Nakajima B5N Type 97 “Kate” Part III

While Carrier Divisions 1, 2, and 5 were conduction the Hawaiian Operation, Carrier Division 4 was assigned to support Japanese operations in the Philippines. At the time 4th CD was comprised solely of the light carrier Ryujo (Shoho would soon join as the Division’s second ship). Ryujo was equipped with a mix of B5N1 and B5N2 Kankō and A5M4 “Claude” fighters. Seen here are a pair of Ryujo Kates passing by Mayon Volcano in the Philippines on 12DEC41. The nearer Kate is a B5N1, further is a B5N2 with the characteristic narrower cowling. “D-301” wears a yellow fuselage stripe and three yellow command stripes on her tail, denoting the aircraft of Ryujo’s Hikotaichi LT Murakami. The photo appears to show both aircraft wearing a two-tone segmented upper camo scheme, but profiles only depict Ryujo’s Kates with a dark green camo. The inscription reads, “Near Muyon Fire Mountain Legaspie 16-12-12”.

One of Akagi’s Kates seen over Rabaul on 20JAN42, carrying an 800 kg bomb.

Ryujo’s Kates again, this time seen over Sumatra in February 1942 with empty bomb racks. Again, these are a mix of types, a B5N2 with a narrower cowling in the foreground with a B5N1 behind. The caption reads, “The ship burns after being hit directly. ‘Banga’ Strait (someone who can escape from Singapore) 17-12-13”.

The Kido Butai (less Kaga) departs for “Operation C” (the Indian Ocean Operation) on 26MAR42, seen from the flight deck of Akagi.

Seen recovering aboard Akagi on 09MAR42 after the raid on Trincomalee, Ceylon, these two photos show the B5N2 Kate of observer LCDR Misuo Fuchida, pilot LT Mitsuo Matsuzaki, and radioman PO1 Tokunobu Mizuki. Fuchida led the Pearl Harbor Raid from this same aircraft which was marked with red tail surfaces and three yellow command stripes for easy recognition in the air. While the dark green camouflage was fresh at the time of the Pearl Harbor Raid, it has flaked badly in the ensuing months.

Another Akagi Kate seen during the Indian Ocean Operation, this is the Kankō piloted by LT Jinichi Goto. AI-308 would be marked with a single yellow command stripe below the tail codes, here obscured by the wing. The aircraft is carrying an 800 kg bomb for use against land targets and also shows pealing of the upper surface dark green camo paint.

A torpedo-armed Kate is seen on the flight deck of Zuikaku during the battle of Santa Cruz on 26OCT42. Visible are the yellow stripes applied in September 1942 to the leading edges of the wings as an aid in identifying approaching aircraft.

A second photo showing a Kate lifting off the flight deck of Zuikaku. Many sources cite this photo as being taken during the Pearl Harbor Raid, but given that the sun appears to be directly overhead like the previous photo Santa Cruz seems more likely. In any case, this is a typical launch sequence as Kates leave the flight deck in rapid succession.

No doubt about this one as a pair of Zuikaku Kates leave the area after launching their torpedoes at USS Enterprise (CV-6). In the background is the battleship USS South Dakota (BB-57), who set a record which still stands to this day – 26 Japanese aircraft were claimed to have been shot down by South Dakota’s gunners, although this was later confirmed to have “only” been 13 by all the screening ships. In any case, fast battleships became an integral part in USN carrier task force screens to provide anti-aircraft protection for the remainder of the War.

60 kg bombs are seen on the apron and loaded onto this B5N2, the Kate could carry up to six of these. Imperial Japanese Navy bombs were painted a light gray-green while Imperial Army bombs were generally black.

IJN armorers are seen adjusting the sway braces to a 60 kg bomb.

A Type 91 aerial torpedo is maneuvered into position under a Kate of the Tateyama Naval Air Group. This view shows details of the loading cart.

A torpedo in place underneath a Kankō, note the retaining straps and sway braces.

