Sharing of my old model

Imperial Japanese Navy Type-0 Observation Seaplane （零觀）

1. Introduction:

The main objective of an observation seaplane is to remain in mid air between the friend and enemy fleets and to spot and report the fall of friend shots by radio in order to lead the gun fight favourable to the friend fleet.

Before the emergence of the Type-Zero observation seaplane, the reconnaissance ship-plane served both purposes of observation and reconnaissance. However, due to the progress of carrier-based aircraft, it had become common knowledge that a fleet escorted by an aircraft carrier from which numerous defense fighter could fly out. As a result, a reconnaissance ship-plane which lacking of speed and easy maneuverability could not carry out its observational duty against the enemies’ fast moving carrier fighters.

2. Development of the Type-0 seaplane:

In the 1930s, the Japanese Navy felt the need of development of a particular kind of aircraft specialized solely in observational duty with superior climbing power, fighting ability and high speed. In 1934, The Navy asked the three aircraft manufacturing companies of Kawanishi, Aichi and Mitsubishi to start on trial manufacture of this particular kind of airplane.

Before starting the work on this plane, Mitsubishi company studied the pros and cons of mono and bi-planes and also mono and twin-floats with a view to decide which type of plane should be adopted as the best. The co9mpany concluded that fighting capability should first of all, be stressed even at the cost of speed to some degree and thus, a biplane structure is more favourable because of its small wing loading and also that the single-float type is much better when its fast maneuverability is considered.

In order to lessen harmful resistance tendency due to the biplane structure, an elliptical instead of an oblong-shaped wing was preferred. When mass produced, it was further decided that the latter wing, should be changed into a trapezium-shaped, thin wing and props between upper and lower wings were to be a single one type.

Base on these decisions, Mitsubishi began its design work. The trial-plane was completed and passed the flying test by the Navy in March, 1937, and its type was officially adopted by the latter in preference to those of the two rival companies, Kawanishi and Aichi. The plane was named as Type-Zero Observation Seaplane in October, 1939, and mass-produced as the 1st bi-seaplane for the Japanese Navy.

Equipped with the 780 HP Zuisei-13 engine, the plane could fly along at 320 km/h, considered the fastest maximum for any seaplane throughout the world at tat time. It was armed with two 7.7 mm fixed machine guns and a single flexible machine gun at the rear of its fuselage.

Its war records were outstanding, sometimes fighting even with enemy fighters in the air battle thanks to its superior circling capability, while going out far to destroy enemy submarines under the sea with its two 30kg bombs. Thus, the plane was very widely used not only in the normal activities but also serve other multi-purposes role as well.

3. Specifications:

Overall length : 9.5 m
Overall width : 11 m
Overall height : 4 m
Engine : Zuisei-13 type of 780 HP
Number of crew : 2
Maximum speed : 320 km/h at 5000 ft.
Crusing distance : 400 nautical mile
Armament : Two 7.7 fixed machine guns, one flexible machine gun
and two 30 kg bombs.
Number of production : 988

4. All About this Model:

I built this model with no intention of cherish Fascist but to present to you a seaplane that has been built during the WW2 era. In fact, I think it is important to educate our younger generation to know and understand this period of history so that same mistake will not happen again. Modeling may be a good means to it.

This model represents one of the observation seaplane carried by the IJN battleship Musashi.（武藏） Musashi is the second Yamato class （大和級）battleship that took parts in numerous battles during World War Two in the Pacific. Since this plane was carried by the second Yamato class battleship, the marking on its tail was numbered as AI-2 in yellow colour.

This 1/50 scale model kit is first produced by Tamiya, Japan in 1967. Although it is an old model kit, the high quality of the kit is still acceptable by today’s standard. However, there are some mistakes in this kit. Therefore I had made some amendments to this model. In 2009, Hasegawa has released this plane in 1/48 scale and the quality is surely to be better, however, the price will be 3.5 times of the Tamiya price.

I do not use any after market photo etched (PE) or resin upgrade set in this model. I only use simple plastic stripes, putty and sewing threads as riggings to make this kit be more accurate and add details. I always believe that by using the simplest materials to add detail to my model is the most creative and fun way to exercise my mind. It is also a good example for new and young modelers who are unable to afford expensive PE or resin upgrade sets that modeling may not necessary be expensive and difficult.

I used post shading method instead of pre-shading method to paint the plane. Oil washes, filtering and paint chippings were followed as the usual stuff for weathering the model.

