Nichimo 1/48 Aichi E13A1b ”Jake” (零式水上偵察機)
Hi everyone!
This is my Nichimo 1/48 Aichi E13A1b ”Jake”, built as part of the Empire of Japan GB.
The Aichi E13A (Allied reporting name: “Jake”) was a long-range reconnaissance seaplane used by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) from 1941 to 1945. Numerically the most important floatplane of the IJN, it could carry a crew of three and a bombload of 250 kg (550 lb). The Navy designation was “Navy Type Zero Reconnaissance Seaplane”.
In China, it operated from seaplane tenders and cruisers. Later, it was used as a scout for the Attack on Pearl Harbor, and was encountered in combat by the United States Navy during the Battles of Coral Sea and Midway. It was in service throughout the conflict, for coastal patrols, strikes against navigation, liaison, officer transports, castaway rescues, and other missions, along with some kamikaze missions in the last days of war.
One Aichi E13A was operated by Nazi Germany alongside two Arado Ar 196s out of the base at Penang. The three aircraft formed the East Asia Naval Special Service to assist the German Monsun Gruppe as well as local Japanese naval operations.
Eight examples were operated by the French Navy Air Force during the First Indochina War from 1945-1947, while others were believed to be operated by the Naval Air Arm of the Royal Thai Navy before the war. One example captured by New Zealand forces was flown by RNZAF personnel in theatre, but sank and was not repaired after a float leaked.
No intact plane survives today.
This is a 60’s kit, with oversimplified engine and a joke cockpit, to supposedly accommodate a micromotor and batteries, but otherwise is acceptable.
The engine and cockpit were completely scratchbuilt.
Let apart the engine and especially cockpit oversimplifications, this was not a bad kit. If you are lucky and find aftermarket cockpit and engine solutions, you can end up with a masterpiece.
Of course, the Modelling Murphy’s law dictates that a new tool super dooper quarterscale Jake will soon be announced, now that my Jake is finished…
Should you so wish, you can read my full build thread here, along with nice comments and the occasional jokes:
Thanks everyone who participated in my build, it was an extremely joyful experience.
Happy modelling!
24 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Louis Gardner said on July 20, 2020
Spiros, @fiveten
This is a true masterpiece, and it has been a joy to follow along with you during the build. You have done a magnificent job updating yours. The engine and scratch built cockpit are definite improvements over the kit supplied parts. We do need an updated version in 1/48 !!! Maybe a nice 1/48 scale Mitsubishi G3M “Nell” to go along with it ??? One can only dream………..
Thanks for participating in our Empire of Japan group build. You hit a home run with it…….. I also enjoyed reading your article.
“liked”
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 20, 2020
Thanks Louis @lgardner!
It was an extremely joyful experience, your presence and support palying a vital part at it!
Reinhard Spreitzhofer said on July 20, 2020
Nicely done model of a more rare subject! Top job!
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 20, 2020
Thanks Reinhard @grimreaper!
Eagerly waiting for your Judy!
Robert Royes said on July 20, 2020
A fantastic job, Spiros!
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 20, 2020
Thanks Robert @roofrat!
Tom Cleaver said on July 20, 2020
Lots of “go the distance” work on display here and a great result. I like it a lot.
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 20, 2020
Thanks Tom @tcinla!
Tom Bebout said on July 20, 2020
Well done Spiros, really did a nice job on an ancient kit to bring her up to today’s standards.
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 20, 2020
Thanks Tom @tom-bebout!
Pedro L. Rocha said on July 20, 2020
Spiros, your Jake WIP was a marvelous entertainment to me, and I will add to any modeler who reads it. The finished model goes way beyond that 60s kit you described when you opened the box. Well done mate!
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 20, 2020
Thanks Pedro @holzhamer, for kind words, but mostly for following along my build with nice and constructive comments!
John Healy said on July 20, 2020
Great finish to this one Spiros! This is one I’ve been cheering for.
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 20, 2020
Thanks John @J-healy!
Glad you followed along, my friend!
George Henderson said on July 20, 2020
Great looking aircraft Spiros
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 21, 2020
Thanks George @blackadder57!
Waiting for your Pt.2 captured Zero, my friend!
George Henderson said on July 21, 2020
On hold briefly. The canopy frames are pretty feint so I ordered a set of masks for them. Should be here sometime around the middle of August
Eric Berg said on July 20, 2020
You finished it! Looks great. Just the right amount of wear and tear! Really enjoyed following your build.
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 21, 2020
Thanks Eric @eb801!
Colin Latta said on July 21, 2020
That is a truly lovely build, congratulations! I have one on my ‘to do’ pile and I can see the amount of care that went into this.
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 21, 2020
Thanks Colin @tail-dragon!
