Hasegawa 1/72 Kawanishi H8K2 (Emily) Flying Boat

[McColm]

First question has anyone built this kit straight from the box?
My second question concerns part 28, from what I have read on other forums this part doesn't fit as well as the other 184. However this part could be made into two weapons bay doors and refitted.

There was a landplane version to be built but never got passed the drawing board, which gives me an idea to build an amphibious variant in the ASW layout. The gun position would remain apart from the rear replaced by an MAD boom from a Lockheed Neptune. The guns replaced with either the KC-97 Academy spare parts or an after market kit.
Radar could be carried under the wings as the Short Sunderland or above the glazed cockpit similar to the picket AEW B-29s.
Might change the engines as well to RR Griffons or American powered.
As there's a lot of glazed areas some interior detailing will need to be done.
Loads of rivets to sand down!

[Captain Canada]

Paint and Airfix Sunderland green and toss some meatballs on it, see if anybody notices.

[Librarian]

I certainly built it way back in the '80s, zealously built anything Japanese back then. I don't recall any real difficulties from the construction....it was the Mavis that was a struggle. Lovely kits really which benefit hugely from some TLC. Filling/sanding always an issue with the raised/rivet panel lines, and the size too. The G4M1 kit was very primitive though...the newer G4M2 issue is certainly on my eventual 1/72 list.

Certainly has enormous whiffing potential, an embryonic Shin Meiwa .

[Captain Canada]

I keep looking at the Shin Meiwa online, and might take the plunge. Always wanted to build one.

[McColm]

Got one in the stash, a few pieces have used on other builds. Hence a jet powered version close to the Be-A40 Mermaid.