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 Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Hello all,
Well here is my first aircraft build diary on this forum under my new username (was SennaMentalMe).
I love WWII 'Pacific Theatre' aircraft, especially Japanese types and when I was trying to decide what to build first, I dug out this kit and thought to myself "I have had this in my stash for at least a year or two now, so I think it is about time that I stuck it all together into the shape of an aircraft" - so that is what I am going to do!!
Not a regularly seen aircraft type on model forums but a very interesting one if you ask me and one which has the appearance of several different types all rolled into one? Take two Sakae engines (the same as is fitted to the Japanese Zero fighter no less!) add them to a design that looks broadly similar to the British Mosquito, put a Messerschmitt Me110 canopy on it and finally chuck in some upward firing ‘Schräge Musik’ type guns from a German Me110 night fighter and there you have it – the WWII Japanese built Nakajima ‘Gekko’ Type 11 (J1N1S) Night Fighter!!
A bit of type History
The story of the Gekko’s development began when the Japanese Navy requested development of a long-range fighter fast enough and manoeuvrable enough to oppose single engine enemy fighters. Nakajima proposed the Type 13-Shi twin engine land based fighter (J1N1), which employed two 1000hp ‘Sakae’ engines (same as is fitted to the Zero fighter) on its’ sturdy wings. Production was approved after the prototype was completed in March 1941, but in July 1942 its’ designation changed to a Type II land based reconnaissance aircraft. In May 1943, when the Japanese held base of Rabaul in the Solomon Islands came under the assault of nocturnal raids from American B-17 bombers, a prototype, equipped with two forward facing guns in the rear fuselage, which were situated aft of the cockpit and facing slightly upwards at an angle of 30 degrees, was immediately deployed as a defence against the attacking bombers. During its’ very first mission, the prototype aircraft downed two B-17 bombers!! After reporting the engagement results, many of the Type 2’s were equipped with four 20mm oblique guns and re-designated as the ‘Gekko’ (which means ‘moonlight’ in Japanese and is not the same as the goggle-eyed, sucker-toed lizard that can hang upside down on a wet pane of glass!! LOL!!) Type 11, and production of the new plane began. Unlike the later production aircraft, the earlier night fighters of this type had a ‘stepped-down’ rear upper fuselage. Two lower guns were also employed for anti-shipping missions, though these lower guns were later eliminated and replaced with an additional upper oblique gun. The later production aircraft also featured an additional nose-mounted radar. Whereas early production ‘Gekkos’ were sent to many places in the Pacific, later production aircraft were used to defend the Japanese mainland, when it started to come under heavy attacks from the American B-29 bombers based on islands such as Tinian.
The Model
This is the Tamiya 1:48 scale (Early Production) J1N1-S Night fighter ‘Gekko’ Type 11 (Allied codename – ‘Irving’). The kit is typical Tamiya fare being so well detailed that it hardly needs any aftermarket goodies to be added!! However, I have decided to make use of the Eduard Photo-etch set for it, along with some very nice ‘Master Model’ turned brass replacement gun barrels to prevent the plastic ones from getting knocked off or broken, and an Eduard ‘Mask’ set to help with the painting of the cockpit framing. My reference material for this build is the superb ‘Modeler’s Eye’ (No.1) book for the aircraft type. If you’ve never heard of this series they are simply the best – though becoming very hard to get hold of!! Although the text is mainly in Japanese (it does have a useful amount of English as well) it is unlikely that you will need to worry about that as the book is packed full of many, many full colour and sharply photographed images of every part of the aircraft, so much in fact, that you simply won’t need any other reference material – it’s all in the book along with scale plans and colour profiles, plus all the correct colours are given in Tamiya code numbers, so you just can’t go wrong!!
The photos below show the kit and its' contents, the small amount of aftermarket stuff needed and my main source of reference material for this build, the superb ‘Modelers Eye No.1’ Reference book and some typical examples of its’ content.
Well, there you have it, that’s what I will be using for this build, it's a great kit and being Tamiya this should be a trouble free build and lots of fun, so I can't wait to get started. The next update will be about my start on putting it all together!!