Robert Paschall said on July 21, 2020
@fiveten. That is a very nicely done model. You definitely earn your pay on this one Spiros.
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 21, 2020
Thanks Robert @beauslx!
George R Blair Jr said on July 21, 2020
This is a great model, Spiros (@fiveten). I totally missed this build. Really good looking build of an old kit that proves that you can get great results from an old kit.
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 21, 2020
Thanks George @gblair!
Amari Luu said on July 21, 2020
Really great job.
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 21, 2020
Thanks Amari @Themturtles!
George Schembri said on July 21, 2020
Really enjoyed following your build Spiros! Impressive job right from the beginning.
Picked up a few tips during the process, thanks for posting all your work.
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 21, 2020
Thanks George @georgeswork!
I ‘ll put everything neatly together in an article, hoping to be posted in my beloved site MM.
Thanks for following along, my friend: your presence, along with other great gents here was a key factor to motivate me building and sharing.
DE4EVER said on July 21, 2020
🙂 … Greetings … 🙂 :
Awesome work Spiros.
Very nice work on the cockpit. The finish on this model gives it character as well as tailfin markings. For sure it is a good eye candy.
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 21, 2020
Thanks @de4ever!
John vd Biggelaar said on July 21, 2020
Compliments on this great build, Spiros. @fiveten
Models from the 60’s are not the easiest ones to build.
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 21, 2020
Thanks for liking and following along John @johnb!
Michael Woodgate said on July 21, 2020
I really like your Jake Spiros. All your work and effort really payed off.
Hasegawa is hopefully tooling up to produce a new mold Jake. I’m surprised they have not done one already.
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 21, 2020
Thanks Michael @mbwoodgate!
Being it the most important numerically floatplane of the IJN, it is indeed surprising that a new tool doesn’t exist. I can only speculate that it has to do with the fact that there is a bit of info obscurity regarding the Jake, plus that no intact plane survives today.
Haslam Yeoman said on July 21, 2020
Outstanding build Spiros. I have been watching your progress on this and the transition from toy like model to very realistic replica is something to be proud of. Well done.
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 21, 2020
Thanks Haslam @Haslam55!
Glad you followed along my build!
Glenn Virgo said on July 21, 2020
Looks great spiros. Keep it up. Spot on.
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 21, 2020
Thanks Glenn @glenn73!
Will keep up with great pleasure!
Colin Gomez said on July 21, 2020
I really enjoyed watching this come together, Spiros. The final gallery of photos demonstrates what can be done to turn an older kit into a museum quality replica. Most impressive was your scratch-building in the cockpit and work on the engine. Thanks for sharing your project. It will be a big help to all of us tackling this kit.
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 21, 2020
Thanks Colin @coling!
Yours and the other great guys following along essentially and helpfully my build was the best motivation.
Big THANKS again!
Jeremy Millan said on July 22, 2020
Wow! This is a top notch build. Came out great Spiros! Looks perfect.
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 22, 2020
Thanks Jeremy @jmillan!
Doug Humphrey said on July 22, 2020
Fantastic job done with this kit! Really like the interior and your motor solution.
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 22, 2020
Thanks Doug @eydugstr!
Ben Walmsley said on July 22, 2020
You’ve done a great job with this Spiros!! Looks fantastic…and a subject you don’t see every day.
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 22, 2020
Thanks Ben @popeofchillitown!
Greg Kittinger said on July 23, 2020
Who needs a new super-duper kit when a little scratch building is so good for the soul, and gets as great a result! Looks fantastic. I love these Japanese float planes. Well done.
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 23, 2020
Thanks a lot Greg @gkittinger!
James B Robinson said on July 25, 2020
Awesome job Spiros, really well done!
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 25, 2020
Thanks James @jamesb!
Paul Barber said on July 25, 2020
Spiros @fiveten, what a phenomenal build – that cockpit is incredible given what you had to play with! Very well done – a spectacular result from a pretty basic bunch of ancient plastic. Congratulations!!
Spiros Pendedekas said on July 25, 2020
Thanks Paul @yellow10!
Your masterpiece “Scout 4 is Late!” Jake build was used as a reference!
Robert Knaack said on August 24, 2020
Nice work on this kit, Spiros. I have a collection of US float planes, but don’t have room for any other country’s stuff, but this one would definitely be one to add.
Spiros Pendedekas said on August 24, 2020
Thanks Robert @robgenev665!
walt samardak said on August 26, 2020
Great job on the build, float planes gotta love them, the photos are well done too, nice angles and close ups!
Spiros Pendedekas said on August 26, 2020
Thanks Walt @waltosoaring!
Gotta love float planes indeed! Thay look so proud even on their dollies!