Kit: No. JT61
Scale: 1/48
Manufacturer: Hasegawa, distributed by Marco Polo Import, 532 S. Coralridge Place, City of Industry, CA 91746, &626-333-2328
Price: $26
Comments: Injection molded, 159 parts (12 vinyl), decals
Pros: Good fit and accuracy, positionable folded wings, positionable flaps, deployed or stowed machine guns
Cons: In extended position, the outer wing panels droop, canopy cannot be posed open without careful cutting
Put into production in 1944 to replace the B5N "Kate," the "Jill" (Tenzan, or "Heavenly Mountain") was a three-seat carrier-based torpedo bomber that was in some ways superior to its contemporary, the Grumman Avenger. First seen in action off Bougainville in the Marshalls in November 1943, Jills continued with torpedo and suicide attacks at Okinawa and Kyushu right up to the end of World War II.
Hasegawa's Jill is a fine kit, with an interesting innovation: Poly caps and alternate connectors make it possible to change outer wing panels from extended to folded any time you want. More poly caps are employed to mount the main gear struts in the wings, the tail wheel and torpedo to the bottom of the fuselage, and the propeller to the shaft. The three-piece canopy is nice and clear, but you'll have to cut apart the center section if you want to have an open greenhouse.
Hasegawa's flash-free parts have crisply engraved panel lines and excellent detail. Cockpit detail is top notch, too, including tail-guns that can be deployed or stowed. Building the model was a breeze, and everything fit fine. I painted the model with the I. J. N. series of Floquil Military Colors as each of the sub-assemblies were completed. The bottom of the fuselage and wings are done with SnJ Spray Metal. The instructions provide a formula for the interior yellow-green. For the wing fold, flap interior, and landing gear bay color, I used Testor Model Master Interior Metallic Blue.
The four-color decal sheet is in register and has cockpit instrument dials printed on both clear and painted backgrounds - your choice. Markings for two aircraft are included - one from the 256th Attack Squadron, 752nd Naval Flying Group (the subject of this review), and one from the 210th Naval Flying Group. The decals went on fine with a little Micro Set.
Now to see how the folded wings work. My plan was to show one wing folded and one wing extended. I ran into trouble, though; the outer wing panel is too heavy for the poly caps and connector (part No. N5) to hold straight. If you want the wings extended, you'll have to glue the outer panels to the main portion of the wing.
In the folded position, however, the wings look fine, and I can carefully remove them so the model will fit in box for easy transport.
My Jill took just over 18 hours to complete. Beginners shouldn't have problems with it, and any modeler will appreciate the detail and subject matter.
- Al Jones