Hi guys,

I would like to yoin in. You can note me for an I-400, Sairan and a Zero. The sub is 1:350 and the planes are 1:48, all Tamiya

Cheers,

Paul

Thanks for the heads up. If it looks like it's gonna be a bear, I'll put the Tamiya kit aside and grab something else. Anybody have any history on Otaki kits? I have a few of them in my attic.

Good idea on the sub Paul,  I wish I'd thought of that.

The Otaki kits were also marketed by Arii and some of them by Airfix after Otaki were done with them. I think they date back to the seventies but were great kits for their day. I'd still build them if I were doing 48th. I did the P-47, Tony and Corsair years ago and found them to be very buildable, and produced a nice looking model with reasonable detail.

Cheers

Tony

Paul: It's good to have you aboard again!

I'll third that the Otaki/Arii kits were excellent kits in their day and still hold up well today. I haven't built many but was very pleased with the ones I did. I remember then having somewhat spartan cockpits but the exterior detailing and fit was great.

Count me in with a Platz Mitsubishi F-1 and a FineMolds Ka-14.

Sure, you're in!

Since we're talking about Japanese airplanes, can somebody give me some background as to why the Japanese airplanes have nicknames like Frank, Kate, George etc? Were these given by servicemen? The Japanese themselves?

Pete, they were Allied code names for the Japanese aircraft. Most of the time fighters had male names and bombers,transports, recon and gliders female names.

To elaborate on GreySnake's explanation apparently a US officer came up with the system and it was adapted by Britain, the Commonwealth and the other Allied powers as well.

I never really saw too much of a point to it - I mean is Nakajima Ki-44 any harder to understand than Messerschmidt Bf-109? To me German names are just as hard as the Japanese ones, but I guess I am of the whole generation reared on Godzilla and Japanese video games etc.    

To add more regarding the code name's by the allies. From what I understand the allies found the Japanese designation system awkward, since each airplane had two names. The manufacturers alphanumeric project code, and the second one being the official military designation. So the Mitsubishi A5M was given the name Type 96 Carrier Fighter. The 96 meaning the imperial year it entered service in 2596 or 1936. Adding to the confusion. The Aichi D1A enterted service the same years as Type 96 Carrier Bomber and the G3M as the Type 96 Land Bomber.

So I can see why the code names would come in handy. I guess I'm on the opposite end of you Gamera I don't find the German aircraft names confusing. But after years of modeling and reading I still get confused with the Japanese aircraft names

And if I'm wrong on any of the above, feel free to point out any errors I haven't done a lot of research on Japanese aircraft something I'm trying to fix.

The IJN also used a system symilar to the USN pre 1962 system using numbers and letters to designate the aircraft manufacturer and type. Example: B5N- Bomber, 5th Design, Nakajima the Kate or Type 97; B6N- Bomber, 6th Design, Nakajima- the Jill, etc.

The IJA used a seperate aircraft designator system- Ki followed by a numeral Ki-29, Ki-43, Ki-44, Ki-61, etc. that did not differntiate between aircraft type- fighter, bomber, transport, etc.

PeteG

Since we're talking about Japanese airplanes, can somebody give me some background as to why the Japanese airplanes have nicknames like Frank, Kate, George etc? Were these given by servicemen? The Japanese themselves?

These were code names assigned by an Allied Intelligence comittee to aid and speed in naming aircraft types for Intel purposes. Once an aircraft type was identified, it was given a name by teh commitee along the lines mentioned above- fighters and recon/observation seaplanes were male names, pretty much all other types were female names, some trainers received tree names-These were the predecessors of the NATO names given to Communist aircraft types in the Cold War and post Cold War era.

Here is a link to the Wiki article on the story. Take it for what it is worth.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_Allied_names_for_Japanese_aircraft

Happy Holidays-

Well no need to worry about whether or not the aftermarket cockpit I bought will fit the Tamiya kit or not as I scored a Hasegawa Ki84 off eBay. So my contribution to this build will be that.

Cheers!

Merry Christmas to all!!!

Pete: You'll enjoy it, the Hasegawa Ki-84 is a great kit.

I would like to join in with an aircraft, but will decide later as to what specifically.

In the stash is Hasegawa's A6M2b, and Choroszy's 1/72 A5M2b.  If a decent price can be found, Choroszy's  Nakajima A4N1 could be another contender.

Merry Christmas!

regards,

Jack

Sounds good guys!

Put down your Hasegawa Ki-84 Pete and put you down as TBA Jack.

Here's something fun ...

Took one of the pencil drawing drawings, added some colour, resulting in a possible alternate badge.

regards,

Jack

Jack, that's a really nice looking badge!

Wow, thanks Jack- what a wonderful Christmas present!!! As I said I got a comic artist friend to do the drawing but he doesn't ink them- just the black and white pencil sketch. And I really don't have the skills to colourize it. Love what you've done there!

If you're done with it with your permission I'll post it and Wayne's 'Great Wave' up as the official badges.  

Ok, everyone due to Waynec and Jgeratic's hard work and talent we have two friggin' kick*** badges!!!

Thanks so much guys!!!

Those are some really nice badges!

Hey Gamera. Put me down for a 1/32 Ki61 Tony. Unit TBD. NMF. My first Jap build..Gonna be fun! Thanks.

Thanks, I think they're our best looking badges yet! Wayne and Jack really outdid themselves.

Got you down, ready for kick-off in four days!

that turned out nice jack. did you color it on the computer?

Hey Gamera... Please enroll me with a 1/32nd Hasagawa Ki-43 Oscar.

Thanks, Doug

You got it!

Wayne, thanks!

Yes, the pencil sketch was coloured on the computer.  I created a mask from the pencil lines, and then flood filled the basic colours.  Followed up with hightlights and darker tones via the paintbrush tool.

regards,

Jack

Hi all,

The build hasn't even started officially and allready 6 pages of reading to do!

By some reason I could not get on the forum pages of finescale, so I worried that I could not show you my work, or see yours.

Just before christmass I had an operation on my hand to loosen some bones and muscles. Now I can do even the smallest parts again, without shaking! Yihaa!! I can finally fiinish the Yamato!!

Anyway, all the best in 2014 for your and the family!

I'm glad your surgery went well! Looking forward to more of your excellent work!

Happy New Year to you and the family!

That's one awesome looking badge for sure, Jack!