FineMolds Ka-14 Claude prototype 1/72
Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 1:55 am
This is one of my current projects. FineMolds has produced a stunning kit of a somewhat ugly airplane. The Ka-14 was the prototype for the A5M Claude. It's a small aircraft and FM has captured the delicate look of the plane. The kit makes a good comparison to Fujimi's lovely A5M kits as well as Nichimo's much older kit.
This kit is a magazine premium for the Japanese general modeling magazine ModelGraphix. There is a back story here. The Ka-14 was a character in Miyazaki's latest file The Rising Film about Jiro Horikoshi, designer of Mitsubishi's Zero. The Ka-14 was his first design. ModelGraphix usually has an anime portion included. The Rising Wind was originally anime penned by Miyazaki and published in ModelGraphix. This circular story is kinda neat, no?
Anyway, this is a great kit that as far as I know has only been issued as a resin kit by Aki. Their's was a beautiful and incredibly detailed kit that cost an arm and leg. I wanted one, but the idea of ponying up over $100 for a small kit was something I could never justify. I'd thought I'd never build this ugly little beast. Then, this kit came out. At $28, it's not cheap either, but way more affordable.
Enough blather. Here's the kit:

The engine is mostly complete. It just needs the exhausts glued on.

and a bit painted:

The engine is almost finished. I just need to add the exhausts.

This kit is a magazine premium for the Japanese general modeling magazine ModelGraphix. There is a back story here. The Ka-14 was a character in Miyazaki's latest file The Rising Film about Jiro Horikoshi, designer of Mitsubishi's Zero. The Ka-14 was his first design. ModelGraphix usually has an anime portion included. The Rising Wind was originally anime penned by Miyazaki and published in ModelGraphix. This circular story is kinda neat, no?
Anyway, this is a great kit that as far as I know has only been issued as a resin kit by Aki. Their's was a beautiful and incredibly detailed kit that cost an arm and leg. I wanted one, but the idea of ponying up over $100 for a small kit was something I could never justify. I'd thought I'd never build this ugly little beast. Then, this kit came out. At $28, it's not cheap either, but way more affordable.
Enough blather. Here's the kit:

The engine is mostly complete. It just needs the exhausts glued on.

and a bit painted:

The engine is almost finished. I just need to add the exhausts.



