After RAF100 I decided I needed to clear the air with some 'Tamigawa' joy, and to represent Japanese cinema, on the difficult subject of Kamikaze. The whole of the first film is available on youtube. I recommend a look, although it is quite long.

For Those We Love (2007)
Directed Taku Shinjô; Written Shintarô Ishihara

The Eternal Zero (2013)
Directed Takashi Yamazaki: Written Takashi Yamazaki and Tamio Hayashi; Novel Naoki Hyakuta

For the eternal zero I will use three 1/48th Zeros (Tamiya) different variants from the story.

Controversially depicting Kamikaze pilots, these are two thought provoking and political films about tragic death on both sides of the fight.

Thanks Louis, I needed some kits (albeit old) that had fewer parts and nice engineering! I also like the films although they may not be everyone’s cup of tea!

The Oscar - I have some decals - was used by the ‘special attack units’ too. Particularly in the first film. The YouTube link is actually the whole film. When you have a couple of hours it will provoke some thought! It is both harsh and gentle. The director was a nationalist, but wanted to tell the story of the young flyers and their relationship with one woman who posted letters back to their parents when their ultimate mission came around.

It was a great spot regarding Kato and the 64th, and this plane could certainly be built as his, but I will take it in another direction!

Thanks Jeff, I can’t imagine how some Navy veterans and perhaps bereft children and grandchildren feel about Kamikaze pilots. Some of the old footage and the scenes that recreate it quite accurately in these films is horrific. Pretty much every gun available blazing on every ship at the planes coming in to crash into them - it is terrifying.

The story from the other side is incredible too. It is hard to imagine being prepared to commit suicide to damage an aircraft carrier only to be shot into the sea.

The films as I said, are fairly controversial, but if you haven’t seen them and you have time it is worth clicking on the YouTube link to see the whole of ‘For Those We Love’ (it is wrongly called Kamikaze 45 on the YouTube link). ‘The Eternal Zero’ is different - more of a human story with grandchildren trying to find out about their grandfather’s history as a fighter pilot and then Kamikaze. Also worth tracking down if you haven’t seen it!

It's already looking good ! I have built up the older 1/48 scale Otaki Ki-43, but never built a Hasegawa version. I do have a few in the stash... it's tempting !

Thanks Louis, the fit seems tight and true, so far no drama - I'm sure I'll find some!

Great to have you along, Michel!

That's brilliant Stephen - very kind indeed, thank you - especially useful for the details - some of the weathering on those planes is impressive.

I am guessing this was staged with real and recent aircraft in 1944 - the same year that Kamikaze was first used. It begs the question how much was 'paint job' and how much was weathering on these planes? I know that's an ancient argument. It is something I'll have to navigate. I love that the special effects are by the same gent who did the early Godzilla films! (Eiji Tsuburaya).

My real question is about the 'movie' element of the group. I'm going to be living in this group and a couple of others this year - love the GBs for the cameraderie and feedback - but do you build the subject as depicted in the film, or the subject it represents? If I build the P40 from '1941' - I will be building a plane that was a later variant but used in the movie. So I chose a P40 from Pearl Harbour era - assuming this to be about right. There are few markings on John Belushi's plane so all good. Likewise the Huey from 'Apocalypse Now' - one simply has to be done out with the 'Death from Above' art - I'm still working out how to manage that - although it may well never have existed as such in combat.

I've got two films and 4 planes I want to build in this thread. The Ki-43 from For Those We Love is fairly drab. The planes from The Eternal Zero are reasonably different (marks and schemes). I have the feeling I will try to stay with the film as opposed to my own research - but it is an additional conundrum when building Imperial Japanese aircraft - which come with their own 'issues' when defining colour and weathering anyway! Add into the mix the selection process for planes bound for Kamikaze missions, and it is another case of picking an approach, justifying it in your own head (hopefully with helpful materials like yours, Stephen) and doing your best!

Thank you David, and greetings! I chose an obscure (ish) film and then a better known one. I am hoping that a few people will watch the entire first film as it is up on YouTube and discuss it as I build the models. A kind of ongoing film club. I just love the expertise people bring. I have never much looked into the issue of Kamikaze but was recommended a book by a friend: ‘The Kamikaze Hunters’ by Will Iredale, assessing the efforts of the Royal Navy in the Pacific in 1945. The Kamikaze strategy is clearly all very intense, complex and challenging to unravel, so it will be great if the comment continues. Failing that I’ll just build some models of kits I never expected to! Thanks for this GB, by the way, I’m glad not to be overseeing the RAF100 any more - great while it lasted , and still one more post for me to make - but I am going to live in the GBs this year (this one in particular) and generally enjoy the learning they will bring!

Hi Paul, yes I have not as yet viewed those videos. I intend to. As this subject is quite explosive to some and tends to bring out the trolls known and unknown. But in the name of civility I do have my own take on it, but it will be quite divisive so I will message you privately of my own facts of the subject not opinions as some have shared and should be kept to themselves as usual.