Tamiya 1/48 Nakajima A6M2-N Float Plane 61017
In 1939, the Naval Aviation Headquarters conceived a plan of trial manufacturing a floatplane fighter, a new type beyond all precedents in the world. On the assumption of landing and invading the Southern regions, the Japanese Navy intended in those days to station float planes in waterways and bays near the landing places until the completion of land air bases for the purpose of defending those under construction and occupied territories. Since the floatplanes might have to fight with enemy fighters in the air, they were required to be pure fighters comparing favourably with enemy fighters in performance. The Navy firmly believed that sufficiently armed floatplanes would be able to fight on equal terms with fighters considering that Type 95 Scout Seaplanes shot down Chinese fighters as successfully as did land based fighters at the early stage of the sino-Japanese incident. In 1940, the Naval Aviation Headquarters decided to trial manufacture floatplane fighters and ordered Kawanishi Aircraft, which was well experienced in manufacturing floatplanes, to trial manufacture them under the name of 15- Shi Floatplane fighter (later called Floatplane Fighter Kyofu).
In the meantime, relations with the United Sates, Britain, etc. were gradually deteriorated and the possibility of rushing into war with them became larger day by day. Considering that war with the United States and Britain would be inevitable, the Department of Operations of the army mapped out a plan of campaign and requested the Aviation Headquarters to immediately develop and complete floatplane fighters which, in case of incading the Southern regions, were to take charge of air defence for advanced bases under construction and at the same time demanded that temporary floatplane fighters should be made available apart from the 15-Shi Floatplane Fighter which was then under order and was expected to be delivered to fighting units as late as 1943 (three years from then). The Naval Aviation Headquarters proposed remodelling the Type O Ship-Based Fighter Model 11 of Mitsubishi Aircraft, which exercised its power in the Chinese Continent and was recognized as an excellent plane, into floatplane fighter. This proposal was officially accepted at the beginning of 1941. The remodelling was to be conducted by Nakajima Aircraft which was also in charge of the mass production of the Zero Fighter. Like Kawanishi Aircraft, Nakajima was well experienced in the manufacture of floatplanes. Nakajima designers including Shinobu Mitsutake, head of Designing Department, had already designed the Type 90 and 95 scout Seaplanes of single-float type, the superiority of both having been fully recognized. Nakajima engaged in the remodelling work at Koizumi Plant night and day under the leadership of Shinobu Mitsutake, then chief engineer, and young designers including Atsushi Tajima. The remodelled version was tentatively named No.1 Suisen (A6M2-N). The remodelling work had to be made immediately, and three used Zero Fighters Modell 11 were utilized and remodelled into the first experimental planes.
The shape of the main float was accepted after model tests repeated at the Naval Air Technical Institute. Only about one year after the start of the plan, the first flight was successfully made at an aquatic base in Kasumigaura on 8th December 1941, i.e. the very day when the Pacific War began. After utility tests were repeated by seaplane units of Yokosuka and Oppama, the remodelled plane was officially accepted for mass production under the name of Type 2 Floatplane Fighter on 6th July, 1942. It was slightly lowered in performance as compared with the original Zero Fighter Model 11, e.g. the maximum speed was decreased from 534 km/h to 436 km/h and the cruising range from 2,220 km (when carrying no auxiliary fuel tanks) to 1,778 km. This was because the large float increased plane weight and air resistance. They Type 2 Floatplane Fighter still inherited excellent manoeuvrability from the Zero Fighter and had good taking off and landing ability and sea kindliness. The Type 2 Floatplane Fighter was a well-timed superior plane to be used for the purposed of defending isolated islands in the Pacific Ocean and air bases under construction until the completion of the 15-Shi Floatplane Fighter which was then being manufactured by Kawanishi. Powerfully armed with two 20 mm and two 7.7 mm machine guns, the Navys hoped for new Type 2 Floatplane Fighter came to be sent to isolated islands in the South Seas and small islands in the north Seas in mid 1942 when the Japanese were still making brilliant drives on the enemy. In spiete of the handicap proper to a floatplane, it fought desperately with large bombers and fighters of the Allied Forces and rendered distinguished service. Even the Americans praised the Floatplane Fighter for its high performance on a level with the Zero Fighter. At the last stage of the war, most of floatplane fighter units on the front lost their planes and pilots, meeting with a glorious end.
