Tag Archives: IJN
Cute Little Night-Peeper
Just when you think you’ve seen it all, there’s always something that pops up to amaze you and drive you to continue learning. For me, that’s an interesting feeling, since I was pretty sure I was familiar with pretty much all of Japan’s considerable stable of flying boats and seaplanes. However, just when you thought […]
A “Norm” Not as Many Know…
Whereas the denizens of the bar Cheers would gleefully exclaim “Norm!” whenever he entered the establishment, there is another Norm that is far lesser known. This is the Kawanishi E15K1 Siun, (also spelled Shiun, depending who you ask) a floatplane reconnaissance aircraft that was designed to set new standards for speed in the class. Sadly, […]
This Judy’s well put together, for an old gal!
Sometimes, despite my love of the obscure and oddball, I find myself drawn to a more mainstream subject. Even I appreciate greatness. One such plane is the Yokosuka D4y “Judy”, which was one of the IJN’s more advanced aircraft of WWII. Featuring an in-line, liquid-cooled engine, enclosed bomb bay and retractable landing gear, the Judy […]
Build Here, Get Gas!
No matter how good the fighter, bomber or recon plane, it’s utterly useless without gas. That’s just one of the sad truths about aerial warfare. However, I don’t think enough of us stop to think how it gets that gas. We build kits of the planes we like, and since they don’t fly, we don’t […]
Situation Norm, all Farproed Up!
Yes, that also spells SNAFU! In a way, that’s a bit what this ancient Farpro Japan boxing of the equally ancient Aoshima E15K1 Shiun (Norm) recon float plane looks like! If you want to see how they did things back in the day, the Farpro 1/72 Kawanishi Shiun will certainly make you glad they don’t […]
Japan’s Speedy Photobird!
Despite the age of the kit and the fact that it is basically substandard from wingtip to wingtip in so many ways, the Farpro 1/72 Saiun (Myrt) is done! This ancient wonder really came alive with some paint and pastels, and now looks mostly like Japan’s super-fast recon bird! Check it out in the Planes […]
Farpro Saiun Update 1: No Guts, No Glory!
They say you can’t make a silk purse from a sow’s ear. Well, that’s fine with me, because I don’t have a pig and I don’t need a purse. However, if there’s one thing I do like to try and do, it’s make the old new again. I’m a big fan of “work with what […]
The Sprue Lagoon 