Mitsubishi F1M2 TYPE ZERO OBSERVATION SEAPLANE (PETE) Model 11 “902nd Flying Group Mortlock Unit” – Hasegawa – Nr. 07464 – 1:48
The Mitsubishi F1M (Allied code name “Pete”) was a Japanese reconnaissance floatplane of World War II. It was the last biplane type of the Imperial Japanese Navy, with 944 built between 1936 and 1944. The Navy designation was “Type Zero Observation Seaplane”.
The F1M was originally built as a catapult-launched reconnaissance float plane, specializing in gunnery spotting. The “Pete” took on a number of local roles including convoy escort, bomber, anti-submarine, maritime patrol, rescue, transport, and anti-shipping strike; for example sinking Motor Torpedo Boat PT-34 on 9 April 1942. The type was also used as an area-defense fighter and engaged in aerial combat in the Aleutians, the Solomons and several other theaters. In the New Guinea front, it was often used in aerial combat with the Allied bombers and Allied fighters.
- Skill Level:Intermediate
- Instruction manual illustrated
- Type: Aircraft
- Country: Japan
- Scale: 1:48
- Skill Level: 3
- Model Length: 198 mm
- Model width: 229 mm
- Suitable for ages 14 and older
- MSRP: $ 39.99
- Street Price: $ 26.00 (approx)
- Markings
1) I.J.N. 902nd N.F.G. Code : P1-5 Mortlock Islands July 1943
2) I.J.N. 902nd N.F.G. Code : 02-003 Track Islands fall 1943
About the Kit
I love the Art box of this kit, its show the aircraft with the markings of the 902nd IJN Air Group in the Mortlock Islands around july 1943. When you look for the Mortlock island, they consist of a few atolls in the middle of the Pacific (Satawan, Lukunor, Etal, and Namoluk) up north of New Guinea. There are over 7,000 islands and most were fortified or patrolled by the Japanese to some degree. Most of those were bypassed by the US during the Pacific campaign. The kit has been re-boxed several times over the years and while some earlier releases came with a much-desired photo-etch set, this release, did not. The instructions are clearly printed and easy to understand.
As in any aircraft model, the cockpit is the one to start. Hasegawa did at mix ratio between details and simplicity, with some decals for the instrumental panels, but no seat belts. The seat its also plain as the machine gun is somewhat out of scale, nothing that some rework can fix. I recommended a Photo Etch set to upgrade the cabin or to use a crew from another kit so you can fill the interior. The fuselage and wings are a state of the art, with great detailing, including the fabrics parts on the wings. Fitting of fuselage and wings is great, with need to make constant dry fitting to avoid problems at the final stage.
I found decals too thick for my liking, so I switch to make the hinumaru markings using Orlee Vinyl Maskings. The vinyl masking tape covers perfectly and can be reused for future projects. Instructions can be somewhat confusing since they include the alternative options for use of PE Parts so make sure you read carefully each part. After taking care of the fuselage and wings sanding and correcting some lines, I primed the kit using Badger’s gray primer. Later Applied an aluminum color from tamiya for the chipping process. The chipping was done using the Salt Method in combination of scratching with a toothpick. Several tones of greens were achieved by trial and fail of mixes in order to make the fading look on the whole aircraft, including the fabrics. I opted not to put the rigging on the wings, since they gave me a lot of trouble, maybe on the next one. Finally the antennas are installed and the kit is done!