Battles over the Solomon Islands
The Allies inititated a counterattack against the Japanese in a battle for Guadalcanal Island located at the southeast end of the Solomon Islands in the South Seas. It was clear that, if the Japanese had occupied Guadalcanal, an important point on the communication line between the United States and Australia, and completed air bases there, the Allies would have lost the command of the air from New Guinea to Australia and been brought into a critical situation. The Japanese Navy was constructing Lunga Field (the Americans called it Henderson Field) in Guadalcanal about 1,000km southeast of Rabaul, the key Japanese base for invading Australia, and Buin Field in Bougainville lying halfway between them. For the air defense of Lunga Field, the Navy constructed an aquatic base at Tulagi of Florida Island near Lunga Field and in mid June of 1942 stationed there a part of the 4th Air Fleet equipped with twelve Type 2 Floatplane Fighters and some Type O Observation Seaplanes and Type O Three Seater Scout Seaplanes. (The 4th Air Fleet was the first unit to use the Type 2 Floatplane Fighter). On the 7th August when the airfields were nearly completed, the Americans attacked Guadalcanal and Tulagi of Florida and occupied them in two days. The twelve Type 2 Floatplane Fighters of the 4th Air Fleet which fought to repulse the enemy attack carried a No.3 bomb under each main wing. (The No.3 bomb is a time bomb containing small balls of yellow phosphor. If dropped from above an enemy plane formation, it will explode in the air and scatter the balls to shoot down a number of planes at a time. The weight is 30 kg). They type 2 Floatplane Fighters dropped No.3 bombs against enemy planes flying in formation and used 20 mm and 7.7 mm machine guns against those flying separetely or scatteringly, inflicting great losses on the Allies. The detachment of the 4th Air Fleet, however, lost all it men and was annihilated at the fighting of 7th August. The Japanese immediately sent army troops from Rabaul to Guadalcanal with a view to recapturing Guadalcanal. Navy planes escorted them and bombed airfields under enemy occupation. Because the distance from Rabaul to Guadalcanal was the very limit of the Zero Fighters cruising range, however, the Zero Fighter could not make sufficient attack or escort. Thus the Navy constructed an aquatic base in shortland Island lying 470 km southeast of Rabaul and organized the 11th Air Flotilla comprising planes of seven seaplane tenders including the Kamikawa Maru (19 Type 2 Floatplane Fighters, 54 Type O Observation Seaplanes and 13 type O Scout seaplanes). Using the beautiful shoal of Shortland as a runway, these planes took off to attack Allied planes from airfields which were completed after being captured by the Americans and also to escort the army reinforcements moving to Guadalcanal in place of land based planes of Rabaul. From 4th september to 9th November of 1942, they repeated fierce air battles day after day with bombers and fighters including the Grumman F4F over Kolombangara and Shortland Islands. By 7th November, they encountered more than 150 enemy planes and confirmed 17 shot down. On 10th October, Master Sergeants Kawai and Maruyama, each piloting a Type 2 Floatplane Fighter, engaged with 20 Grumman F4Fs and were killed, but they fought desperately and shot down four, one of which by body cras. This fact eloquently speaks the skill and morale of Floatplane Fighter pilots. The Type 2 Floatplane Fighter was also widely used in bombing of Guadalcanal, reconnaissance, etc. through the use of Lekata, Santa Isabel Island as an intermediate base.
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Recommended paints for this kit:
- X-1..- 10ml Black
- X-2..- 10ml White
- X-4..- 10ml Blue
- X-5..- 10ml Green
- XF-15..- 10ml Flat Flesh
- XF-16..- 10ml Flat Aluminum
- XF-66..- 10ml Light Grey
- XF-70..- 10ml Dark Green
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Flat Rate Shipping
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Dangerous Goods
Some items such as rocket engines and RC fuel require additional charges due to “Dangerous Goods” category. Due to these items being sent by a courier, someone must be home to receive the item, or a slip may be left instead. These items cannot be shipped to PO boxes. Please note, rocket engines of size 'E' or higher cannot be shipped. They can only be picked up in store.
