Fictitious Floatplane Fighter Flying for France

[CammNut]

How much whiffer can you get? A hypothetical floatplane version of an experimental Japanese fighter that was captured by the US Navy towards the end of World War II and passed on to the French navy for post-war use by the Aeronavale in Indochina. And that's about it for a backstory.

J7W4 by TheWoracle, on Flickr

This is Hasegawa's 1/72 Kyushu JW71 Shinden modified with floats and beaching trolley from a Hasegawa Kawanishi N1K1 floatplane fighter. The Aeronavale markings are adapted from a EuroDecals  de Havilland Vampire sheet and modeled on the Aichi E13A floatplanes flown in Indochina.

J7W7 by TheWoracle, on Flickr

J7W13 by TheWoracle, on Flickr

J7W12 by TheWoracle, on Flickr

J7W11 by TheWoracle, on Flickr

J7W9 by TheWoracle, on Flickr

[AXU]

Absolutely wonderful  great built 
Looks surprisingly good with French markings!

[DogfighterZen]

 

[PR19_Kit]

Sounds and looks wholly practical. Just what the Aeronavale would have needed to patrol the Med coastlines and the river estuaries in Indo-China.

Superb build. 

[TheChronicOne]

PARLEZ VOUS FRANCAIS! 


This is very cool.  I already love the Shinden... then... I love the French roundels and fin flash....    this is another "why didn't I think of that!" 

[ericr]

beautiful floatplanization !

the Rufe and N1K1 floats are very flexible for creative reuses

[Dizzyfugu]

Sweet. Personally, I am not sold on the pusher arrangement for a floatplane - but I like the overall concept, and the Aéronavale colors suit the Shinden disturbingly well. 

[Hotte]

Great built   

Hotte

[CammNut]

Thanks folks. And yes, Dizzyfugu, I suspect this would be a sinkplane, rather than a floatplane, with all that weight at the back

[Dizzyfugu]

Maybe a cammo device - hiding the plane under a cloud of froth and spray? 

[NARSES2]

Oh I like that 

[McColm]

Reminds me of the film 'Sky Captain and the world of tomorrow' 

[Old Wombat]

Looks good!

Might be more practical if you moved the float backwards about half the fuselage length (+/-).

[darthspud2]

ooo la la!
sacre Bleu.
Lovely build there.

[su27rules]