Model 

The Kawasaki T-4 is a jet trainer that is used exclusively by the JASDF. It certainly owes to its nationality that Hasegawa released it. It is a surprising but welcome little model of a lesser known aircraft.

I was quite happy to start the construction of a Kawasaki T-4. Trainers and Japanese aircraft are not released that often, so I took the opportunity to add one to my collection. My boxing was one of the original release that included liveries for evaluation machines. I found a photo of a T-4 operating as the liaison aircraft of an operational fighter unit, the 204th Squadron that normally operates F-15J. I decided I wanted to build that same machine.

Click on images below to see larger images

Building 

I started to detail the cockpit using an Eduard PE set. The ejection seats are from the kit, but were extensively detailed with some PE parts from the Eduard detail set. Cockpit main colour is medium grey and according to the photographs I had, I believe that is the same grey as US aircraft cockpits.

Once detailing was complete in the cockpit area, I built the mainframe of the aircraft. Beware, although it’s a Hasegawa model and the plastic quality is OK, the model might be over-engineered and is a bit complicated to build up. Maybe it was necessary because of the complicated forms of the rear fuselage. In any case the main fuselage is made of several parts and quite a lot of sanding was necessary to build that model. I had to exercise care to align the fuselage sub assemblies and wings properly.

All landing gear parts were painted white. They were then cemented in place again taking care of proper alignment and were detailed with a mix of etched parts and metal wire.  

Painting

I painted the aircraft Light Ghost Grey FS36375 throughout although the Platz sheet called for Dark Ghost Grey (FS36320). A case of scale effect and lightening overall colour on a tiny 1/72nd scale model. All flying surfaces tips were painted orange and as ever on these colours (yellows, reds, oranges) I painted a white under layer first. Nose anti glare panel is black

Detailing and completion 

No decal of the box was to be used on this project. I wondered how I could find all the decals for this project.

I tried the Platz range hoping they had released something and thankfully they had. I found a perfect set of decals for all servicing and basic markings including the red hinomarus (Japanese cockades) for 2 aircraft. Printing is very sharp and accurate, decal film is extremely thin and adheres well. Then I had to wonder for the individual markings. My friend Stephane Marignac - the decal master -  eventually designed them.

Small details like antennas, landing lights had to be altered or repositioned as pre-production aircraft and operational machine differ slightly.  

I am happy to add this new model to my collection : it is definitely an original model, an aircraft I had never had built before.

Eric