1/72 Fine Molds - Kugisho R2Y1 KEIUN

by Tolga ULGEN on April 23 2009

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Turkey National Independence and Children Day

 

I always love to model unusual or “strange” subjects.  Aircraft are not an exception. This model is a reissue of FineMolds Keiun.  In an review of this kit, it is named as "most unusual and extremely ugly prototype". Though the name of the plane means "Beautiful Cloud", this comment is completely right!

R2Y1 made its maiden and only flight in May 1945, which was ended with an emergency landing. The model itself is not an exception, as it made several crash landing during the construction.

Click on images below to see larger images

  

The parts were free of flash and have crisp, beautiful details. Construction  is flawless, except the wing – fuselage  mismatch!  There are big gaps and the line of the fuselage does not match with the lines of wings.  The wing roots are also molded in a stepped way.  Though the reference photos are not so clear, it is obvious that the roots are not correct. So you have to use lots of putty and after hours of sanding you finally have everything in shape.

I only added seat belts from masking tape and changed the white parts of the Hinomaru’s with the ones I cut from white decal paper, as the kits decals were ivory instead of white.

Tolga ULGEN

Photos and text © by Tolga ULGEN