Tamiya Models Nakajima A6M2-N (Rufe) Model Kit

Description

In 1939, the Naval Aviation Headquarters conceived a plan of trial manufacturing a floatplane fighter, a new type beyond all precedents in the world. On the assumption of landing and invading the Southern regions, the Japanese Navy intended in those days to station float planes in waterways and bays near the landing places until the completion of land air bases for the purpose of defending those under construction and occupied territories. Since the floatplanes might have to fight with enemy fighters in the air, they were required to be pure fighters comparing favourably with enemy fighters in performance. The Navy firmly believed that sufficiently armed floatplanes would be able to fight on equal terms with fighters considering that Type 95 Scout Seaplanes shot down Chinese fighters as successfully as did land based fighters at the early stage of the sino-Japanese incident. In 1940, the Naval Aviation Headquarters decided to trial manufacture floatplane fighters and ordered Kawanishi Aircraft, which was well experienced in manufacturing floatplanes, to trial manufacture them under the name of 15- Shi Floatplane fighter (later called Floatplane Fighter Kyofu). In the meantime, relations with the United Sates, Britain, etc. were gradually deteriorated and the possibility of rushing into war with them became larger day by day. Considering that war with the United States and Britain would be inevitable, the Department of Operations of the army mapped out a plan of campaign and requested the Aviation Headquarters to immediately develop and complete floatplane fighters which, in case of incading the Southern regions, were to take charge of air defence for advanced bases under construction and at the same time demanded that temporary floatplane fighters should be made available apart from the 15-Shi Floatplane Fighter which was then under order and was expected to be delivered to fighting units as late as 1943 (three years from then). The Naval Aviation Headquarters propo Review: Great kit - Best price anywhere Review: ベテラン二式水戦未だ現役なり - パッケージの「1973」のクレジットを見て分かる通り、本製品は1973年初版という半世紀以上前のベテランキットで、1/48スケールの二式水戦としては最初で最古のキットです。 プロポーションやディテールは今の目で見ると不満もありますが、実機らしさは充分出ており、登場当時としては出色の出来でしょう。 付属の立像と座像のパイロットフィギュアの出来は、今の目で見ても遜色ありません。 金型はさすがにくたびれてきたのか、パーツ精度はやや甘く、隙間や段差ができる箇所が少なくないので、キッチリ作るにはパテの使用は避けられないでしょう。 デカールにはソロモンからアリューシャンまで各戦線を網羅したマーキングが六種も収録されていてサービス満点。 デカールの質は昔より向上していますが、マーキングの考証は古いままなので、考証派のモデラーは資料などを参考にして、各自の解釈で仕上げると良いでしょう。 1/48の二式水戦は他にもハセガワやエデュアルド製のキットが存在し、どちらも本製品より新しく出来も良いですが、高価だったり入手困難だったりするので、手頃な価格で入手しやすい本製品は気軽に楽しむには最適でしょう。