Oversize Items
Any items that are larger than 1 metre in any dimension are considered an oversize item and are not accepted by Australia post and as such, require additional charges to be sent by courier. Due to these items being sent by a courier, someone must be home to receive the item or a slip may be left instead. These items cannot be shipped to PO boxes.
RETURNS POLICY
Frontline Hobbies is committed to providing customers with the best products and service. We are aware that sometimes returns are required and have detailed in this policy how to return a product to Frontline Hobbies.
Please note that all products are sold with manufacturer’s warranty unless otherwise noted.
14 Day Return Guarantee
Not what you expected? Changed your mind?
We offer a 14-day return policy for any unopened, undamaged product in original condition.
Contact us within 14 days of delivery and we will gladly accept your return. Then package and ship it back to us. Once received, we will arrange a credit or refund.
You must make sure that the returned product is suitably packaged to prevent damage during return shipping. We will not accept responsibility for goods, which are damaged whilst in transit back to us.
A copy of the original invoice or reference number must be included with the returned product. If proof of purchase is not provided, we may not be able to offer a replacement product, credit, or refund.
Please note, for change of mind returns, it is the customers responsibility to pay for return postage.
Incorrectly Shipped Products
If you have received the wrong item, please contact us immediately upon receiving your delivery so we can arrange the correct items to be shipped out, and for return of the item received. We may require a photo of the product so we can verify.
Please keep the products in their original packaging and we will send you a return shipping label. Print it out, attach to the package; and either take to Australia Post, or for larger items we can arrange a courier to collect the items.
You must make sure that the returned product is suitably packaged to prevent damage during return shipping. We will not accept responsibility for goods, which are damaged whilst in transit back to us.
A copy of the original invoice or reference number must be included with the returned product. If proof of purchase is not provided, we may not be able to offer a replacement product, credit, or refund.
If the product is not deemed to be incorrect, we may return the product to you at your cost or we may offer a reduced credit to cover any shipping costs incurred.
Damaged Products
If you have received a damaged item, please contact us immediately upon receiving your delivery so we can arrange replacement items to be shipped out, and for return of the damaged item. We may require a photo of the product so we can verify.
Please keep the products in their original packaging and we will send you a return shipping label. Print it out, attach to the package. We will let you know whether to return it to Australia Post, or if we can arrange a courier to collect the item.
A copy of the original invoice or reference number must be included with the returned product. If proof of purchase is not provided, we may not be able to offer a replacement product, credit, or refund.
You must make sure that the returned product is suitably packaged to prevent further damage during return shipping. We will not accept responsibility for goods, which are damaged whilst in transit back to us.
If the product is not deemed to be damaged, we may return the product to you at your cost or offer a reduced credit to cover any shipping costs incurred.
Faulty products
If you have received a faulty item, please contact us so we can arrange the product to be returned to us for assessment. We may check manufacturer standard warranty to verify the product is still under warranty before we arrange a return label.
Please keep the products in their original packaging and we will send you a return shipping label. Print it out, attach to the package. We will let you know whether to return it to Australia Post, or if we can arrange a courier to collect the item.
A copy of the original invoice or reference number must be included with the returned product. If proof of purchase is not provided, we may not be able to offer a replacement product, credit, or refund.
You must make sure that the returned product is suitably packaged to prevent further damage during return shipping. We will not accept responsibility for goods, which are damaged whilst in transit back to us.
Upon receipt of a faulty product, we will either test the product ourselves or return the product to the manufacturer or supplier for assessment. Goods that require testing may take up to 30 business days.
If a fault is detected, and is not due to wear and tear, or misuse, we will offer you a replacement, credit, or refund.
If the fault does not fit the above criteria and is not covered under the manufacturer’s warranty, then a replacement, credit or refund may not be provided. We may offer to repair the product at your cost. We will provide an estimate of any charges before commencing with any repairs.
Processing Credits & Refunds
We will normally issue a credit note within 10 business days of us receiving the goods returned in accordance with this policy. Goods that require testing may take up to 30 business days. The credit notes which are issued can then be used as a payment against future purchases or converted to a refund.
All refunds will be returned to the payment method used for the original purchase. If for any reason we cannot refund to the original payment method, we may require ID to be sighted to verify identity, or offer store credit in lieu of a refund.
Should you require further information, please feel free to contact us.