Airfix Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" club release

[RangerNeil]

As that TBD-1 did such a good job of mojo sapping I thought I'd try something else before undertaking that TR4A chassis scratch build. Top of the stack was the Kate Airfix sent out to club members a year or so ago.

Instructions














Additional paint instructions for this kit




Decals


Sprues






First build steps
So far - so good. Its going together beautifully with one exception. In step #10 part D21 has to be inserted from beneath the cockpit floor - but now the underside of the wing is in the way. I ended up trimming the part that goes under the floor down till it was a snug fit in the gap and then used CA to secure it. Other than that its gone together like a Tamiya kit! No gaps in fuselage joins or wing roots to fill......

[digger303]

Good to hear a another good Airfix story.
Didn't take long to get to this stage.



Ps....Ever think about one of those flying boats. Either British or Japanese ?

[RangerNeil]

Good to hear a another good Airfix story.
Didn't take long to get to this stage.



Ps....Ever think about one of those flying boats. Either British or Japanese ?

The biggies?? I've got the Italeri and Airfix Sunderlands in the stash plus the C Classflying boat for the dio build. At the moment I have nowhere to put the rather large finished items though.....

[Phillip1]

RangerNeil-The B5N2 Kate is one of my favorites planes of WW2! Your build looks good so far.

Phillip1

[aur0ra145]

Interesting, I've never seen surrender markings like that before.

[DRUMS01]

Wonderful looking release for 1/72, especially the cockpit detail in scale.

Decal options are nice too!

[RangerNeil]

A bit more progress - wings and tail plane are on. Ailerons, elevators and rudders are posable and the flaps can be in the up or down position. I opted for the ailerons level, elevators down, rudder offset and the flaps down.




The engine is quite a nice little assembly but very much a case of now you see it


And now you don't


Its interesting how far forwards the cowl sits...

[digger303]

I know what you mean about covering up so much nice detail.



PS...I see Airfix has a nice new Bristol bulldog

[RangerNeil]

I know what you mean about covering up so much nice detail.



PS...I see Airfix has a nice new Bristol bulldog

Indeed Digger. Same goes for all the lovely cockpit details. Once the fuselage halves were joined up all was hidden. Its a shame that it can't be seen.
As for the Bulldog - do you mean the 1/48 release? If so its in the stash - BUT - I never ordered it!! It was sent direct from Airfix and I've no idea why. Not looking a gift horse in the mouth though.
I did order the new Shannon class Lifeboat - and they've sent me THREE of those!!! (also I got two of the V Bomber bundle....)

[Tomcat64]

That's coming together really nicely mate; I love the three different decal options provided for this one too - they're so different it'd be really tempting to get three of these and line them up

[digger303]

I know what you mean about covering up so much nice detail.



PS...I see Airfix has a nice new Bristol bulldog

Indeed Digger. Same goes for all the lovely cockpit details. Once the fuselage halves were joined up all was hidden. Its a shame that it can't be seen.
As for the Bulldog - do you mean the 1/48 release? If so its in the stash - BUT - I never ordered it!! It was sent direct from Airfix and I've no idea why. Not looking a gift horse in the mouth though.
I did order the new Shannon class Lifeboat - and they've sent me THREE of those!!! (also I got two of the V Bomber bundle....)

I'm still waiting for my suppliers to do a similar thing I suspect I'll be in my grave and it'll only be when there turnover suddenly drops they will wonder what the hell happened to him.

[RangerNeil]

Assembly is more or less complete now. Next step is prime and paint - BUT - I have nothing in the paint collection thats even remotely close to the colours required to complete the late war Japanese version. Fortunately one of my favoured eBay suppliers had sent me a fairly hefty discount voucher and they had the IJN paint set by AK in stock so thats ordered and should be here in a few days. So till then work on this is suspended.

[RangerNeil]

The IJN paint set arrived today so the underside grey is now applied and the canopy jas the first coat of Nakajima Dark Green-Black:

[digger303]

The colours look really good a very nice match.

[Tomcat64]

Nice to see it at least partially under paint

[RangerNeil]

Decals went on yesterday. They really bring the Kate to life I think. Since these were taken the silk clear coat has been applied and is drying. I need to replace the pitot tube on the wing, I keep knocking it off.

[digger303]

Nice to see you didn't have too many issues with this one.

[Kevthemodeller]

That's come together very nicely, seems you've got the mojo back mate

[Phillip1]

RangerNeil-You have done a nice job on this model! Congratulations on getting it done. Now you just need to build a 1/72 scale Val to sit beside it!

Phillip1

[RangerNeil]

RangerNeil-You have done a nice job on this model! Congratulations on getting it done. Now you just need to build a 1/72 scale Val to sit beside it!

Phillip1

Thank you I'm thinking about a Val - and perhaps a Zero to go with it. They will be future projects though.

For now I'm declaring the Kate finished. Aerial wire will be added later when I have somewhere secure to put it!

[digger303]

Very nice. Good to see the decals went down OK and the canopy painted up well.

[Stokesy44]

Nice job on a rare subject. Don't see much from Japan on the site.

[digger303]

Nice job on a rare subject. Don't see much from Japan on the site.

Might have to change that