Some movies can provide that suspension of disbelief and provide a teachable moment. Considering our hobby often represents a lot of what David pointed out, where always on what I call the thin gray line and the hobby can be perverse and embroiled in some real dysfunctional belief systems. I prefer to believe and focus not on weapon systems, engineering marvels, and perverse governments in my modeling but, rather seek to learn more about the human condition. Peoples life stories, their pain, triumphs, suffering and sacrifices for the better good. The Stanford Tucks, Hartman's, Bongs, and many forgotten individuals whose life stories can allow them not to be forgotten and can serve to teach us how to live a honorable life. Being apart of the modeling community and having a little fun, laughter and being a student of life. Do unto others...Then again its a Hobby and at times it's about the plastic. Reality what a concept.

Looking forward to seeing your work Paul. This project is good food for thought and the parallels of the Japanese pilots and their motives makes one wonder about people who strap on vests in contemporary cultures.

Stephen, thanks so much for your thoughts. You have very eloquently encapsulated the way many modellers would describe their views on why and what they build. I know my skills are nowhere near able to produce some of the builds and creations seen at shows (and on this forum), but the reading that results in a ‘concept’ or just some learning along with friends is my real reason for being here. If, before my faculties completely conk out I make couple of decent kits and get better, it will all be well worth it and beyond my expectations.

The historical element and its major and minor protoganists do throw up questions. Some don’t build using certain symbols. Some wouldn’t build a plane flown by a man like Rudel for example - presumably because they like to commemorate the ‘Stanford Tucks’ and ‘Gallands’. David’s ‘Higher Call’ build is a great example of building the honourable and teachable moments you talk of. Then again if you chose war machines as your subject, you are going read about people pulling triggers.

I’d love to see the demography around our population of plastic addicts. Clearly men in general (although those women who are in the hobby are often phenomenally talented); you would guess at a fairly high average age; and a significant ex-military group too. And many returners, remembering a hobby they engaged in when the world conflicts were much fresher in the mind. I say this because, as a child of the 60s my parents and family were still recovering from the war, some mentally, others physically, and referenced it often. Perhaps younger hobbyists are more likely to build sci-fi? I couldn’t guess but I’d love to see some data. A survey relating subject matter to age and background would be interesting. I wonder how many younger people model sprawling railroads (I’m guessing few due to cost, but I’d be happy to find out)?

As to this thread, it recently demonstrated how controversial comment and source material can be. I am wary (with heightened intensity, now!) of using materials and statistics. However It has been said that upward of 5000 Kamikaze died, and around 20,000 were awaiting missions as the war ended. A handful came back from missions due to plane failure and other factors. It was looked upon scathingly to return. More recent events resulting in planes or vehicles hitting civilians or public buildings, and involving those detonating vests; or using hand weapons in the certain knowledge that they are going to die fighting for their ‘cause’, does draw parallels for me. But those who now write about the Kamikaze would remind us that they never set out to hit a civilian target.

Here is an interesting article:
https://www.stripes.com/news/chance-encounter-changed-wwii-kamikaze-s-life-1.50808

'If your institution or government is creating a environment in which individuals are being dehumanized and given no hope…or the option is to opt out for a better life in the here after for the better good of a demagogue, self proclaimed higher power or for the honor of the family that is perversion.'

This is spot on. I'd emphasise that dehumanisation can also come simply from being exposed to an extended war or a war zone, not only through an 'evil' ideology. It is perhaps simplistic, but folk from 'stable backgrounds', put in wars, are changed for better or worse as they experience so many variables beyond their control. I have been inspired and lifted, but also horrified watching the 'Medal of Honour' series on Netflix. The transcendence of those unthinkable choices by taking charge of your own actions in possibly your last moments, as you describe, is abundant in that series.

Maintaining hope, we do have to believe that humans can learn how to avoid making the same mistakes over and over again. That's why remembrance is so important - not only with the holocaust and other atrocities (the dark side you speak of), but also by recalling actions of valour and honour, and the political relationships that lead to them. The perspectives we get on human achievements and morality are amplified by the challenge of this 'dehumanisation'. As I read your post, Stephen I couldn't help but recall some of the passages from Max Hastings' 'All Hell Let Loose' - especially those describing the horrors on 'The Eastern Front' when the fighting on the ground was of an epic scale, and massive losses and daily inhuman acts and were almost the norm. I believe though if we look without bias we can find enough examples from the history of WW2 (let alone other conflicts) to show no single 'side' held the monopoly.

As many of the problems of the present and future are rooted in the past we can't hope to solve them or even understand them without some looking back. So to return to Kamikaze, I'd still say that the young men in those planes were victims in many cases, and that the stories that these films tell, are about that demagoguery and the belief systems that put them in those cockpits, and the human response to such impossible/complex situations. Which is emphatically not to detract from the awful deeds they carried out. What of their free will? These films give us a little more understanding about the pressures and choices these men faced - and rose-tint too. I think you are right when you suggest they may in turn help us to understand more the positions of the young people who put on the vests today. And to find new ways to answer the inevitable question, about how they might be convinced to stop. If the definition of a demagogue involves at some level a leader playing on people's prejudices and putting reason 'to sleep' it is a truly important question in 2019!

Stephen, thanks for your fantastic input and for guiding the conversation to the bigger picture!

