In Box Review of Tamiya 1/50th Scale
Japanese Navy Type 99 D3A1 "Val"
Carrier-borne Dive-bomber
Kit no. MA-110
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1966
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1966
HISTORY:
The Aichi D3A Type 99 Carrier Bomber (Allied reporting name "Val") is a World War II carrier-borne dive bomber. It was the primary dive bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and was involved in almost all IJN actions, including the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The Aichi D3A was the first Japanese aircraft to bomb American targets in the war, commencing with Pearl Harbor and U.S. bases in the Philippines, such as Clark Air Force Base. Vals sank more Allied warships than any other Axis aircraft.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: Two (pilot and gunner)
Length: 10.2 m (33 ft 5 in)
Wingspan: 14.37 m (47 ft 2 in)
Height: 3.85 m (12 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 34.9 m² (375.6 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,408 kg (5,309 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 3,650 kg (8,047 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Mitsubishi Kinsei 44, 798 kW (1,070 hp
Maximum speed: 389 km/h (205 kn, 242 mph (389 km/h))
Range: 1,472 km (795 nmi, 915 mi (1,473 km))
Service ceiling: 9,300 m (30,500 ft)
Armament: 2 × fixed, forward-firing 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 97 machine guns, 1 × flexible, rearward-firing 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 92 machine gun, 1 × 250 kg (551 lb) or 2 × 60 kg (132 lb) bombs.
The Aichi D3A Type 99 Carrier Bomber (Allied reporting name "Val") is a World War II carrier-borne dive bomber. It was the primary dive bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) and was involved in almost all IJN actions, including the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The Aichi D3A was the first Japanese aircraft to bomb American targets in the war, commencing with Pearl Harbor and U.S. bases in the Philippines, such as Clark Air Force Base. Vals sank more Allied warships than any other Axis aircraft.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: Two (pilot and gunner)
Length: 10.2 m (33 ft 5 in)
Wingspan: 14.37 m (47 ft 2 in)
Height: 3.85 m (12 ft 8 in)
Wing area: 34.9 m² (375.6 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,408 kg (5,309 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 3,650 kg (8,047 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Mitsubishi Kinsei 44, 798 kW (1,070 hp
Maximum speed: 389 km/h (205 kn, 242 mph (389 km/h))
Range: 1,472 km (795 nmi, 915 mi (1,473 km))
Service ceiling: 9,300 m (30,500 ft)
Armament: 2 × fixed, forward-firing 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 97 machine guns, 1 × flexible, rearward-firing 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 92 machine gun, 1 × 250 kg (551 lb) or 2 × 60 kg (132 lb) bombs.
THE KIT:
Tamiya is a old prolific model company based in Shizuoka, Japan.
They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a side, top and bottom view of a "Val", that is posed against one of Tamiya's signature all-white backgrounds that they use for the majority of their box arts.
It is overall grey with a black cowling and nose, a white fuselage band and 3 horizontal red bands on the rudder with a black EI-238 between the top two bands. It has a red pin stripe on the gear pants.
One side panel has a small color repeat of the top and bottom views of the cover art "Val", followed by its history.
Tamiya is a old prolific model company based in Shizuoka, Japan.
They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a side, top and bottom view of a "Val", that is posed against one of Tamiya's signature all-white backgrounds that they use for the majority of their box arts.
It is overall grey with a black cowling and nose, a white fuselage band and 3 horizontal red bands on the rudder with a black EI-238 between the top two bands. It has a red pin stripe on the gear pants.
One side panel has a small color repeat of the top and bottom views of the cover art "Val", followed by its history.
The other side panel begins with a paragraph all in Japanese, followed by illustrations of 4 different markings used on "Val" rear fuselages and rudders.
!. An overall grey "Val" with black rudder no. P-201.
2. An overall grey "Val" with 2 red fuselage bands and a black rudder no. AII-215.
3. A dark-green over light-grey undercarriage "Val" with white rudder no. 33-203.
4. An overall grey "Val" with a red fuselage band and black rudder no. AI-201.
!. An overall grey "Val" with black rudder no. P-201.