Part I here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2026/03/18/nakajima-b5n-type-97-kate-part-i/

Academy Ilyushin IL-2 Stormovic of Major N. A. Zub HSU in 1/72 Scale

“Red 2” was the mount of Major N. A. Zub while serving on the Southern Front with the 7^th GshAP in March, 1942. The inscriptions read, “In the Battle for the Motherland” to port and, “Death to the Fascist Invaders!” to starboard. Major Zub was killed on 22JUL43 while flying his 382th combat mission in the Stormovic, a remarkable achievement when the average lifespan of an IL-2 pilot was 25 missions! Zub was awarded the Hero of the Soviet Union.

Construction here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2026/02/20/ilyushin-il-2-stormovic-comparison-build-in-1-72-scale-part-i/

Warship Profile Booklist

Warship Profile 40 HNMS De Ruyter, the last of the series

The Warship Profile series published its first volume on HMS Dreadnought in November 1970 and ended its run rather abruptly in July 1974 with HNMS De Ruyter. The series totaled 40 volumes and gained an enthusiastic following among warship fans. They were printed by Profile Publications Ltd in England, a subsidiary of Chichester Press.

The format was a 24-page booklet in paper covers with staples, each included several black and white photographs and a center spread with a color profile and plan view. Several later volumes replaced the center spread with a double gatefold, and many of these had line drawings on the reverse. Modelers could carefully open the staples to better access the plans, and I have seen more than one framed color profile over the years. A note of caution here – if you come across these today be sure to check that the center spread is still intact.

Individual booklets are considered collectable and are sought after today, complete 40-volume sets in prime condition can fetch over one thousand Dollars. The best way to collect these today is in the bound volumes, the Profiles will be in much better condition than the individual copies and it is easier to complete the series. The last ten issues were only published in the original booklet format with stapled bindings, so for those wanting the entire run they are the only option. Volumes 1 & 2 each contained twelve Profiles, Volume 3 contained six. The individual pages are numbered as if they are part of a twelve Profile set – for example Profile 36 contains pages 273 through 296.

These are great references and stand up well even today, more than fifty years after their original publication. They can still be found on the secondary market and it is well worth seeking out any volumes which interest you. Highly recommended!

1. HMS Dreadnought – Bound Volume 1, Profiles 1 through 12

2. HMS Cossack

3. USS Hornet (CV-8)

4. KM Admiral Graf Spee

5. HMS Campbeltown (USS Buchanan)

6. Kriegsmarine Prinz Eugen

7. HM MTB / Vosper 70 ft.

8. Kriegsmarine U-107

9. USS Charles Ausburne (DD-570)

10. HMS Illustrious (Technical)

11. HMS Illustrious (Operational)

12. IJN Kongo

13. HMS Exeter – Bound Volume 2, Profiles 13 through 24

14. SMS Seydlitz / Grosser Kreuzer 1913-1919

15. USS Enterprise (CVAN-65)

16. HM S/M Upholder

17. RN Zara

18. Kriegsmarine Bismarck

19. HMS Hood / Battle-Cruiser 1916-1941

20. HMS Hesperus

21. USS Tennessee (BB-43)

22. IJN Yukikaze

23. HMS Furious 1917-1925

24. HMS Furious 1925-1948

25. SMS Emden – Bound Volume 3, Profiles 25 through 30

26. Rubis Free French Submarine

27. SMS Torpedo Boat B.110

28. USS Indianapolis (CA-35) – double gatefold

29. HMS Belfest – 32 pages

30. IJN Yamato and Musashi – double gatefolds become standard

31. German Schnellboote (E-Boats) – Bound Volume 4, planned but never released

32. HMS Cavalier

33. Scharnhorst and Gneisenau

34. USS Barb (SS-220)

35. HMS Eagle

36. US Navy Monitors of the Civil War

37. SMS Konig

38. Abdiel-Class Fast Minelayers

39. USS Mississippi (BB-23) Greek Kilkis

40. HNMS De Ruyter – 2-page center spread

41. USS Lexington & USS Saratoga (CV2 & CV3) – planned but never published

Bound Warships in Profile

Double gatefold from Warship Profile 36 US Navy Monitors of the Civil War

Sikorsky UH-60 Blackhawk Walk Around Part I

Photographs taken on 12JUL25 at the Fort Wayne Air Show, Hosted by the 122nd Fighter Wing “Blacksnakes” of the Indiana Air National Guard

Women Warriors 363

Sixteen newly deployed CST-4 members supporting VSO pose for a group photo at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, before conducting marksmanship training, 10 November 2012.

