just got to nail down the choices .

I couldn't not do a Vietnam build for a 60's GB.

The choices have been narrowed down to 2 ..it's looking closer to 1 the more I think about this idea 💡 🤔 😄

Started looking at paints, weapons, and transfers.
Weapons - no problemo.   Took the weapons sprue from an Academy A-37.  It's the Black Eagles display team boxing so should I decide to build it OOB (unlikely) I won't need that sprue anyway.
Now, paint.  I did state above that I was going to do it in a South Vietnamese scheme from another Academy A-37.  However, upon closer inspection that scheme turned out to actually be Korean and while the yin/yangs and bars are attractive my plans called for Stars and Bars with the Red/Yellow bars.
Digging out a Hasegawa Skyraider produced a sheet of transfers of the correct design but they are all on the large side and wouldn't fit well on the Lightraider's smaller fuselage.
Paint scheme from the RVAF Spad will work but I would like the greens to be more accurate than what I have.

So, an order has been placed for paint and an aftermarket transfer set.  Transfers will also be usefull should I build a Skyshark and a Mauler in South Vietnamese service.

I did paint the interior and cockpit of this and also pondered an engine swap.  I offered up a Double Wasp cowling from a Monogram Tigercat but it was too wide to use without spreading the front of the fuselage (as I knew it would be having done research).
The standard nose of the Shinden-Kai has intakes at 12 and 6 o'clock and looking at it I decided it was too nice to swap out.  It gives the aircraft a distinctive look and is IMO better than just having a round hole.  I'll utilise Kit's second rule.
Let's say there was a Double Wasp (or Twin Cyclone) Junior which was small enough to fit and was by 1963 developing more than enough power reliably.

Cockpit in place.  Wings and tails on.  Canopy and cowling mocked up.

Kawanishi Lightraider WIP 01-04-2024 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

I have chosen a pilot figure from my tub of little people and begun painting him.

As it is to be built in flight I will be making a spinning prop disc from clear sheet combined with a larger more pointed than standard spinner from my engines and props box.

An Airfix stand has been prepared.

Coming along nicely

  
This is looking good so far 👌

Thanks. 

It's not a bad kit.  Moulds date from '77 and while fit is a little off in places and the interior is lacking it does have engraved detail and doesn't need a whole lot of filler.

PSR has begun.

Aoshima released a new tool in the late 90s of a similar variant.  Wasn't much of an improvement as the original was so nice.

Good one Fred, I like seeing these older kits come to life

Quote from: buzzbomb on April 03, 2024, 01:58:33 PMGood one Fred, I like seeing these older kits come to life

Thats good, because i've got heaps of them...