Hasegawa's 1/48 scale
B5N2 Type 97 (Kate) Model 3

by Bruce Salmon
 

  

Hasegawa's 1/48 scale Kate is available online from Squadron
 

This aircraft is part of the “Pearl Harbour Trio” that I wanted for my WW2 Pacific collection.

Unfortunately I should have used Ame-Iro as the underside colour, an aerial mast configuration and an 800Kg bomb to make it accurate. If only I had followed the kit camouflage scheme instead of trying to make something a bit different.

Therefore it has be relegated to a battle of lesser fame; an aircraft from the carrier Shokaku – Battle of the Coral Sea - 8 May 1942.


 

Aftermarket Products Used:

Eduard PE set (48 363) B5N Kate

Engine and Cowling

The engine was detailed with the PE, painted matt black, weathered with oils, drybrushed with Humbrol H11 Silver and set aside for final assembly.

Cockpit / Fuselage

Most of the PE is destined for the cockpit and looks great after painting and weathering. All the kit parts fit well.

The rudder and elevators were cut out and repositioned to add life to the model.

Wings

Wings go together well and fit to the fuselage with no problems. The flaps had lightening holes drilled which will be seen when they are set in the lowered position.

Detail Parts

Main wheels were given the PE treatment, brake lines and then painted. A light spray with Tamiya XF57 Buff on the tyres simulates grime and wear.

The torpedo needed scratchbuilt wooden fins added and was then sprayed Tamiya XF16 Flat Aluminium with a random light flick with X19 Smoke to give it a more realistic appearance and a black warhead.

Canopy parts were thinned around their edges to make them more to scale then masked using bare metal foil and set aside for painting.


 

The closed canopy provided in the kit was used to mask the interior before painting began.

Firstly the wheel wells were painted and masked then an all over coat of the lower surface colour was applied. Hinomarus were masked and sprayed making sure to keep the masking circle centres to protect the Hinomarus while the upper green was oversprayed in a cloudy pattern.

Next the fuselage stripe was masked and painted followed by the cowling black colour and walkways.

Paints used are as follows:

• Interior: 9 - Tamiya XF71 Japanese Interior Green / 1 – Tamiya XF2 White

• Upper Green: 8 - Tamiya XF11 JN Green / 1 - Humbrol 226 Interior Green / 1 – Tamiya XF2 White

• Lower Surface: 8 – Tamiya XF12 JN Grey / 2 – Tamiya XF2 White

• Cowling: 1 – Tamiya X2 Royal Blue / 2 – Tamiya XF1 Black

• Hinomaru: 6 – Humbrol 153 Insignia Red / 1 – Humbrol 113 Rust

• Wheel Wells Aodaki Blue: 1 – Tamiya X23 Clear Blue / 1 – Tamiya X25 Clear Green over Tamiya XF16 Flat Aluminium

• Walkways: 2 – Tamiya XF63 German Grey / 1 – Humbrol 110 Natural Wood

• Exhaust Pipes: 2 – Tamiya XF2 Black / 1 – Humbrol 113 Rust

Decals

The only decals used are the tail codes, underwing and cowl/gear door numbers; everything else was masked and painted. The underwing numbers did not conform well to the hinges so they were trimmed with a knife and the missing patches painted black. Japanese aircraft are good for this kind of thing because if a decal gets damaged or masking tape pulls up some of your paintwork all you have to do is brush on some aluminium to look like paint chipping and you are saved hours of reconstruction and anguish.

Weathering

After a coat of satin varnish the model was given an overall wash with raw umber oil with some panel lines darkened with further washes where black was added. A few oil stains were drybrushed and some chipping applied with Tamiya XF16 Flat Aluminium and a fine brush. Exhaust staining was with Tamiya X19 Smoke. A matt-ish varnish was then sprayed to finish the job.

Final Assembly

All the breakables are now added in order of least likely to get knocked off goes on first:
Engine and cowl, flaps, torpedo, landing gear PE doors, observation windows, rear machine gun, canopy, cowl sight, propeller, aerial wires.
 

The completed model certainly “looks the business” when carrying a torpedo. Aside from the wooden fins that the kit missed out on there are no other real issues with construction.

The Kate is a nice addition to any modeller’s cabinet.

 

Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2007 by Bruce Salmon
Page Created 06 December, 2007
Last Updated 24 December, 2007

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