Well, David, that's a minor coincidence. I have just started on this again after three months and updated the video link earlier. On the same youtube page as the trailer I inserted for 'For Those We Love' (above) is the whole film - in Russian. I don't know for sure but one might be able to get subtitles on youtube.

Like many in the 'iM goes Movie' group I have been snipping screen shots. I started with the 'Oscars' (ironically) used in this film. Some shots are better than others - and I certainly won't post them all - just a handful. The Oscars from the film are depicted as pretty much 'knackered' before they flew their last mission.

Seems to me the film's technical crew did a decent enough job with the Oscars!

Next a look at 3 Zeros I have made a start on this weekend, for 'The Eternal Zero'. All the usual routines being followed. All Tamiya. Probably most notable the new AK paint - said to be 'more accurate' and to include a 'scale factor'. The one I tried was 'Nakajima Interior Green'. It sprays well from the bottle, and has a semi-gloss finish - quite good for an interior.

Some screen shots of the chosen planes from the film next up!

THE ETERNAL ZERO

The aim of this part of the build is to make 3 Zeros central to the story:

1. The A6M3 (Type 32) flown by the character Kageura in the key dog-fight scene between Zeros!
   (Note I am doing this as an A6M3 as that is what I had in my cupboard - the type 52 and type 21 are named as those types during the film as they are central to its twist. The plane Kaguero flies is not named by type, but falls chronologically later than the 'early scenes' so I am using a little artistic licence).
   

   

   

2. The A6M5 (Type 52) flown by the characters Kyuzo Miyabe and Kenichiro Ōishi
   

   

   

   

3. The A6M2 (Type 21) flown by the character Kyuzo Miyabe in the film's final scene
   

   

   

These are all screen shots from the film - hopefully we can sort out the 'square picture issue' and they can become more readily 'viewable'!

Next some shots of this build as it stands - cockpits done (with a mixture of decals and etch for IPs); wheel wells painted (Aotake for the A6M5 which is said to be a 'new plane' during the film - and is depicted with the electric blue protective layer); engines made up; and various other bits and pieces painted to be able to start locking the cockpits away in the fuselages.

While I am at it here are some thoughts by others on the book and film:

First from Wikipedia (I know it has had its issues but it is getting better and these are quotes) - a brief summary of why the story is so controversial.

"The Eternal Zero has come under criticism for its nationalistic and sympathetic depiction of the Kamikaze pilots. Director Hayao Miyazaki in an interview accused the film of "trying to make a Zero fighter story based on a fictional war account that is a pack of lies". He added that this film was "just continuing a phony myth" and that he had "hated that sort of thing ever since was a kid."

Kazuyuki Izutsu, the director of the 2005 film Pacchigi! said that the film had "no basis in fact". The film has also courted controversy amongst Japan's neighbors, especially China, with one Chinese commentator reportedly accusing the film of being "propaganda for terrorism".

However, the film's director, Takashi Yamazaki, rejected these interpretations of the film, saying, "The film depicts the war as a complete tragedy, so how can you say it glorifies war?... I really don't get it."

He eventually dismissed such criticism, saying that "In the end, people see what they want to see. If you think from the start that 'this movie glorifies war' you're going to see it as a movie that glorifies war, no matter what."

Similarly, the author of the original book, Naoki Hyakuta, disagreed with this line of criticism, stating in a tweet that "In my book Eternal Zero, I opposed suicide attacks with determination", "I have never ever viewed wars in a positive light", and the theme of the book was "not to allow our memories of war to fade away". The author also added in a tweet, "I feel sorry for Eternal Zero. [...] On one side of the political spectrum, Japanese right-wing nationalists claimed the book was plagiarized and were indignant about its criticism of high-ranking Japanese government officials, while on the opposite side, left-wingers criticized it as a glorification of war, Hayao Miyazaki rebukes it for fabrication [...]. It is drawing fire literally from all directions."

Yet the book and the film have been warmly received by its Japanese audiences: the film was one of the highest-grossing films of the year in Japan. Notably, Shinzo Abe, the Prime Minister of Japan, declared his support for this film and the book, saying that he had been "moved" by it.

Yoko Ono also dedicated a special message to the brochure of the film, expressing her concurrence to the message of the film.

Critics have accused the film of misrepresenting Kamikaze pilots. They argued that instead of the pilots being willing to sacrifice themselves for Japan as depicted in the film, these pilots were actually forced to take part in these suicide missions.

A deeper look at the controversy of a book written by a Nationalist author, but interpreted by a Director who made many changes to the characters and plot can be found here in the Japan Times article:

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2014/02/20/films/debate-still-rages-over-abe-endorsed-wwii-drama/#.XM_CN6dL1QI

I would encourage all to view the film to make up their own minds - the film ends with a Zero in a kamikaze attack on either the USS Bunker Hill or USS Ticonderoga, although the ship is never named. (An Essex class carrier is described, but 14 - as in CV-14 is seen on the deck). Others will know more.

@yellow10 This is rapidly becoming a thread for the ages, Paul. Well, at least one of my favourite ever. Your thoughts on the hobby are well thought through and multi-layered, cutting to the heart of why we do this small impulse of delight (and as usual, the actual model work is just excellent).

It’s great to have you on the bench, so to speak, and I thinks Louis would agree that you have been just as encouraging to us when ‘life’ has happened. Thanks, Paul.

And still the square photos...

Any updates on a fix?