B5N2 Type 97 "Kate" - Border Models kit in 1/35 scale.

[al49]

Hello everybody, in June 2024 I decided to approach a manufacturer new to me, Border Models, who was by then advertising a kit dedicated to one of the Japanese torpedo bombers involved in the Pearl Harbour attack, the B5N2 Type 97 "Kate". Some time after placing my order, a received a big box with a number of gray sprues with may well detailed parts. Some of them concerning cockpit details and stellar engine.

 

[al49]

My first step was to try to understand the size and the level of detail of the final product, with special interest for the cockpit.

 

[al49]

Some other pictures from the w.i.p. Most of my job concerned the cockpit.

 

[al49]

Assembly in progress with same parts already primed and painted.

 

[al49]

Next step was to choose: wings open or folded? The kit offers both options but, unfortunately, in my opinion, doesn't provide a strong folding mechanism. Folded wings will be glued to the fixed portion only with very small contact points and will be supported only by very fragile braces, so I decided for open wings.
I also tried some pre-shading that, unfortunately disappeared under the Nakajima Dark Green.

 

[al49]

To end for today, pictures of the Dark Green paint job that was done lsat November.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Crimea_River]

Looks like a beautiful kit. I like the oil-canned surfaces but the fabric control surfaces look a bit too slack.

 

[Gnomey]

Looks good so far!

 

[Airframes]

Impressive !

 

[al49]

Looks like a beautiful kit. I like the oil-canned surfaces but the fabric control surfaces look a bit too slack.

Personally I agree and I found on the web people who filled in some way those "valleys", but I did nothing because I thought it was above my capability.

 

[al49]

Back on my model, before painting the Nakajima Dark green color I had sparyed a layer of MIG 2010 chipping fluid, so my next step was to remove here and there some of the green paint. Unfortunately two things stopped my work, first I was unable to find a picture of the real bird to copy and, second and more important, I realised that I was unable to do a good job and, therefore I was totally unsatisfied of what I've done.
See next wht was the output.

 

[al49]

Following to what said on post 12, I completly changed my mind and I took as a reference the artwork concerning aircraft EI-311 boarded on carrier Shokaku on which aircraft's upper surfaces were painted green shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbour and the job was done in rush an not very accurate.
So I first painted all surfaces in black followed, once dry, by aluminum paint.

 

[al49]

After a few days, it was time to spray the Nakajima Green in a random way so to give the impression of rush painting.
Decals followed.
I hope you like my job.
Better pictures will be taken as soon as possible.
Alberto

 

[Wurger]

Here the AI-301 and AI-316 of the Akagi

the pic source: the net and Modelarstwo z pasją • Zobacz wątek - Nakajima B5N2 "Kate" -AI-316 -kolory

 

[al49]

Many, many thanks!!! If I had had these photos four months ago, probably I could have tried to do something different, still in relation with my abilities.