IMPERIAL JAPANESE NAVY INTERCEPTOR MITSUBISHI J2M3 RAIDEN [JACK] TYPE21 HASEGAWA 1/32

It is an airplane model made for the first time in a long time. Moreover, it is the first 1/32 scale. Built in August 2014.

I wanted to make an airplane after a long absence, and bought it like a flash. It’s the anniversary commemorating the end of the war today for Japan in an occasion. I intend to make Empire of Japan Navy Interceptor Raiden (Jack) of Hasegawa with the meaning of the requiem all the fallen soldier soul, friend and foe alike.
I think I can assemble it with a similar sense because it’s 1/32 scale, I’m used to making 1/35 AFV’s. It’s so long time to make an airplane, now my target is just completion, not to throw out.
(15-August-2014)

Now I’m making the cockpit, the assembling is simple and mold is excellent. I think I’ll paint detail parts after some assemble is finished.

The internal painting, attaching decals of the instrument panel, blowing matte clear. Effectiveness of the panel decal is this photo. It’s impossible to draw hand writing like this, the decal is very helpful.
(15-August-2014)

Even it is single-engine plane, 1/32 size is very big. I’m wondering where I should display it after completed.

Photo as assembled roughly. I modify later if there are gaps. I should decide about the procedure of the painting.

I assembled large parts, an engine, engine cowl, the belly tank, etc. The engine cannot be seen after all assembled, but it is very good proportion.

The molding of this figure is splendid. This sculptor also makes the tank crews of Japanese Imperial Army which are all excellent. Very nice Asian (Japanese) face. He carries a parachute on his back.
(20-August-2014)

There are instructions that the two holes for 7.7mm machine guns on the engine cowling should be filled with the other parts. It did not readily fit in perfectly.

After I glued the main wing and the body together, there is a large gap because of poor assembling skill. Oh, Hasegawa’s this kit is said it’s good joint every part.

I painted this engine and exhaust pipes. End of the exhaust pipes are painted a little rusty. I sharped the engine cowl, but not so smooth.

I buried the small gap with putty, which is the plastic runner chip melted in tool cleaner. The trace of the file down might not be remain because it was same materials as the parts. It takes about 3 days for complete drying, hardening.

After filing with sand paper #800, almost trace was disappeared, it’s OK. Usually I make AFV and there is not so such a work, I am weak in the filing and polishing.

Joints of the backside became beautiful, too. Because I run out of #1000 and #1200 sand paper, today’s work is done. More paper filing become the areas having a smooth surface. I’m worried I’m on the proper procedure of making airplane. It seems a long way to completion….
(30-August-2014)

Now I’m thinking it’s time to shift paint process, so starting to blow surfacer. Hasegawa’s mold is shallow dent lines, but blowing surfacer thinly, no problem.

The first part is yellow belt of the main wing.

I used adhesive cellophane tape and cut the flame out for outside of the canopy, inside is masking tape. Cellophane tape has too strong adhesive power and glue is sticking, next time I’ll use mending tape.

After painting lower body and masking all.

Painted the main body color and cowling color. 1/32 size is very large, painting is a piece of work.

I jointed the engine to the body, engine mold is quite good.

I stuffed up the engine cowling paint, I thought the panel line is color divided line without checking but it’s wrong, needed to work again……

I used the body color Mr. Color #124 Dark Green (Mitsubishi) and cowling color Mr. Color #125.

Bottom color is Mr. Color #35 IJN Gray (Mitsubishi) as follows the indication of instruction manual. The landing gear was attached and the goal is almost there. (04-September-2014)

I finished up this Raiden (“Thunderbolt”). It’s quick-climbing interceptor for air base defense. It became the spindle shape body that it was necessary to build in the large and high power engine.

Kasei engine was the most powerful at that time in Japan which was used for large bombardment aircraft. Raiden equipped forces cooling fan behind the propeller in consideration of cooling efficiency falling by squeezing the nose.

This fighter was designed by Mr. Jiro Horikoshi, aviation engineer, who is the subject of the Japanese famous animation movie “The Wind Rises” director is Mr. Hayao Miyazaki who is the one of top animation film directors.

During my painting, I changed my mind and no heavy weathering this time.

Though I am not satisfied without doing weathering when making AFV, regarding airplane model, I reluctant to make dirty finish up, it’s a mystery… Maybe after a couple of assembling works, I would like to do reality finishing.

Raiden’s cockpit is large but difficult to take pictures inside.

I arranged colors for some levers and switches in the cockpit. Finally, I did drybrushing with metal color.

The reason of the dark color cowl is prevent a reflection of the sunlight and keeps view well. The principle is same as racing cars bonnet is painted in dark colors.

I polished the canopy by compound.

Over the front glass, we can see optic gunsight devise.

I changed the main wing light to clear parts and painted in clear red, the right side is clear blue. I should have fit the parts more carefully. Anyway the reality is a little up for this changing.

I used clear epoxy glue for attaching canopy. Slide canopy’s inside of the left side, I mistook to stick tiny stain of glue….., poignant regret. I already decided not to do heavy weathering and only canopy has dust weathering is unnatural, I left it alone.

Aerial wires are fishing line which I used last year. Line number 0.6 and diameter is 0.128mm. It’s my first model to work aerial wire.

The armament is 20mm machine-gun x 4, It could destroy B-29 invasion at a single blow? Anyway, I can say the fire power was really heavy and effective.

I did ink in the panel line and washing lightly.

Compare to the AA battery, even it’s single engine fighter, but 1/32 scale size is really large. Too big for my photo booth.

The sculptor is good. And I could paint very well, I suppose. It’s difficult to paint on this small face. He looks like Japanese, excellent facial expression. I forgot to delete the injection mark on the right foot, but he is in the cockpit so this time it’s OK, next time I’ll be careful no remaining these marks.

He carries an emergency parachute on his back.

These silver parachute tags are good accent of this figure.

It’s really cool of pilot sitting in the cockpit and seeing outside. He is almost flying-off

Homeland defense. There is no doubt that he would do it for us.

This time, I have some reflection points. Mistakes occurred by the basic work and painting and not perfectly matched with my imagination. The parts that finish was rough have appeared. It is a feeling that best looking distance is around 50cm. Even some mistakes, this 1/32 scale kit is powerful and presence is different from 1/48 and 1/72. I would like to make this scale again.
(08-September-2014)