Eyes in the Sky…1/48 Mitsubishi Ki-15-I “Babs”, Imperial Japanese Army ” Tiger Squadron”
21/2020
My dad´s next finished Imperial Japanese subject and fifth contribution to the Empire of Japan group build.
After four combat aircraft, this time a recon plane.
The very nice Fine Molds kit, fit is very good, except the one-piece canopy (the only canopy provided) didn´t sit that well in the rear area. Painted with Tamiya XF-14 JA Grey, XF-13 JA Green and XF-64 Red Brown. EZ Line for the antenna wire.
The kit has nice cockpit detail but sadly you don´t really see it afterwards.
Build thread here
https://imodeler.com/groups/the-empire-of-japan-1919-1946/forum/topic/fine-molds-1-48-mitsubishi-ki-15-i-babs-ija/
18th Independant Company, Hankow Airfield, China, spring 1939
19 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Haslam Yeoman said on September 26, 2020
Great build and great job on all that canopy masking.
Reinhard Spreitzhofer said on September 27, 2020
Thanks! Luckily someone invented pre-cut masks 😀
John Healy said on September 26, 2020
Nice work, Reinhard. I love that kit.
Reinhard Spreitzhofer said on September 27, 2020
Thank you John!
John vd Biggelaar said on September 26, 2020
Beautiful, Reinhard.
Canopy finish is perfect.
Love this camo scheme.
Reinhard Spreitzhofer said on September 27, 2020
Thanks John! Some remnants there on the right side from the Micro Klear with which my dad fixated the canopy.
Chuck A. Villanueva said on September 26, 2020
Excellent rare bird indeed. Also something different for a Japanese camo scheme as well. Really a nice build of a rarely seen Japanese early light bomber. A good reminder to get one for a future build and fill a few holes in my Japanese stable. thanks for sharing,.
Reinhard Spreitzhofer said on September 27, 2020
Thanks a lot Chuck!
Only a foto recon plane, no bomber 😉 The Ki-51 was both.
Yes, makes an interesting addition to every IJ collection.
Spiros Pendedekas said on September 26, 2020
Excellent, Reinhard!
And somehow "different" from the norm.
Had the pleasure to follow this great build all along.
Congratulations!
Reinhard Spreitzhofer said on September 27, 2020
Thanks as always Spiros!
Bill Koppos said on September 26, 2020
Look up "1930's airplane" in the dictionary, (on the web, shows how old I am) they should have a picture of this one there.
Beautifully done. Great camo job.
Reinhard Spreitzhofer said on September 27, 2020
Thank you Bill! My thoughts too, the design looks typical 30ish 🙂
George R Blair Jr said on September 26, 2020
Great camo, Reinhard (@grimreaper). Even in 1/48, this is a small airplane. Nice job on all that glass.
Reinhard Spreitzhofer said on September 27, 2020
Thanks George! Yes, not larger than an average WW2 fighter.
Tom Cleaver said on September 27, 2020
Great result with this, I really like the overall look of the model. "Liked"
I was looking at this kit at the LHS, and I think - given how the canopy opened to the side, that someone with steady hands and a good razor saw (but it you don't have these two items, fuggedaboutit) could cut the canopies and they could be posed open. But it would take some careful work.
Reinhard Spreitzhofer said on September 27, 2020
Thanks Tom!
Fine Molds is not very generous with different canopies….
My dad usually doesn´t dare to cut one-piece canopies, staying on the safe side.
Greg Kittinger said on September 28, 2020
That's a beauty - love the scheme, and if I have one of these in my stash, I may mimic your dad's selection again! Man, with that long canopy, it looks like a bus with wings!
Reinhard Spreitzhofer said on September 28, 2020
Thanks Greg!
You defenitely should give it a go, makes a nice difference to all the green and grey.
Michael Turner said on September 29, 2020
It is hard to go past a 3 colour camouflage scheme.
Liked.
Reinhard Spreitzhofer said on September 29, 2020
Thanks Michael!