Hasegawa 1/72 Fuji T-1A

HASEGAWA 1:72 FUJI T-1A
'INBOX Review'

Reviewer: Myself (rec.models.scale)
- A Built up review of this kit exists on this site - see the respective fully built kit review index to locate review

Kit Details: Hasegawa Series A14 - no. JS-058 - Fuji T-1A - Japan Self Defence Air Force Trainer

Aircraft History: The Fuji T-1A was the first Japanese aircraft produced after World War II and replaced the American built T-6 Texan in the pilot trainer role. Its roots and development stemmed largely from another North American aircraft at the time, the F-86 Sabre, although the Fuji aircraft was inherently its own design. In fact Fuji produced the aircraft so that it had many parts in common with both the F-86 and T-33 to facilitate maintenance. First flown in 1958, 64 examples were produced of which approximately two-thirds were T-1A's, most of which were assigned to Ashiya Airbase. Ashiya based T-1's were painted white as it was believed this would inhibit rust breaking out from being stationed near the sea whilst those stationed at inland Gifu Airbase were left in bare metal finish .

The Kit: Talking of ageing kits this is really one from the Jurassic period for Hasegawa! It comes in a small box with a couple of T-1A's in flight with Mt Fuji in the background. I remember building this kit as a young kid so we're certainly talking 60's Hasegawa vintage.

Kit Parts: Three sprues contain 30 white injection molded parts that have raised panel lines and surface detail that befits the era of engineering. There is a very small amount of flash that needs to be removed from some of the smaller parts and a few ejector pin marks to deal with. Some parts, eg: pilot seats, have ugly mold seams down the middle. Two clear parts - which are severely scratched due to their age - are on a separate very small sprue.

Instructions: A slightly fatter than A5 four page booklet is provided with data and history on the front page. The centre spread contains 5 assembly steps which are accompanied by a running commentary in translated English on the order of putting parts together. Most of the drawings are pretty easy to follow by virtue of small amount of parts and locating pins. A sprue map and list of all of the parts is also provided on these pages while basic painting information is provided by colour name only (eg: gray, orange, white, dark blue, etc). The back page provides a sideview and a split top/bottom view for painting and decalling with generic paint names supplied, presumably Gunze Sangyo et al were not invented yet.

Colour Options: There is only one overall white example based at Ashiya from 13th training group provided in the kit. The boxart examples are not reflected in the instructions or on the decal sheet as there is no red painted and the fin flashes are yellow, as opposed to white on the box. The side of the box also shows a natural metal version but this is not covered by the kit. I think some further research will be needed if/when the kit is built.

Decals: Made in Japan and now quite yellowed with age so unlikely I will use these when building the kit. Roundels, fin flashes, serials, danger triangles, large number code and a couple of wing panel decals are all that are supplied. There is no stencilling and the instructions are not overly helpful with placement of the decals, you have to interpret them from the drawings, mind you the decals themselves are not numbered. As mentioned above there is different colours on the sheet to what is on the box so more research will be needed later. The decals are matt, not in good colour register (although I acknowledge their age) and look to be of medium thickness.

Cockpit/Wheel Bay Detail: Cockpit consists of two pilot figures onto two seats onto a floor and that's it. Detail is rather pathetic but this is an old kit and it is Hasegawa. Scratchbuild everything else inside, and with a long teardrop canopy a fair bit of work is going to be needed. The main wheel wells have some generic plumbing scribed.

Optional components: While the instructions don't say this, I think it is possible to have an open cockpit. Auxiliary underwing fuel tanks are optional parts.

On the Sprue Impressions: With a vintage kit like this one can only expect the basics. Fuselage halves already have tail fin molded on and panel line detail - in fact there is virtually nothing to put on the kit other than wings, cockpit, stores, landing gear, nose cone and exhaust burner. A couple of small antennae masts are included for later in the construction. As already mentioned detail is fairly basic and a pretty poor cockpit and the figures included well they look like something out of "Destroy all Humans" playstation game.

A pair of auxiliary underwing tanks are provided on the standard single lower wing piece and two upper halves. A separate nose cone which has virtually no depth at all (those with scratchbuild and "plastic surgery" skills may want to open up the interior and install plasticard behind it to prevent a see through to the canopy) and small exhaust pipe will prevent a see through effect of this plane. A name plate is also provided, presumably to place in front of the plane when displaying at a competition?

Conclusion: It's an old kit from a golden bygone era that many of us will remember from our young days, and for that this kit can only be recommended for those who want to revisit nostalgia or who need to have a solid and reasonable T-1A in their display cabinet and who have the skills to scratchbuild a decent cockpit. From memory this kit went together pretty easily and would suit all modelling skills.

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