Since this is a seaplane, therefore I decided to add sea wave as the base of this model. I used paper clay to make the water and painted it using airbrush. However, I also decided to show the sea wave partially to create the movement feel of this aircraft. When look at my completed model after a 7 days struggle, I think my only regret is that I couldn’t make it fly.

I hope you enjoy reading my notes as well as my model, modelers and non modelers alike. Thank you and happy modeling.

二战日本帝国海军三菱F1M2零式水上观测机11型

1．历史简介：
　　零式水上观测机是日本海军在二战前围绕着在以战列舰为主力的舰队遂行舰队决战任务时为己方舰艇提供弹着点观测，修正目的而研制的一型专用水上飞机。当时，信奉大舰巨炮主义的日本海军依然寄希望于以舰队决战方式取得未来海战的胜利。
　　为了适应远洋作战的需要，零式水上观测机的设计思路及生产技术较此前的几种日军水上飞机有了较大的提高。它采用了全金属蒙皮承力钢管机身的双翼方式，结构牢固，驾驶性能好，且具有一定的空战格斗能力，可以满足执行多重任务的需要，被飞行员喻为“万能水上机”。
　　零式水上观测机在二战空中也有一定的战果，其中日军的水上机母舰“千岁”号上搭载的23号零式水观曾于1942年10月4日，在为瓜达尔卡纳尔运送物资的“日进”号船队护航时，创下以撞击方式击落美军B17E轰炸机编队长机的惊人记录，飞行员甲木清实也以击落7架战的战绩成为了为数不多的水上飞机王牌飞行员。（此款飞机在二战时的总击落数为16架）

2．模型简介：
　　我这次制作的是田宫于1967年上市的1／50比例套件。当时飞机模型比例尚未如现在固定在1／32，1／48或者是1／72的比例上。1／50和1／100等公制倍数比例是包括日本及美国模型厂商的主流产品。在缺乏资料及先进加工技术的六十年代，田宫在这款模型飞机上投下了不少精力：准确的外形尺寸，机翼及机身上整齐排列的铆钉和刻线的精致感，舵面上极具质感的布蒙皮表现即使以目前的标准来衡量，也几乎毫无瑕疵，各种细节甚至比目前市场一些主流的1／48比例飞机还要显得细致。今年（2009年）长谷川推出了1／48比例的零观，还加上了蚀刻片，当然精细度会比较好，但是如果从开发年代来说，田宫的这套模型也不算逊色，况且价钱方面只是长谷川的三分之一，如果钱袋不够饱满的话，田宫零观还是有动手一做的价值，。
　　可能是开发年代久远的关系，在我制作此款模型时，还是发现了一些小缺点，于是动用简单的补土，胶条，铁丝和缝纫线加以纠正或修改。我一般上不太喜欢用蚀刻片（Photo etched）或树脂(Resin)改装套件，因为我觉得使用这些套件无法发挥个人创意和动脑筋，将会失去许多制作模型的乐趣。此外，我也想借此机会向许多刚开始接触模型的朋友传达一个讯息：那就是制作模型不一定需要购买昂贵的改装套件。以免他们因为不知如何使用改装套件而对制作模型感到却步。时至今日，看到身边许多制作模型的多数是中年或老年人士，如果我们使年轻的一代觉得制作模型是件昂贵与痛苦的事，恐怕这门艺术就真是“夕阳无限好，只是近黄昏”了。

3．后记：
　　
　　我这次所制作的零观，是战舰武藏号的搭载机。武藏号是二战时日本的第二艘大和级战舰，因此其搭载机的番号是AI-2，并以黄色漆在飞机的垂直尾翼上。
　　我制作这件模型并不是要歌颂法西斯主义，相反的，我们应该谴责发动侵略战争的法西斯分子。不过在制作二战武器时，也是一个好机会让年轻的一代认识和了解这段历史，希望他们不要忘记这段人类史上惨痛的过去，并以历史为鉴，不要让这种历史有机会重演。
　　其实个人认为模型不失为一种很好的教育媒介，可让不同年龄层的朋友在享受制作乐趣之余也顺便学到了一些额外的知识，真是一举两得。
　　希望与大家分享这次制作的模型的经验之余，也为您的生活增添一丝乐趣。由于日常生活忙碌，在这次制作的考据方面如有不足之处，还望各位不吝赐教。
　　谢谢。