WiP +++ 1:72 Kawasaki A-2, JASDF, 2015

[Dizzyfugu]

Early into the project, but I'll kick of a thread for it. In the past, I have converted a number of Kawasaki T-4s into fictional Saab Sk 90 trainers, even though these were primarily cosmetic and not structural mods. When I finished a Hungarian Sk 90 in a soviet-style sand/green livery a while ago it struck me that the T-4's outlines resemble those of the (bigger) Suchoj Su-25's a lot. From this inspiration the idea of a single-seater attack variant of the T-4 for the JASDF, maybe as a simpler/modest replacement for the indigenous F-1 for 2000 onward, was born. Now turning into hardware.

More to come soon.

[Dizzyfugu]

We are moving! Adapting the two-seater to the attack role required a new cockpit section, and I went for a thorough conversion: instead of simply making it a single seater from OOB parts (like the Mitsubishi F-1 with a faired-over rear cockpit) I transplanted the front section from a Eurocopter PAH-1 Tiger, with its short nose, the whole front cockpit and the flat panel canopy. It turned out to be a little wider than the T-4 fuselage, but the area behind the new cockpit had to be sculpted with 2C putty, anyway, so I wrapped this filler section around the whole hull, smoothing out the transitional area. The result looks pretty brutal, though!


1:72 Kawasaki A-2, JASDF, 2015 (What-if/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Kawasaki A-2, JASDF, 2015 (What-if/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Kawasaki A-2, JASDF, 2015 (What-if/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

[PR19_Kit]

Yes, definitely 'brutal'. 

[Dizzyfugu]

It's ugly! PSR is in the 5th round now, and the thing looks more and more like a Su-25T that crashed into a wall... 

[Dizzyfugu]

By the way, here's PSR "Stage 4"...


1:72 Kawasaki A-2, JASDF, 2015 (What-if/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

...and "PSR Stage 5". We get there!


1:72 Kawasaki A-2, JASDF, 2015 (What-if/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

With the new cockpit shape there's also a touch of Firefox to the aircraft, aven though any supersonic performance is far from possible. 

[Pellson]

God, Thomas. That is going to become one ugly bugger... 

[Gondor]

I think this will automaticaly get an entry for the whiffies in the Ugliest Aircraft catagory.   

Gondor

[Dizzyfugu]

 

[kerick]

Please paint this asap. The combination of the epoxy putty grey and filler putty brown is about to make me lose my breakfast!
Aside from that, this looks very cool. Definitely a kitbash combo I would have never thought of.

[Old Wombat]

So far she's a very weird looking critter!

[zenrat]

It reminds me of a Gecko.

[Dizzyfugu]

I see what you mean. Another thing that came to my mind after I added wings was "ugly duckling" - pics following soon. 

[kerick]

Looking forward to it, maybe with primer?

[Captain Canada]

Now that's neat !

[Dizzyfugu]

The wish for pics of the model with primer have been heard, and after "PSR Stage 6" I hit the thing this morning with a light coat of grey paint. This is the current status, better than expected, just one or two minor dents to be PSRed, but then the detail work like hardpoints and landing gear can proceed. Also note the wingtip launch rails, enlarged LERXs and the "hot dog" antenna from an A-4M on the fin.


1:72 Kawasaki A-2, JASDF, 2015 (What-if/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Kawasaki A-2, JASDF, 2015 (What-if/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Kawasaki A-2, JASDF, 2015 (What-if/modified Hasegawa kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr


It (also) looks a lot like a military vehicle from "(Fang of the Sun) Dougram", a real-robot anime TV series from the 80ies. The cockpit shape totally matches other vehicles like the "Duey" attack helicopter:


(Fang of the Sun) Dougram +++ Culailles MP-2 "Duey" (Takara kit) - Box Art by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr