1/48 A2N3 Naval Fighter – Empire of Japan Group Build.
This is the new A.B. & K. kit which I purchased direct from the manufacturer in the Czech Republic. This model really came out of left field and represents one of my Holy Grail subjects which I thought would never be kitted in 1/48. I’ve come to believe that if you wait long enough, someone in Eastern Europe will make a decent kit of your most obscure desire in 1/48! This one really is a winner. It is well designed, well molded, and simply engineered. It went together well and reminds me of Eduard’s second generation WW1 biplane models. I finished mine using the kit markings to depict an example from the carrier Ryujo in 1936. The seatbelts were modified from an RAF set and I rigged it with stainless steel wire. If you want to see construction photos, they’re posted in my thread on the Japanese group build page. Thanks for looking.
9 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Tom Cleaver said on June 29, 2020
That looks really nice John. You’re right about it being on the “I’ll never see a kit of this one” list. Great result!
John Healy said on June 29, 2020
Thanks, Tom. It was a pleasant surprise.
Robert Royes said on June 29, 2020
Looks great!
John Healy said on June 29, 2020
Thanks Robert.
Walt B said on June 29, 2020
Beautiful clean build. Very nice.
John Healy said on June 29, 2020
Thanks! Not many photos of these, but I assume they were kept spotless like USN planes of the time.
Spiros Pendedekas said on June 29, 2020
Having followed this beauty from the start, I was amazed by your quality work at each stage, John!
Congratulations again, my friend! This a rarely seen beauty!
John Healy said on June 29, 2020
Thanks, Spiros!
Pedro L. Rocha said on June 29, 2020
I guess this kit is another nail in coffin of that old discussion about the end of our hobby…new kits pop almost daily and some subjects we thought would only become available in highly expensive multimedia boxes (as a best case scenario that is!) are now becoming available in plastic and judging by your fantastic model, some are real gems. Splendid job, congratulations!
John Healy said on June 29, 2020
Thanks, Pedro. I think the hobby is doing fine. It’s just changed into an adult pursuit.
Jim Morgan said on June 29, 2020
Would you be so kind as to post a brief description of how you put the lines between the wings on. It looks great. Thank you.
John Healy said on June 29, 2020
Thanks, Jim. I drill shallow anchor points where each wire connects to the kit, measure the length with dividers, affix with a tiny dab of super glue.
dale travis said on June 29, 2020
Great job on this John. This kit is a new one on me.
John Healy said on June 29, 2020
Thanks, Dale. It’s right up your alley. Check it out. You can get them from the manufacturer or from Scott’s Model Workshop eBay store.
George Johnson said on June 29, 2020
Wow, that is really beautiful, John. Perfectly executed!
John Healy said on June 30, 2020
Thanks, George!
Haslam Yeoman said on June 30, 2020
Beautiful build of a kit that like you I thought would never be tooled.
John Healy said on June 30, 2020
Thanks, Haslam!
Erik Gjørup said on June 30, 2020
Might I add that all the pluswords you used to praise the kit, adheres to the finished build too? Well done indeed!
John Healy said on June 30, 2020
Thanks for all of the encouragement, Erik!
John vd Biggelaar said on June 30, 2020
Nice and clean build John.
Very good looking rigging you have done.
John Healy said on June 30, 2020
Thank you , John.
Łukasz Matuszczak said on June 30, 2020
Beautiful clean paintjob. Nice work. Best regards
John Healy said on June 30, 2020
Thanks, Lukasz!
gary sausmikat said on June 30, 2020
Great job! Striking paint job. Love the red on silver.
John Healy said on June 30, 2020
Thanks, Gary. Prewar carrier aircraft are nice, colorful subjects. Japanese, US, British, they’re all eye catchers.
Dan Lee said on June 30, 2020
That is a one sparkling NMF. This is one of those planes I didn’t even know existed.
John Healy said on June 30, 2020
Thanks, Dan. They were actually silver painted. It’s an unusual one.
Greg Kittinger said on June 30, 2020
Looks great! Love the Japanese silver/red schemes – looks good with their meatballs.
John Healy said on June 30, 2020
Thanks, Greg. Can’t beat silver/red. I owned a two tone silver/red Buick Skylark years ago. Loved those colors!
Bob Torres said on April 8, 2021
Really nice build of a beautiful looking plane. Great job!