Hasegawa 1/48 scale Nakajima B5N2 (Kate)

Manufacturer: Hasegawa, distributed by Marco Polo Import Inc., 532 S. Coralridge Place, City of Industry, CA 91746, 626-333-2328
www.marcopoloimport.com
Kit: No.Jt76
Scale: 1/48
Price: $26
Comments: Injection-molded, 113 parts (4 vinyl), decals
Pros: Fine detail, good interior, excellent clear parts
Cons: Ejector-pin marks on landing-gear struts and bomb fins

Ninety-eight Nakajima B5N2 Type 97 carrier attack-bombers flew from Admiral Nagumo's six carriers during the Pearl Harbor attacks. The first attack wave was led by Lt. Commander Fuchida Mitsuo, who flew in the observer's position in a Kate. That aircraft, AI-301, is one of the models that can be assembled from this new Hasegawa kit.


Typical of recent Hasegawa releases, the kit has gray plastic parts bagged in cellophane with the decals and clear parts bagged separately. In addition to instrument panels molded in relief, there are two sets of instrument panel decals, one on a clear background and one on a black background, that can be applied to all the panel detail. A decal is provided to show the distinctive lightening holes in the pilot's seat, but seat belts are not provided.


The cockpit sidewalls are separate pieces and separate split flaps can be shown in the raised or lowered position. The rear cockpit 7.7mm machine gun can also be displayed in the raised or lowered position.


Modelers who like to detail their engines will appreciate not having to cut the fuselage to install motor mounts, because this area is separate from the rest of the fuselage. Clear parts for closed and open canopies are provided. The open canopy has eight parts, which are thin enough to be properly nested. The fuselage skylights and the observation window go in from the outside and can be left off until the entire model is assembled, painted, and decaled. I used Future as an adhesive on these windows.

Overall, the fit was excellent, and I had no significant assembly problems. The horizontal stabilizers interlock inside the fuselage for perfect alignment. In fact, I used only a touch of glue on the interlocking tabs; I needed none on the outsides to hold the stabilizers firmly in place. The weapons-aiming device on top of the engine cowl, and the machine-gun sight are overscale. I had to clean up ejector-pin marks on the landing-gear struts and on the bomb fins.


My model of Cdr. Mitsuo's aircraft from the Akagi was painted according to the instructions, but there are references that suggest his aircraft had rough, splotchy green-and-brown camouflage applied over aluminum.


The kit decals are on register, but the national markings on the fuselage are noticeably translucent. Persistent blotting with a damp paper towel snuggles the decals into scribed panel lines, and a little AeroMaster Aero Sol II decal solvent helps the process. My antenna wires are made from stretched clear sprue. The box art only hints at antenna locations - no information regarding antennas is provided in the instructions.


The finished model scales well to the measurements in Japanese Aircraft of World War II by Basil Collier (May-flower Books). I spent a little more than 25 hours on this model. The high level of engineering causes this kit to literally fall together, so most of the time went into masking and painting the engine, tail feathers, interior detail, and canopy frames. The Kate is a welcome addition to my WWII Japanese fleet.