RAF Squadron Leader Nicola Lofthouse C-17

Aerial Gunner Mary Howe, 4th Special Ops Squadron AC-130

USAF CAPT Jammie Jamieson, F-22 Raptor Pilot

ww449b_Serbian_2K12 Kub SAM — **Serbian Army 2K12 Kub SAM**

ww449c_USARMY_Specialist Jenny Martinez — **US ARMY Specialist Jenny Martinez**

ww449d_Italy_B1Centauro_TankDestroyer — **Italian Army B1 Centauro Tank Destroyer**

(from right) 1Lt Julie “TIMBER” Ayres, Capt. Mary “GINGER” Melfi, and Capt. Tally “VIXEN” Parham, three of the five female fighter pilots from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing that flew in combat missions in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM from this forward-deployed air base in the Middle East, walk together down the flightline on May 3, 2003. Lt Ayres and Capt. Melfi, from the 336th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron out of Seymour Johnson A.F.B., NC, are weapons system officers on the F-15E Strike Eagle. Capt. Parham, from the 157th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron out of McEntire, SC, is a fighter pilot on the F-16CJ and is part of the S.C. Air National Guard. The 379th AEW is credited with flying 3,440 sorties and delivering over 1,500 tons of ordnance during the combat phase of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. (RELEASED)(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. DERRICK C. GOODE)

ww052wasp — **WASP pilot Shirley Slade**

To see more Women Warriors, click on the tags below:

Junkers Ju 88 and Mistel Conversion Builds in 1/72 Scale Part II

Back for an update, and it’s time to talk about the engines. My base kits for these conversions are all Revell Ju 88A-4, an excellent kit. The Ju 88A-4s were equipped with Jumo 211s, and Revell has done a really nice job of molding these. Unfortunately, none of the variants I’m building carried this type of engine. I had considered using engines from the AMT kits, but they were way too small. Here are the undersized AMT engine halves in the light grey plastic taped up to corresponding Hasegawa parts for comparison. The nacelles are equally as small, there’s just not a good way to salvage them.

Fortunately, Hasegawa comes to the rescue here. Most (if not all) of their boxings of later Ju 88s come with the sprues shown above which provide parts to outfit a given model with either BMW 801 or Jumo 213 engines. That leaves one set of engines as a spare from each Hasegawa kit you build. I had enough spare BMW engines, and was able to cast copies of the Jumos from an unbuilt Hasegawa G-6.

The Hasegawa kits come with a wing insert to adapt the engines to the wing. The Revell wings are engineered a bit differently. The easiest way to adapt the parts is to cut off the Hasegawa inserts at the forward edge of the wing roots and blend them in to the Revell wings.

Here are both types of engines adapted to the Revell wings. The BMW radials have aftermarket Quickboost replacement exhausts. No major problems were encountered fitting the Hasegawa engines, the Revell nacelles were filed down a bit on the lower sides but everything else matched up rather well.

On Ju 88G and subsequent series, the forward upper edge of the main gear doors are rounded, on the A-series kits I’m using they are square. A few passes with the file fixes the doors, and small inserts fixes the corners. It’s almost impossible to drill out tiny squares, but an easy trick is to drill the holes in plastic card and cut the squares out around them. The same trick can be used when replacing oleo scissors.

… and here are the inserts in place. A small detail, but only a few minutes to correct. This is a good time to mention that the main gear legs were shortened by about 2 mm each, and pinned back together with a bronze rod insert.

This is the underside of the nose of the H-1, showing the Waffentropfen for two MG 131s. These faced to the rear, and were sighted by the pilot using a periscope. This one was made from two bomb halves from the Revell kit and some Evergreen, filed to shape.

