One model per (non-working) day - Page 1558

**PacificWind** · #**15571** 09-29-2019, 12:42 PM

Bruno, your L2D3 was also identified by Don in my thread.
Here's what Don had written:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Boose

As the French caption says, this is an aircraft of the Tsukuba Naval Air Group (Kōkutai) and, at the time portrayed by the markings, was being used to support the Shōwa tokkō-tai (Special Attack – suicide – unit) by transporting pilots and equipment from the Tsukuba (Yatabe) area to bases in Kyushu. The yellow chrysanthemum – Kikusui – on the tail was the emblem of the 5th Air Flotilla, responsible for the air defense of Western Japan, of which the Tsukuba-ku was a subordinate command. The tail marking (ツ 901, or TSU 901) indicates an aircraft of the Tsukuba-ku.

Tsukuba was a training base for Zero fighter pilots and, after May 1945, for training Shiden pilots. In early 1945, it also became a base for several Special Attack units. Tsukuba Naval Air Group Monument

Don

**Don Boose** · #**15572** 09-29-2019, 01:02 PM

BruNo 3153 is a Shōwa L2D3 (Navy Type Zero Transport, Model 22) of the Tsukuba Naval Air Group, based at Tsukuba Airfield on the east coast of Japan. Tsukuba Ku was established in 1934 as a training unit, and also operated as a fighter unit during the war. The tail marking is the katakana character for “Tsu” (Tsukuba Ku), and the 900-series serial identifies the unit as a fighter unit. Note the 900-series serial number of G6M1-L V-901 of the Tainan Naval Air Group, BruNo 3051).

In early 1945, several special attack (suicide) units (Shinpū tokubetsukōgekitai) were established from within Tsukuba Ku: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tsukuba Units (Tsukuba-tai) for Operation Kikusui (Floating Chrysanthemum), a series of ten Navy aerial suicide attacks against the Allied fleet attacking Okinawa. http://www.kamikazeimages.net/monuments/tsukuba/index.htm

Tsu-901 and other Tsukuba Ku transports were used to carry suicide pilots and equipment from Tsukuba Airfield to advanced bases in southern Kyushu. Aircraft assigned to this role had the Kikusui image painted on the vertical stabilizer as shown in the attached image. BruNo 3053 shows the aircraft prior to the Kikusui operation.

Don

Added: Sorry, I was drafting this as Kacper and Bruno were posting their posts. I think the information is consistent, however. dwb

**Butelczynski** · #**15573** 09-29-2019, 02:18 PM

Yes!

I'll shut up now and I won't ask for anything

For a while...

**Pablito** · #**15574** 09-29-2019, 02:50 PM

Bruno and when you make a model of a passenger plane in 1: 300, there are so many cool livery to do

**Stormeagle** · #**15575** 10-01-2019, 01:02 AM

I have added in the download section the latest repaints of Carlos Mig17s that he made available in FB. There is a beautiful Cuban camo version for those who are interested

Thank you Carlos, that is one of my favorites.

**scissorsandplanes** · #**15576** 10-01-2019, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Boose

Tsu-901 and other Tsukuba Ku transports were used to carry suicide pilots and equipment from Tsukuba Airfield to advanced bases in southern Kyushu. Aircraft assigned to this role had the Kikusui image painted on the vertical stabilizer as shown in the attached image. BruNo 3053 shows the aircraft prior to the Kikusui operation.

I'll see if I can design this symbol to add to the plane. The image is sufficiently detailed for an attempt.
Thanks for the info.

**scissorsandplanes** · #**15577** 10-05-2019, 03:17 AM

The L2D is in good hands for a test build.
So I can start with a new project.
Here a first glance at what is in the pipeline.

This might be one of the last models of this tsunami.
A new series is breeding in my head.

**Rata** · #**15578** 10-05-2019, 06:27 AM

I'm sure this M6A1 is the perfect swansong for all the excellent foregoing WWII Japanese subjects you gave us Bruno. Thanks again mate.

**Don Boose** · #**15579** 10-05-2019, 08:37 AM

Thank you very much for this wealth of Japanese aircraft, Bruno.

From my selfish perspective, it was a remarkable coincidence that you began turning out this series of Japanese aircraft at exactly the same time that I returned to a study of the Japanese language. You have provided enough material for me to do research on IJN and IJA aircraft for the foreseeable future. Perhaps I will try to actually get one or two built as well.

Don

**scissorsandplanes** · #**15580** 10-05-2019, 12:27 PM

Thanks everyone for the support and enthusiasm with this Japanese series.
I end it with the profiles of the L2D and M6A1 models. (The former now with the symbol on the tail Don wrote about before. The latter now fill the gap that I left in the numbering originally intended for the Ki-102 Hei.)
There are many more models left in my to-do list, but I need something else for a while.
B