J2m3

[Old Dog]

OK, made it with a couple hours to spare ! This is the 1/32 Hasegawa kit. A joy to build as the fit was great. Hardest part was hacking the leading edge of the wing for the gun fairings and filling in the gun troughs on the cowling, nothing too taxing. I actually took some in progress photos so without further ado...

I had Eduard PE for the IP but decided to use the kit panel and decal...much better !

Only Eduard used was the seat belts

Some what surprising to me was for Hasegawa to include a relatively well detailed engine seeing that it is totally buried when finished. I gave it a coat of aluminum just in case. It is needed to attach the exhausts and the extension to the fan and prop.

Nope, no engine visible here !

And on to the finish shots. I decided for once I wanted to forego making it look like a paint striping job gone bad. These served mostly in homeland defense and not subjected to the rigors that many were and besides they all were new once !

OK, that's a wrap for 2018. I still have two on the bench but they will be the first ones for the new year.

As always, thanks for looking and Happy New Year everyone !

 

[moon puppy]

Man that looks like just motor and wings...

Nice job Gary!

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Turned out really nice Gary and congrats on getting another finished under the wire.

 

[Paulw]

and enjoyable and fun kit to build. It looks real nice.

 

[sharkman]

That looks fantastic Gary!

I like everything about it, very nice build!

:drinks

 

[jeaton01]

Well done, Gary!

 

[razordws]

Nope! I don't see a motor either. Nice work Gary!

 

[moon puppy]

After looking at this a bit more, almost look like if the Granville Brother's design had been developed a bit further, like the Gee Bee racer?

 

[lupanzer]

Great job Gary!...congratulations :drinks

Luiz.

 

[Old Dog]

Thanks guys !

Bob, the J2M was designed by Jiro Horikoshi, creator of the A6M Zero. It was to be a strictly local-defense interceptor, intended to counter the threat of high-altitude bomber raids, and thus relied on speed, climb performance, and armament at the expense of maneuverability. Primarily designed to defend against the Boeing B-29, the type was handicapped at high altitude by the lack of a turbocharger. However, its four-cannon armament supplied effective firepower and the use of dive and zoom tactics allowed it to score occasionally. Insufficient numbers and the American switch to night bombing in March 1945 limited its effectiveness.

 

[helios]

Nice build.

 

[Duke Maddog]

Beautiful job Gary! You nailed that perfectly!

Congrats on finishing out 2018 with such an excellent model!