IMPERIAL JAPANESE MARINES IN TARAWA MASTER BOX 1/35

A happy New Year, everyone!! Thank you very much for your visiting and sent me mails last year. I’m wishing your happy modeling life.
Currently I’m building the Master Box figure of the Imperial Japanese infantries. A box picture is splendid.

This kit includes 6 decals of “Shusseiki” [going to the front flag (the flag on which a going to the front person is congratulated, and the flag which wishes safe return of a going to the front person)]. The hand writing style flag is the very important accent of this kit.

It is a very powerful facial expression. Looks like Japanese. The expression of the figure is rich and I admired that the injection kit has this quality.

It is the soldier who receives shooting, and leans back.

I can have a good feeling by very careful molding. I want to make it with a soul.

This kit was released in 2008? When it’s being made earlier, the world is filled with countless plastic model, but encounters with each kit is what I want to cherish.
(01-January-2016)

The officer is a pose of the charges with a saber.

It is the preparations for painting and the fixing a form of their weapons.

I attached the strap to their rifles.
(28-January-2016)

I changed the 4 soldiers khaki military uniform delicately changed a hue. I think there are various fading colors as the khaki brown, khaki green, etc.
As for the military uniform of Japanese Imperial Marines, a little greenish seemed to be appropriate. However, since a military uniform had changed to the almost same as an imperial army from the middle of the war, I cannot say it’s completely mistake.

I have lost the part of sable. I lost the sable, which can be called the soul of the Imperial Army, it’s really unfortunate. I have to make it by myself.

I choose the part of the shell box of the German army. And cutting it out like this photo.

The Sable was cut roughly. Try to taper a bit more? The guard of the sable is also troublesome.

I’ll use two “Shusseiki”. These tissue paper sheets were infiltrated, after it’s dry, I’ll attach the decals.
(01-February-2016)

Tarawa is the capital of the Republic of Kiribati now. Quite a distance from Guadalcanal, Guam and Rabaul.

At the time of the WWII, Tarawa island is the important strategic point as its located between Hawaii and Fiji. It is a small island in the Central Pacific. From the 20th to 23rd November 1943, fierce battle had been carried out between the Japanese Imperial Marines and the US Marines.

Japanese troops 4,800, US forces 35,000. Attacking side is the US Marines. It was a good fight, but Japanese army was destroyed in vain. Japan side killed in action is said to be 4,713 people. US military is around 1,000. Killed percentage of the Japanese side is 98%, it’s really an abnormal incident.

A local unit of the Japanese military was ordered that they should choose death rather than be a prisoner. So even if they had no ammunition and food, they dared to charge only with bayonet. The injured soldiers were given the grenades and chose the self-determination. Almost Japanese soldiers tend to be finally KIA.

The US Army cleaned up the Japanese military thoroughly not to avoid getting caught in the berserk banzai charges.

I don’t want to write the end of the Japanese military any more. It’s too miserable. The amount of resources U.S. forces focused was dreadful.
A way of thinking about a war is different completing each other, I could understand the westerners had a brainwave of the movie “Planet of the Apes” from Imperial Japanese Forces.

He charges with his rifle, tied the flag.

The officer does not have a firearm except his pistol. He is with his sabre.

Although I wanted to draw a red badge, Imperial Marine insignia seems to be dark-green and gold line.

The strongly looking was increased with the glaring edge.

Master box figures face mold is sharp and is easy to paint.

I think four of them have Asian looks.

It is very interesting when I make the pose with the movement.

The Japanese soldier who receives shooting, and leans back. I seemed to catch it on a chest.

I gave this soldier a flag and became the characteristic figure.

I think that the backside is probably plain white with a little faded.

This expression seems to be very painful. I think this kit sculpter is very good.

I drew a star on some helmets and anchor mark on the garrison cap (I think that it is the mark of the naval brigade).

Of course I do not think only this time, but want to show respect for every fallen soldier on both sides.
(02-February-2016)