Origami Observation......Empire of Japan Group Build
After numerous small challenges and delays I present my first group build completion...
A Yokosuka E14 Y-1 "Glen" "Folding Floatplane". Little known even in dedicated WW2 aviation circles, this aircraft was notable for being stuffed into a tube on the forward deck of a Japanese class I- 400 submarine and assembled to be launched by catapult, and recovered by a crane after landing (hopefully in calm seas) next to the ship and folded up to be "re-packaged " into it's grotto again. I would think it would be better remembered as it was the only Japanese aircraft to bomb mainland U.S.A.
My machine is marked as the aircraft which flew over Pearl Harbour a week after the Japanese attack to do damage assessments.
The MPM kit is a gem ,however somewhat limited in injection molded detail as it is a vintage 1996 kit of low-pressure limited run status. The details are therefore catered to with photo-etch (which I am notoriously inexperienced with). The plastic was brittle as well which led to some of my construction problems.
Sometimes I resort to sticking my floatplanes on a peg ,if only because I am too lazy to build a beaching trolley. I never saw a picture of one of these on land anyway...
7 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Robert Royes said on May 28, 2020
Nicely done! You don't see this modeled that often, except in 1/700 or 1/350 on a submarine model.
Tom Bebout said on May 29, 2020
Well done Phillip, have never seen one of these. I like it.
John vd Biggelaar said on May 29, 2020
Nice build Philip.
What a weird location of the antenna (I assume it is one).
Spiros Pendedekas said on May 29, 2020
Great job, Phillip, of such a rarely seen kit built.
Your Glen looks amazing and adds special flavor to this Group Build.
I love your base too and (that's personal), I love your workshop photo background.
All the best!
Paul Barber said on May 29, 2020
Well Philip, the EOJ GB has thrown up some incredible subjects, but this one is absolutely unique - what an incredible concept. Great build, great scheme and a brilliant piece of history!
bob mack said on May 29, 2020
gorgeous little gem
Greg Kittinger said on May 29, 2020
Very nice!
Haslam Yeoman said on May 29, 2020
First build of this kit I have seen. Well done.
Louis Gardner said on June 2, 2020
Philip, @phillyhipower
I just noticed this was posted in the headlines section. Lots of models have been posted on here recently, and in the blink of an eye your article is on the second page. I am very impressed with how this little plane turned out. It looks fantastic ! Two thumbs up my friend, and I pressed the "liked" button too.
Thanks for participating in our ever growing Empire of Japan group build.