Not compliKATEd Nakajima

[null_null981707818191]

I’ve finished off the Nakajima B5N2 ‘Kate’ (A73012), and I’m pleased with the outcome of a very enjoyable build. I acquired the model some timed ago as the Club Special, but I decided to build it as the 553^rd Kokutai version, largely out of the box, rather than as the repainted, captured version in ‘Surrender’ markings. I made this choice for two reasons – firstly, I’ve got another Club special edition anyway if I decide to build it as boxed, and secondly, it will go better with my two IJN liveried Zeros.

As is usual, the kit starts with cockpit assembly. There are loads of parts for this, but it’s extremely well engineered and went together nicely. I like to include crew figures, but the ones that came with the kit were the standard BoB-era RAF ones, so I used the PJ Productions Japanese Pilots instead. My only criticism of the supplied cockpit details was that it would have been nice to have some moulded detail on the instrument panels to enhance the decals.

The rest of the build was relatively straightforward as well. Everything went together very nicely and with very few gaps – I just used a smear of filler on the wing roots – although this join was largely covered up anyway with the walkway decal.

I went for the torpedo option rather than all the bombs (they might come in handy for another build…) and this view shows the underside wheel-wells painted in a sort of ‘aotake’ finish (mixed aluminium and IJN black green).

The kit has plenty of different options for the canopy. Fully closed, fully open or with just the rear gunner’s section open, which is the one I opted to use, simply because I wanted to include the sole armament of the aircraft on view! I found the purchase of a Montex mini-mask set well worth the cost thereof!

I brush painted the model using Vallejo Model Air IJN Light Grey Green and IJN Black Green. The decals went on very well using Microset and Microsol, and I finished off the whole thing with a couple of coats of brush-applied thinned Vallejo matt varnish (which dries to a very slightly satin finish).

All in all, a very enjoyable build and I’m pleased with the way it turned out. Thanks for taking a look.

[Padefc]

Nice job my effort went for battle worn look

[Ratch]

I did it with folded wings.

[paul71]

all looking good got two of these sat in the stash, not done any naval aircraft at all got the old VJ set some time ago as well as a few other kits all sat waiting

must do a naval purge at some point joy