The Führungsmaschine had a solid radome in the nose which was sourced from the AMT kit. Fit was good, only needing a bit of blending.

One problem was sourcing the vacuformed canopies, but I finally was able to locate some replacements. They are from the Falcon set, and require the decking fore and aft of the actual glazed area to be thinned down. Here’s one installed on the S-3. The sun shades are just masking tape, rolled with the sticky side out. The barrels have been cut from the guns, with bronze rod used to penetrate the canopy. The rods provide a resilient anchor point for reattaching the barrels.

Here’s the underside of the nose, the crew access hatch and various other details were replaced with 0.01″ plastic card. An easy fix, and looks the part after painting.

Later versions of the Ju 88 featured re-designed tail surfaces which were much more squared off compared to earlier versions. Many Hasegawa Ju 88 kits provide these parts and I used these as masters to cast new tail surfaces for the conversions which needed them.

Here are all the Junkers before priming showing the conversion work done on each. This is the Ju 88H-4 Führungsmaschine, the most-stretchy Junkers of all. 3370 mm forward fuselage plug and 2740 mm aft fuselage plug, AMT nose radome, cast replacement Jumo inline engines and the squared off tailplane modifications.

This is the Ju 88H-1 maritime reconnaissance version, 1950 mm for the forward fuselage extension, 1350 mm aft. Engines are Hasegawa BMW 801 spares.

The Ju 88G-10 will be the lower component for the Mistel 3. It is modified with an Airies warhead with cast resin stub, a 2740 mm fuselage plug aft of the wing, squared off tail surfaces, and cast Jumo 213 inline engines.

This is the Ju 88G-1 lower component for the Mistel 2. The BMW engines are spares from a Hasegawa kit. The warhead is from the AMT kit, mated with a cast resin stub. Tailplanes are modified with resin casts from a Hasegawa Ju 88G-6 nightfighter.

Last is the Ju 88S-3. This is the most basic Junkers of the batch, just the engines have been changed and the gondola under the fuselage deleted.

Part I here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2026/03/20/junkers-ju-88-and-mistel-conversion-builds-in-1-72-scale-part-i/

Picture of the Week 116

A Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning II from VX-9 flying through Star Wars Canyon. A close examination of the photo reveals several shock distortions formed around the aircraft.

Nakajima B5N Type 97 “Kate” Part II – Pearl Harbor Raid

On 08DEC41 Tokyo time the Japanese began the “Hawaiian Operation”, known to Americans as the Pearl Harbor Raid. By this time the Imperial Japanese Navy had replaced their B5N1 Kankō with the improved B5N2, and the A5M4 “Claude” with the superb A6M2 Zero on the large carriers, although both types soldiered on aboard some of the smaller carriers of the 3rd and 4th Divisions. Here a B5N2 is seen launching aboard Akagi to the cheers of the deck crew while a formation of nine other aircraft is just visible in the skies above, some references indicate this photo was taken during the raid on Ceylon on 05APR42.

A still from a Japanese newsreel shows a Kankō launching from Shokaku during the Hawaiian Operation while another gains altitude in the distance.

A Shokaku Kate is seen climbing out over Kaneohe Naval Air Station with empty bomb racks while hangers blaze in the background. Carrier Division 5 (Shokaku and Zuikaku) were relatively new to the fleet and had not trained extensively in shallow water torpedo attacks, therefore they were assigned to bomb airfields and shore installations during the Pearl Harbor Raid. Shokaku’s Kates were to attack Kaneohe NAS and Ford Island.

A group of Kates with empty bomb racks gather for the return flight back to Shokaku. Shokaku Kates wore a dark green mottle over a gray-green base. Markings were a single white fuselage stripe and red tail codes beginning with “EI-“ prefixes, (“E” = 5th Carrier Division, “I” = first ship).