Please feel free to comment or criticise if you wish.
Kev  ModelMania attached the following image(s):
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 Rank: Super-Elite        Groups: Registered
Joined: 30/01/2013 Posts: 4,604 Points: 13,607 Location: Monmouthshire UK
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Looks very nice Kev, unusual subject too Look forward to more of this one - I'm watching! Steve
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Thanks Steve,
I like unusual and the Japanese certainly did some of that with their aircraft designs didn't they? Though not nearly as weird as the French did - LOL!?  
Thanks for watching mate.  
Kev
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Something different there Kev and looks like there's a fair bit of aotake on the inside too. Current builds:-C57,Zero, Lamborghini Countach, Caldercraft HMS Agamemnon,Robi,R2-D2, MFH Cobra .
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Rank: Pro Groups: Registered
Joined: 27/06/2011 Posts: 434 Points: 1,309 Location: milton keynes
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ohh this looks very interesting Kev, looking forward to an unusual aircraft build & yes the Japanese had some great & unusual aircraft looking on with interest Regards Dan Built - MP4/23, Zero, Deagostini Falcon, Model Airways 1903 Wright Flyer, Senna Mp4/4.
Working - Mclaren M23 1/8th scale to complement the Deagostini MP4/23 & Mp4/4
on the bench, Model Airways Sopwith Camel.
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Looking forward to this one kev jase “Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
-Mark Twain
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A very unusual kit Kev, will be interesting to see you put this one together.... .. Good luck with it, look forward to seeing the progress.. Regards Alan
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Thanks for the comments Andy, Dan, Jase and Alan, very much appreciated.
Yes Andy, lots of Aotake and I remember well the great discussions and debates that were had by several members (I think one of those guys had a username that started with 'Snap......'? ) about the correct shade of Aotake and where it should or shouldn't be applied, when the DeAg 'Zero' was first released!!  
However, this is a much smaller model and with the help of my reference book it shouldn't be too much of a headache as to what gets painted with Aotake or doesn't!
It'll be a fun build though.
Kev
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Now that is a very interesting subject and a very unusual build. Nice upgrades and looks to be a very detailed kit! Very nice indeed kev!!
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Thanks Daran,
Much appreciated and yes, a very interesting aircraft - she should be fun to build and hoping to get started on it this weekend.
Thanks for looking in and your comment, my friend.
By the way, knowing you like military subjects, I have just posted my new tank build on the forum - the lovely 'Matilda' - and that promises to be another fun build!! 
Any More progress on your 1:16 Tiger yet, can't wait to see her finished!?
Kev
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Yes my friend I have just seen the other post, I did a Matilda and it was great fun! Should be some more to the the Tiger this weekend, still loads to do!!!
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Looking forward to your next update Daran, she's a goodun' alright and a credit to your masterly skills!!!
Kev
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 Rank: Vice-Master Groups: Registered
Joined: 06/06/2010 Posts: 566 Points: 1,657 Location: UK
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Nice unusual subject there Kev. Look forward to watching this one.
Wilfy
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Rank: Pro  Groups: Registered
Joined: 15/07/2014 Posts: 204 Points: 578 Location: Alabama, USA
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hi Kev, I'm looking forward to watching your build. looks vey interesting Building - DeAgostini HMS Victory, McLaren MP4-23, Suzuki GSX1300R Hayabusa, Harley Davidson Fat Boy, Lamborghini Countach
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Wilfy the Sea Dog wrote:Nice unusual subject there Kev. Look forward to watching this one.
Wilfy Thanks for looking in and your comments Wilfy, very much appreciated. Trying to get some done on this ready for an update very soon.
Kev
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Ponty wrote:hi Kev, I'm looking forward to watching your build. looks vey interesting Thanks for your comments Barry, much appreciated and glad to have you along for the ride!!
Kev
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Hello all,
Well, I’ve finally managed to find some time to make a start on this build - hooray!!
