1/48 Aichi D3A Val by Hasegawa(?)
The Val was Japan’s naval dive bomber, comparable to the American Dauntless or Germany’s Stuka. Vals were significant contributors to the expansion of the Greater Co-prosperity Sphere in 1941-42. As the front line bomber on Japanese carriers, she brought terror to the Pacific — starting at Pearl Harbor, where Arizona experienced her wrath.
I found this kit at a local contest sans box, decals and instructions, but at a price I couldn’t resist ($1). Construction was straight forward with only a few guesses. I decided to paint her in the scheme I found on the internet of a Hasegawa box art. Turns out this colorful aircraft was the flight leader on carrier Soryu. He wanted his squadron to have an easier time forming up on his plane, so while they were all grey-green, He was in Navy dark green with lots of pretty stripes. I painted all the markings except the blue stripe and the lettering on the tail (which came from my spares box). I later realized that the Hinomarus were out of round, some I applied the red disks Japanese Aeromaster decal sheet. I also found some help for the red flashes on the wheel pants.
I weathered this bird with a slush of Tamiya acrylic paint similar to the underside color I used my Model Master. This brought out the panel lines nicely, but some have suggested they are too prominent. I claim artistic license!
I was well pleased until I took these photos, and discovered I had not added the wing tip lights! I’ll go find some forthwith!
P.S. Does anyone know how to tell if this is indeed a Hasegawa product?
4 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Joe Caputo said on September 1, 2013
Very pretty, Mike
Frank Cronin said on September 1, 2013
Mike,
Very, Very nice. I love the scheme and I think you did an excellent job on this.
bob mack said on September 2, 2013
could be fujimi…looks good
Brett Peacock said on September 2, 2013
It certainly looks like the hasegawa kit, right down to may details. (I’ve built this particular boxing & Markings) and you have done a Very Nice job with it. One point: Hasegawa’ kit instruction state that the markings are from the Pearl Harbour operation, but they are not.
Other references state it was active in these colours at the Coral Sea and Guadalcanal area.
Michael Wayne Knowles said on September 2, 2013
Brett, what are those links again. I obviously need new/better sources. This is getting embarrassing!
Brett Peacock said on September 2, 2013
Links? It’s been over three years since I found the refs, but I believe I recall that one reference was an original review of the boxing and its markings. That particular plane “may” haveflown at Pearl Harbour, but not in the IJN Green and yellow & red markings. Never fear, another Pearl harbour D3A1 was ‘Ame-iro’ grey/tan/green with ORANGE sprayed along the fuselage sides & around the hinomaru!
Brett Peacock said on September 2, 2013
Ok, here’s a link: http://www.hyperscale.com/features/2000/valir_1.htm
He states that the Egusa’s plane was used in the attack on Ceylon (Sri lanka) but Egusa also flew at PH.
This link: http://www.aeroscale.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=32850&page=1 -says that the D3A flown by Egusa at Pearl featured large flames on the fuselage (no photo though!)
Brett Peacock said on September 2, 2013
Extra- The Soryu went from Ceylon attack directly to the Coral Sea…. where she ran into…issues with the US fleet there… Egusa and his plane were probably at both area.
And I was thinking of Rabaul, not the ‘canal….
Roberto Silva Cuevas said on September 2, 2013
Love that tail!
Michael Wayne Knowles said on September 2, 2013
So if I’m getting this right, a pilot — probably Japanese — flew a plane — probably a Val — off a carrier in the Pacific — or maybe the Indian Ocean — and attacked somebody — probably American. His plane was colorful, but maybe not these colors.
Do I have it closer to correct now?
bob mack said on September 3, 2013
just right
michael dudick said on September 26, 2013
yeah,she made aces out of a lot of u.s. navy pilots as well…