2. An overall grey "Val" with 2 red fuselage bands and a black rudder no. AII-215.
3. A dark-green over light-grey undercarriage "Val" with white rudder no. 33-203.
4. An overall grey "Val" with a red fuselage band and black rudder no. AI-201.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds a dark-green tree and 4 pale-grey trees in 2 stapled-shut clear cello bags with the clear canopy and decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that is printed on both sides in large 20 1/2" x 7 1/4" format.
The face side begins with the history of the "Val" and its specifications, a list of the names of all the Japanese carriers that carried "Vals", over the painting and decal application instructions.
There are 5 side profiles and 3 top and bottom views of "Vals" shown.
The first profile is a "Val" that is dark-green over a light-grey undercarriage, with a black cowling and white rudder code 33-203.
It was with the 33rd Flying Corps.
The second profile is a "Val" in overall grey, with black cowling and nose. It has a red fuselage band and rudder code in black of AI-201.
It was aboard the carrier Akagi in December 1941.
The third profile is a "Val" that is overall grey, with a black cowling and nose, 2 red fuselage bands and rudder code black AII-215.
It was aboard carrier Kaga in December 1941.
The fourth profile is a "Val" that is overall grey, with a black cowling and nose. It is the box art scheme (already described above).
It was with the carrier Shokaku 1941.
The fifth profile is a "Val" that is dark-green over a light-grey under-carraige, with a black cowling and 2 white fuselage bands and 2 white horizontal bands on the rudder with black EII-214 between them.
It was with carrier Zuikaku and was piloted by Capt. Kazuo Yakushi.
This kit holds a dark-green tree and 4 pale-grey trees in 2 stapled-shut clear cello bags with the clear canopy and decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that is printed on both sides in large 20 1/2" x 7 1/4" format.
The face side begins with the history of the "Val" and its specifications, a list of the names of all the Japanese carriers that carried "Vals", over the painting and decal application instructions.
There are 5 side profiles and 3 top and bottom views of "Vals" shown.
The first profile is a "Val" that is dark-green over a light-grey undercarriage, with a black cowling and white rudder code 33-203.
It was with the 33rd Flying Corps.
The second profile is a "Val" in overall grey, with black cowling and nose. It has a red fuselage band and rudder code in black of AI-201.
It was aboard the carrier Akagi in December 1941.
The third profile is a "Val" that is overall grey, with a black cowling and nose, 2 red fuselage bands and rudder code black AII-215.
It was aboard carrier Kaga in December 1941.
The fourth profile is a "Val" that is overall grey, with a black cowling and nose. It is the box art scheme (already described above).
It was with the carrier Shokaku 1941.
The fifth profile is a "Val" that is dark-green over a light-grey under-carraige, with a black cowling and 2 white fuselage bands and 2 white horizontal bands on the rudder with black EII-214 between them.
It was with carrier Zuikaku and was piloted by Capt. Kazuo Yakushi.
The bottom of the sheet has a list of the names of many other Tamiya aircraft kits.
The reverse side of the instructions has 8 assembly steps and a list of the names of all the kit parts.
Trees are not alphabetized.
The dark-green tree holds: the dashboard, crew figures, tail hook, bulkhead, cockpit floor etc. (32 parts)
The reverse side of the instructions has 8 assembly steps and a list of the names of all the kit parts.
Trees are not alphabetized.
The dark-green tree holds: the dashboard, crew figures, tail hook, bulkhead, cockpit floor etc. (32 parts)
The 1st pale-grey tree holds: bombs, propeller, cowling, main wheels and their pants, air intake, main wheels, seats etc. (31 parts)
The 2nd pale-grey tree holds: fuselage, elevators, rudder and its flap (8 parts)
The 3rd pale-grey tree holds the wings tops (2 parts)
The 4th pale-grey tree holds the wings bottoms (2 parts)
The clear part is the canopy (1 part)
The decal sheet completes the kit's contents.
Detail is the raised type. Flaps are all solid.
Recommended.