This won’t look like a huge amount of work done but it certainly took a few hours to do as most of it was about fitting some fiddly and sometimes very tiny bits of photo-etch with a bit of scratch building thrown in for good measure. As is usual with a model aircraft build work begins with the cockpit and fuselage internals, which on this aircraft involves an unusually high amount of work to do before I get to close up the fuselage halves, due to there being a pilots’ station, navigators’ station, then behind him the main radio section and aft of all that there are the oblique guns and their carriages. This update deals with some of the work in the pilot and navigator stations. The first photo below shows the main parts used in this section of the build.
First job was to do something about those seats, which although the kit parts look pretty good, according to my reference material, they are not as accurate as they could be!! Luckily, the Eduard photo-etch replacements are very close to the real thing, if somewhat fiddly to assemble and even had the correct double skin on the pilot seat, the bigger of the two seats in the photos being for the pilot. The navigators’ seat was just a straight etch replacement part, but the pilots’ seat was a combination of etch seat, whilst using the plastic kit framework and I used a cut-down dressmakers’ pin to replicate the pilots’ seat adjustment lever as the etch part was flat in profile, when it should be round and just looked so wrong. Pre-painted etch seatbelts will be added later, after the seats have been painted.
Next job was simple and involved adding some etch footplates and leather straps to the rudder pedals. Before and after can be seen in the photos below.
The pilots’ armour plate is a fairly basic part in the kit, but Eduard supply a small etch bracket in their set which fits at the top over a piece of fuse wire, which replicates what looks like a white coloured section of rubber ‘bungee’ between the armour plate and the underside of the fixed section of canopy? I presume it is some type of handhold loop by looking at one of the reference photos from my ‘Modelers Eye’ manual. Before and after can be seen in the photos below.
The pilots’ and navigators’ instrument panels were up next and all that was needed was to carefully carve away the raised detail where the better detailed Eduard etch parts will replace them once the main parts have been painted. The etch parts are not glued in place in the photos below which again, show before and after stages.
The main crew tub was next and several etch parts were fitted, all of them being enhancements where the kit part lacks detail including four tiny double levers on the port side console. There were three etch levers for the starboard side console as well but they looked seriously under scale according to my references, so I made them out of stretched sprue which was then melted on the end to form a blob and hey presto, new levers!
Last job for this update was to replace the kit part for Radio Compass and its’ mounting platform. Being situated in a very prominent raised place between the pilot and navigator and fully visible through the canopy, I was pleased to find that Eduard had gone the full distance with a near full replacement of the whole assembly. The only kit parts used are the compass binnacle which was surgically removed from the main part, and the compass instrument panels and the loop antenna. The rest is all etch. I also added some cabling from copper wire and stretched sprue to add even more detail. The last three photos below show the standard kit parts loosely fitted together and the Eduard replacements with added scratch built details.
Well, that’s where we are at the moment with this build. Next update is a continuation of work on the cockpit area and the rest of the fuselage internals.
Please feel free to comment or criticise if you wish.
Kev  ModelMania attached the following image(s):
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Lovely job Kev! Those extras will really make that cockpit area! Nice to see someone else using the best freebie in any kit - stretched sprue!! Am following this one closely! Robin First wooden ship: The Grimsby 12 Gun 'Frigate' by Constructo Second: Bounty DelPrado Part Works Third: HMS Victory DelPrado Part Works 1/100 scale Diorama of the Battle of the Brandywine from the American Revolutionary War Diorama of the Battle of New Falkland (unfinished sci-fi), Great War Centenary Diorama of the Messines Ridge Assault Index for the Victory diary is on page 1
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Well that is a start and a half!!! Superb work my friend, looking forward to seeing this diary!!!!!
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Rank: Pro Groups: Joined: 24/08/2009 Posts: 48,827 Points: -13,348
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Plymouth57 wrote:Lovely job Kev! Those extras will really make that cockpit area! Nice to see someone else using the best freebie in any kit - stretched sprue!! Am following this one closely! Robin Thanks for looking in and for your comments Robin - very much appreciated!!
Yes, great stuff stretched sprue, many uses and surprising how thin you can stretch it out to .... once you've mastered the art of not breaking it in the stretch!! LOL!
Thanks for following my build.
Kev
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