Fuji T-1A/B Japanese Air Defense Force Jet Trainer by CDW - FINISHED - Hasegawa - 1:72 Scale

[CDW]

The Fuji T-1 is an intermediate jet training plane used by the Japan Air Defence Force (JADF). It was the first plane to be developed in Japan after World War 2.

 

I picked up this kit in my local Hobby Town store on a deep discount. It’s a 2 in 1 kit with parts to build two complete planes the A and B models. The A version is equipped with the British-made Bristol-Orpheus Mark 805 engine while the B model carries the domestic-made IHI-J3 engine. With a low parts count of 49 pieces for each kit and a beautiful decal sheet, this should be a low stress/quick build of two colorful aircraft that are seldom seen or modeled.

Edited September 11, 2022 by CDW

[CDW]

The cockpit goes together quickly. A dry fit indicates fairly smooth sailing to get this kit together. Now for some interior paint…

[Jack12477]

I'm in

[CDW]

2 minutes ago, Jack12477 said:

I'm in

Welcome aboard. As the first to arrive, you have your choice of any seat in the house. 🙂

[Egilman]

The First Japanese designed aircraft since WWII... It sure shows it's North American Aviation roots doesn't it?

[CDW]

Looks to me the Japanese borrowed heavily from the F-86 Sabre and F-100 Super Sabre designs for the T-1.

[CDW]

By Josephus37 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=51195861

 

 

[CDW]

 

By Arjun Sarup - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87487043

 

[mtaylor]

57 minutes ago, Egilman said:

The First Japanese designed aircraft since WWII... It sure shows it's North American Aviation roots doesn't it?

I was thinking the same thing.   And yes, I'm pulling up a chair also.

[CDW]

While the paint is mixed and the airbrush is out, it just makes sense to me to build the pair of the aircraft at the same time. The only difference in the two will be the decal markings. Both have the same basic airframe colors.

 

[Edwardkenway]

I'm in.

Slinging my hammock. 

 

[CDW]

32 minutes ago, Edwardkenway said:

I'm in.

Slinging my hammock. 

 

It’s going to be a short work if everything works out alright. Most of the time spent might be decals.

[CDW]

Ready to button up the fuselage halves. Can’t forget the nose ballast this time.

 

 

[Canute]

Cripes, I thought you'd be finished before I signed on for this little adventure. Looking good.

[CDW]

Next, will add the wings and a few other small details, then begin preparation for paint.

 

[Landlubber Mike]

Coming along great so far!

[CDW]

First steps of the paint finish begin with a coat of Mr Surfacer 1500 white primer. Will follow up next with a gloss white lacquer (Mr Color).

 

These posters are on my wall to remind me of my 1:700 Pontos Yamato kit build thread I need to finish.

 

[Landlubber Mike]

Looks great Craig.  I love Mr. Surfacer - can't beat it!

 

Is that the Pontos 1/700 Yamato?  I almost pulled the trigger on it an it looks like a spectacular kit, but have a Fujimi kit in that scale with a Flyhawk detail set and other AM.  The Pontos kit looks very good though...

[CDW]

Just now, Landlubber Mike said:

Looks great Craig.  I love Mr. Surfacer - can't beat it!

 

Is that the Pontos 1/700 Yamato?  I almost pulled the trigger on it an it looks like a spectacular kit, but have a Fujimi kit in that scale with a Flyhawk detail set and other AM.  The Pontos kit looks very good though...

Yes, the Pontos Yamato. Started it over a year ago and got sidetracked. Tons of detail.

[CDW]

The pair now have their gloss white paint applied, Tamiya lacquer. Next will mask off the details and shoot various colors here and there before final assembly and decals.

Short and sweet.

 

 

[CDW]

Both models have silver external fuel tanks but various trim colors. Intentions are to finish the pair as per these callouts:

 

 

[Egilman]

3 hours ago, CDW said:

The pair now have their gloss white paint applied, Tamiya lacquer.

Nice white paint job, smooth and glossy.... Well done....

 

And very striking on how they resemble the Sabre in configuration... Even using the same drop tanks....

 

They are going to be beautiful my friend....

[lmagna]

On 9/5/2022 at 12:06 PM, Edwardkenway said:

I'm in.

Slinging my hammock. 

I'll be up there with Edward. It will be Monday before I get my stock of peanut brittle though. You will probably be done before that! Good looking start though as always..

[CDW]

6 hours ago, Egilman said:

Nice white paint job, smooth and glossy.... Well done....

 

And very striking on how they resemble the Sabre in configuration... Even using the same drop tanks....

 

They are going to be beautiful my friend....

Thanks EG. I guess the Japanese needed to exercise their engineering skills after a long hiatus, but they sure do look a lot like Sabres to me. Maybe there are subtle differences in angles of incident, centers of gravity, things like that, which would be hard to detect with the naked eye. The history I read remarked on their good stability for pilots in training, so maybe they concentrated their efforts to make the Sabre design more pilot-in-training suitable. They stayed in service a long time.

[CDW]

5 hours ago, lmagna said:

I'll be up there with Edward. It will be Monday before I get my stock of peanut brittle though. You will probably be done before that! Good looking start though as always..

Hey, you’re welcome here anytime, even without the snacks. Thanks Lou

[Canute]

Looks just like the work done stretching the P-80 into the T-33. Very nice job with your paint job, Craig. The finishes will be great.

[Dave_E]

Sorry I’m late. Looking good! 👍😀

[CDW]

2 hours ago, Canute said:

Looks just like the work done stretching the P-80 into the T-33. Very nice job with your paint job, Craig. The finishes will be great.

Thanks Ken. This one is definitely stretched.

[CDW]

35 minutes ago, Dave_E said:

Sorry I’m late. Looking good! 👍😀

You’re not late, but right on time!

[CDW]

Decal work in progress. One thing that can be frustrating are the way decals behave from one manufacturer to another. Totally different. Some decals will require a mild solvent to help them settle into place, or none at all. Some will require a strong solvent or something in between. There is even inconsistency in the same kit brand from one kit to another. All this demands a varied selection of decal solvents on hand and experimentation to see which one is required. From experience, I can tell you it’s similar to carpentry, you can cut more off but you can’t add on. So it’s best to start with a milder solvent solution first then move on to a stronger one if needed. But don’t count on that same solution working for the next model. Each decal sheet seem to have their own characteristics. This one required the strongest solvent in my inventory, the Walthers Solvaset. My last model, the Airfix kit, worked just fine with Tamiya Markfit strong. Solvaset can damage some decals beyond salvage, so like I said before, start with a mild solution first then work your way up to a stronger one if needed.