Zuikaku’s Kates were assigned to bomb Hickam Field. Zuikaku’s Kates were reassigned from Kaga shortly before the ships left from Japan and several show signs of a hasty repainting of their markings. Upper surfaces wore a solid dark green with the vertical tail painted brown. Zuikaku’s markings were two white fuselage stripes and tail codes beginning with “EII-“. This Kate is seen during the raid above Hickam Field with ships along Battleship Row burning in the background.

A clear view of a Kate from Hiryu carrying a special 800 kg bomb adapted from a 16” armor piercing projectile which was used to attack ships moored along Battleship Row. Hiryu’s Kates were camouflaged with a dark green over gray-green mottle, in the case of BII-307 this mottling extends to the folding section of the wing undersurfaces. Hiryu’s aircraft were marked with two blue fuselage stripes and tail codes beginning with “BII-“, signifying her position as the second ship of the 2nd Carrier Division.

A close-up of the cowling of one of Akagi’s Kates during the Pearl Harbor Raid showing details of the aiming lines on the upper surfaces as well as the maintenance servicing stencil on the port side.

A pair of Kates from the aircraft carrier Kaga seen over Pearl Harbor. These Kates were painted with solid dark green upper surfaces and brown vertical tail surfaces. Kaga was the second carrier of the 1st Division, her aircraft were marked with a pair of red fuselage stripes and tail codes beginning with “AII-“. A close examination of this photo shows the aircraft in the foreground only carries the numbers “352” on her tail, maintenance crews have not gotten around to painting the prefix at the time of the raid.

One of Kaga’s Kates during the raid, black smoke is rising from Hickam field below while the white smoke is from Battleship Row. Note the flak bursts above the harbor.

LT Mimori Suzuki led the last section of six torpedo bombers from Kaga which attacked during the first wave. By then the element of surprise was wearing off and American anti-aircraft fire hit his Kate in the torpedo. This photo shows the wreckage of his Kate being recovered. Visible on the underside of the port wing, the last two numbers of the Kate’s tail code (AII-356) can be seen. These were applied to Kates of the 1st and 2nd Carrier Divisions to aid observers evaluating torpedo training before the Raid.

Part III here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2026/04/01/nakajima-b5n-type-97-kate-part-iii/

SMER Ilyushin IL-2 Stormovic of 62nd ShAP in 1/72 Scale

The SMER kit provides the option of building a single-seat IL-2 with ski landing gear which I liked just because of the novelty, if nothing else. Markings are provided for this example in temporary Winter camo, tentatively identified as belonging to the 62nd ShAP on the Leningrad Front during the Winter of 1941/42.

Construction here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2026/02/20/ilyushin-il-2-stormovic-comparison-build-in-1-72-scale-part-i/

Lockheed F-104 Starfighter Book Review

Lockheed F-104 Starfighter

Series: MMP Books Yellow Series #36

By Jaroslaw Dobrzynski, Illustrated by Lieuwe de Vries

Softcover, 176 pages

Published by Mushroom Model Publications, April 2015

Language: English

ISBN: 978-83-63678-39-5

Dimensions: 8.3 x 11.8 x 0.4 inches

In 1951 Lockheed’s legendary chief aeronautical engineer Kelly Johnson traveled to Korea on a fact-finding mission. There he discussed jet combat operations with front-line USAF F-86 pilots. When asked what qualities to emphasize in future fighter designs, the pilots emphasized the need for speed and altitude. Johnson’s F-104 Starfighter design delivered both in spades.

Mushroom has a reputation for publishing quality modeling references, and their F-104 Starfighter volume does not disappoint. This book includes line drawings of all the major variants and 45 full-color profiles, all drawn to 1/72 scale. The text describes the development and operational history broken down by country, and the last 54 pages are devoted to walk-around photos and factory diagrams. The book is profusely illustrated with color photographs throughout.

I stumbled across this book on a vendor’s table at the recent BlizzCon book adoption event. Honestly, I went with intention of just petting the books, but I soon found myself exchanging the necessary papers to give this one a good home! MMP books are always worth a look, but they are not easy to find and can demand high prices on the secondary market. This one is a great reference on the classic Starfighter, highly recommended!