It's time to start a new model project with a little more meat on it. For me it means WWII aircraft subjects. This time it will be the N1K1J.
Good choice, Ronnie: Those Otaki kits are solid, and the mid-wing George is a very interesting subject.
Lee G.
I agree Lee, I've collected or built nearly all the Otaki kits and they are some of my favorites. The only real problem with this kit is the landing gear bays. They are extremely shallow and I'm not about to cut them out and rebuild them.
This is a great book that includes history about the development of the Rex floatplane, to the Shiden and to the Shiden Kai. Both the Japanese and US pilots were impressed with the performance of these fighter planes.
Is this going to be a straight build or part of a future diorama?
A favorite of mine. Rated the best Japanese naval fighter of the war. A dangerous opponent.
David S
Seems like the George is appreciated across the board. I have seen two examples in person, at Wright Patt AFB in Ohio and at the Udvaar Hazzy ctr. In Washington. It is a sleek and menacing machine. It marks a complete change of design for the Japanese. Early war planes were light in weight, power and firepower like the Nate, Oscar and A6M2. The N1K1 obviouslt took lessons from the P-47, starting with the large cockpit...kind of busy.
This is what I've done so far, just the underwing 20mm cannon gondolas and the cockpit. The kit gives a one piece closed canopy so I will build it wheels up, inflight.
Otaki kits always give you a very nice color profile but i never noticed thats actually a 1/48 scale reference too.
Did a little work this weekend. The landing gear doors are glued on so I'm committed to the wheels up and flying mode. I brush psinted the interior green and black for the cockpit.
Looking good Ronnie!
RonV
Keep the 'Modeling Mojo' working!!
Bill L.
Good work, Ronnie. I like that the Otaki kit is a mid-wing (early) George directly adapted from the floatplane. Hasegawa has us covered in 1/48 with the later N1K2 low-wing George. Nice plane.
Lee G.
Very nice Ronnie. Great airplane. Cant wait to see the finished kit.
Im really struggling to make a little progress on this build but here is what I got done over the holiday weekend.
The N1K1sure has a fat butt like a bumble bee. The J2M Jack /Rsiden and the Betty bomber did too. Then look at the anemic "damsel fly" type skinny tails they had on the Ki-43 Oscar and Lilly bomber...what a contrast.ě
Finally working on this again. Some kits have landing gear covers tgat fit very well as retracted but this isnt one of them. I modified pieces from a Hasegawa N1K2-J kit and got them to work.
This would be the standard assembly...clean and simple but I had to carve out a space for the battery powered motor.
Now drill another hole just under the horizontal stabilizer and insert the brass rod that houses the two electrical wires. It will all look fine once the fuselage is sealed up.
Looking good Ronnie!
RonV
Looking good - Keep it going!!!
Bill L.
I was able to push this project over the toughest hurdle...getting the battery powered motor installed and working. Dont kniw why this one was so tough but its done now.
Looks great! Nice job, looking forward to seeing the final reveal!
Still pushing this to make some more progress. Its starting to feel like an airplane, modeling is finally fun again after a very long dry spell.
Looking good, keep it going.
Test post
Test post #2
The previous image shows the instructions for this kit and the strange, D shaped hole in the underside of the fuselage. ? Well I have covered it and finished crafting the 8 pieces of the landing gear covers.
Special thanks to professor Tony Leger for his talents and willingness to maintain and update our website so faithfully!
Finally put the metallic base coat on this one.