Forthcoming Japanese aircraft kits from Hasegawa are re-releases but their 1/72 Kugisho P1Y1 Ginga due for release in July offers a choice of two Yokosuka Ku Type 11 variants equipped with torpedoes. The kit includes resin torpedo and bomb bay inner wall parts with new decals for 'Yo-231' and 'Yo-233' at Oppama Airfield in 1944.
Hasegawa's venerable 1/72 Kawanishi E7K1 Type 94 Model 1 reconnaissance seaplane launches yet again in kumogata camouflage from a kit included catapult. New decals for 'Alf' on IJN heavy cruiser Ashigara with speculative markings - 'Chunam-go' and 'Houkoku No. 213 Chunam-go' in 1938 and on Ashigara as '2 1-3' in 1938-39. Also due for release in July.
Hasegawa's 1/72 Mitsubishi G4M2A Type 1 Attack Bomber due for release next month and already on 'order stop' at HLJ offers a choice of markings for two aircraft of 752 Ku - '752-12' in the Philippines, autumn 1944, and '52-021' at Kashiwazaki, summer 1944. The kit includes an early H-6 radar array.
Meanwhile Fujimi and Aoshima seem to have given up on releasing 1/72 aircraft kits, old or new.
Image credit: All © 2025 Hasegawa Corporation via HLJ
7 comments:
Thanks for this update, Nick. I suppose that in the current market climate, any re-releases of aircraft models are welocme, suggesting that there is still a pulse! But it's a far cry from the old days.
I find it really sad that Hasegawa is no longer capable of releasing brand new molds. There are still so many Japanese subjects that remain un-kitted. And looking at that Dinah, what makes them so persistently promote that red brown color? Is it really any serious base for it as opposed to “urban legends” referring to “red soil of Kanto area”?
Well, judging by the fact that two of these kits are already 'order stop' which means the initial stock allocation have all been pre-ordered someone must want them! ;-)
Hi Nick, Thank you for the information. This Betty-Kit with markings for two aircraft of 752 Ku Sems to be released in 1997 as CP106 and CP108. CP108 included rocket boosters. Are there any known pictures showing rocket Booster-equipped Betty?
A Hasegawa G4M2e with 722 Ku decals and MXY7 K1 trainer would most welcomed.
@Marcus: indeed. Perhaps they could do a partnership with Brengun for the Ohka K1 trainer.
Hi Marcus, CP-108 was a limited edition kit in the same box as CP-106 with overprinting about the rocket boosters. It must have been a very limited release. I've never seen one or any images of what the kit's rocket boosters looked like. Apparently holes had to be opened up in the fuselage to accommodate them. I can't say I've seen any photos of the real thing on a Betty either, although the FAOW states that some of the 70 produced G4M3 Model 24 Tei had RATO equipment installed in the lower rear fuselage. It says the Model 24 Tei went to 721 Ku. The mention of Ohka reminds me of something that I had quite forgotten to blog though!
Regards
Nick
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