Hasegawa 1/72 Kawanishi H6K5 "Mavis"
Hi everyone!
Here is my 1/72 Kawanishi H6K5 "Mavis" flying boat, done about ten years ago.
The Kawanishi H6K was an Imperial Japanese Navy flying boat produced by the Kawanishi Aircraft Company and used during World War II for maritime patrol duties. The Allied reporting name for the type was Mavis; the Navy designation was "Type 97 Large Flying Boat" (九七式大型飛行艇).
The aircraft was designed in response to a Navy requirement of 1934 for a long range flying boat and incorporated knowledge gleaned by a Kawanishi team that visited the Short Brothers factory in the UK, at that time one of the world's leading producers of flying boats, and from building the Kawanishi H3K, a license-built, enlarged version of the Short Rangoon. The "Type S", as Kawanishi called it, was a large, four-engine monoplane with twin tails, and a hull suspended beneath the parasol wing by a network of struts. Three prototypes were constructed, each one making gradual refinements to the machine's handling both in the water and in the air, and finally fitting more powerful engines. The first of these flew on 14 July 1936 and was originally designated Navy Type 97 Flying Boat, later H6K. Eventually, 217 would be built.
H6Ks were deployed from 1938 onwards, first seeing service in the Sino-Japanese War and were in widespread use by the time the full-scale Pacific War erupted, in December 1941. At that time of the war, four Kōkūtai (air groups) operated a total of 66 H6K4s.
The type had some success over South East Asia and the South West Pacific. H6Ks had excellent endurance, being able to undertake 24-hour patrols, and were often used for long-range reconnaissance and bombing missions. From bases in the Dutch East Indies, they were able to undertake missions over a large portion of Australia.
However, the H6K became vulnerable to a newer generation of heavier armed and faster fighters. It continued in service throughout the war, in areas where the risk of interception was low. In front-line service, it was replaced by the Kawanishi H8K. (from Wikipedia)
My kit was the 1995 reissue of the venerable (1970) Hasegawa kit. Oldie it might be, but is a real beauty, with good overal shape, sufficient external details and sparse 70's fashion cockpit that CAN be seen, shouting for some extra detail.
From what I can remember, construction was straightforward, presenting no real problems. Fit was not excellent but pleasantly ok (it would be scary for a flying boat of this shape to have really bad fit...). I paid some extra attentin to the many struts this girl has (take your time here...).
Painting was the classic green-over-gray.
The decals were initial release (...1970) but behaved beautifully.
Rigging was done with streched sprue.
I did some chipping, engines' smoke stains and quite a bit dirt and corrosion underneath, as she was operating in less than perfect conditions.
This kit isn't shake and bake and I would say that, because of the multistrut construction, is relatively complicated.
However, building it was an addictive process, just couldn't stop!
Hope you like my rendition of this beauty.
Happy modeling!
16 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Philip A. Stelzer said on April 11, 2020
Beautiful graceful bird! Painted and rigged like a champ!
I suppose you had to clear off the bench to photograph that behemoth...
Spiros Pendedekas said on April 11, 2020
Thanks Philip!
Spot-on about the bench clearoff. She's long and wide!
James Pullen said on April 11, 2020
Very nice! With its long snout, looks to me like a pelican. A big green pelican.
Spiros Pendedekas said on April 11, 2020
Indeed there is a similarity! Thanks for positive commenting, James!
dale travis said on April 11, 2020
Really nice looking Mavis Spiros. Well done!
Spiros Pendedekas said on April 12, 2020
Thank you Dale!
Robert Royes said on April 11, 2020
Great work, it's a pleasure to see it, I remember when the kit was first released.
Spiros Pendedekas said on April 12, 2020
Thank you Robert!. Glad my model brings some memories.
Richard Bungay said on April 11, 2020
That's beautiful!
Spiros Pendedekas said on April 12, 2020
Thanks Richard!
Rick Schad said on April 11, 2020
What a great little build! Bravo!
Spiros Pendedekas said on April 12, 2020
Thanks Rick!
Allan J Withers said on April 12, 2020
Looks good Spiros, well done.
Spiros Pendedekas said on April 12, 2020
Thank you Alan!
Colin Gomez said on April 12, 2020
Very nice Mavis, Spiros. You have a real ability to get these complex wing constructions beautifully lined up and tightly rigged. I haven't tackled my Mavis yet but you may have given me the inspiration to add it to the Empire of Japan build. It is really handsome airplane and the history you appended shows it was an important type. I really like your paint work and restrained chipping.
Spiros Pendedekas said on April 12, 2020
Thanks Colin! Your kind comments mean a lot to me. You building it for "The Empire of Japan" GB, typically in the perfect "Colin Gomez" style, will result in an excellent model. Cannot wait to see yours built!
All the best, my friend!
Haslam Yeoman said on April 12, 2020
Great build of this very graceful classic kit
Spiros Pendedekas said on April 12, 2020
Thank you Haslam! Glad you like it!
Mike Licari said on April 12, 2020
Very nice! You've done a great job. I have this kit, but I've avoided building it because of all the rigging. It looks intimidating.
Spiros Pendedekas said on April 12, 2020
Thank you Mike! Yes, it takes patience and time. I was also thoughtful before starting it. Once started though, it was a nice steady flow. Go build her. She deserves it.
All the best!
Tom Bebout said on April 12, 2020
Nicely done Spiros, I like it.
Spiros Pendedekas said on April 12, 2020
Thanks Tom! Glad you like it.
Shun said on April 12, 2020
Hi, Spiros. What an elegant seabird! I especially like the subtly upward curve of posterior part of the body. Very nice job.
Spiros Pendedekas said on April 12, 2020
It was a very fine flying boat, Shun. Elegant bird indeed! Built in small numbers, it was not a common sight. Thanks for liking!
Greg Kittinger said on April 13, 2020
Looks great! I just liquidated my Mavis and Emily models from the stash due to their size and my diminishing cabinet capacity, and am going to miss not being able to build them - such classic flying boats.
Spiros Pendedekas said on April 13, 2020
Thnks Greg! I really enjoyed building this "old school" Hase kit.
All the best!
Amari Luu said on April 13, 2020
Great job.
Spiros Pendedekas said on April 13, 2020
Thanks Amari! Glad you like it!