Hasegawa has teamed with Creator Works to package some of their models in the markings used in various manga and anime. Even though I'm not a big anime fan, I like the way these planes look, and they are definitely a bit different than the typical build. I've got a number in my stash. This one is the J2M3 Raiden.

The kit went together without any fuss, at least until the end, when I messed up a couple of things (as I nearly always do). Even though the markings are unusual, the paint scheme is the usual dark green over gray. The top is Tamiya XF-70 Dark Green 2, which is appropriate for Mitsubishi-built Navy planes, and the bottom is XF-12 JN Grey. The instructions give you the choice of either Aotake or the underside color for the wheel wells - I used the underside color simply to make things easier. The actual subject, fictious though it is, uses the oblique cannon on the port side. I left that off (which is why there is a gap in the lightning bolt on the port side) and plan to use it on a future build.

The kit gives you the choice of insignia. You can use the original insignia, which is a hinomaru with a Japanese character in the center, or the chipped away versions, which is what I used. Since most of the chipped away version is clear, there is some silvering - perhaps I should have played it safe and used the original insignia.

As mentioned above, I did mess up a couple of things. First, when I attached the radio mast, I did not get it quite centered. As a result, the canopy is not quite straight. Also, the top of the brace that holds the radio mast should be the exterior color. I didn't realize this until the end. I also had trouble attaching the gunsight and the armored glass, which is why they are not there.

Page last updated June 15, 2023.