This is the very first release from one of the top aircraft brands.
I have already built this when it originally came out but unfortunately suffered irreparable damage from my then very young nephew. This is a kit that actually took the market by storm and I managed to pick up another of the first batch and have just been waiting while I got all the extras I needed. My first build told me much about this kit and its weakness' which I will mention as we go through the box contents and build.
Zoukei Mura took a very sensible approach from this release and listened to the feedback from builders and their kits have just got better and better with both design, presentation and of course the improvement and development of the moulding processes available through technology advancements.
The Shinden itself only reached prototype status and flew just before the end of the war and the dropping of the atomic bombs on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. The canard wing concept was proved to be viable but the project was halted and the only survivor is in a very sorry state in America at the Smithsonian.
There is a lot of detail in this kit and despite only one set of prototype decals are included in this kit it does give us the opportunity to do an alternate timeline build with a camo scheme rather than the dark green upper and grey lower surfaces of the prototype
This release was done in 3 colour plastic. A grey metal colour, pale grey and black. This didn't go down well with builders and ZM quickly moved to a single colour apart from transparent stuff.
This is in the box
There is a decal sheet and canopy masking sheet but I forgot to photograph them... sorry!
Now for the extras. ZM contract in Eduard, Master models and others to do the extra detailing sets and while the kit looks good without, some are necessary. They are sold under the ZM brand.
First up are metal barrels for the 30mm cannons. They are from Master models of Poland and it will take a bit of work to replace them, but worth it in the end for the cleanness of the muzzle etc.
Next are metal undercart legs. These are really and essential add on as the kit legs are very wobbly at the angles they are set and break easily and there is no way back if one breakes at the insertion point as my nephew did. No repair could make it sit correctly and the main legs bent under the pressure of the body. The metal ones are essential.
Also a must is weights for the nose to make it sit correctly. Although not see, ZM have had them cast like allo boxes and shell case collectors.
Cockpit and interior set including mesh for the engine screen at the rear and HT leads for the engine etc. The HT leads will not be used as I have some wire and drills which will detail up the engine nicely.
Wheel well and frame interior detailing set. Yes... some changes to the airframe coming too!
Don't like the seat with the moulded on seatbelts or the Eduard painted ones so we have HGW Zero seatbelts which match the ones that were used on the aircraft. Not sure if I should use the eduard seat of the kit one without the belts... just one of the kit options in the box!
and lastly, some Maketar masks for the insignia.
Paints will be Vallejo IJN paint set, AK extreme metal, Vallejo Metal colour and Tamiya clear blue, red and their Aotake colour as there will be a nod to that somewhere in the kit!
Let the fun begin!
James