Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Aero-space => Topic started by: Acree on February 08, 2015, 03:54:43 AM

Title: Mitsubishi A5M5-P
Post by: Acree on February 08, 2015, 03:54:43 AM
 In order to secure a foothold in the Americas, Imperial Japan began taking an active interest in Peru in the early 1930s.  There were a large number of Japanese immigrants in Peru, and the Japanese government worked hard to develop close ties with the Peruvian government, even supporting Japanese-Peruvian political candidates at all levels.  The Japanese were interested in having safe harbors in the western hemisphere, securing strategic metals and petroleum, and, most of all, in creating a diversion and distraction from their activities in Asia.  They hoped to accomplish these goals with a minimal expenditure of resources and manpower.  As part of this effort, in the late summer of 1941, the Imperial Japanese Navy transferred 18 Mitsubishi A5M4 fighters to the Cuerpo de Aeronautica del Peru (CAP) during a port visit to Callao by the carrier Soryu. The Soryu was to be re-equipped with A6Ms on return to Japan.

By mid-1942, the limited spare parts available for the A5M4's Kotobuki engines were causing availability problems, so the CAP sent the aircraft to the Fábrica Nacional de Aviones Caproni Peruana for re-engining.  Caproni Peruana designed a new installation of the Fiat A.74 engine, this giving a significant increase in horsepower, but also a significant weight increase.  As a result, performance of the new modification was little changed, although pilots complained that maneuverability was decreased.  The newly modified aircraft were known in Peru as A5M5-P, although this was never recognized by the Japanese. 

(See here for drawings and more of the Peru-Japan scenario: http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=5110.0 (http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=5110.0) )

I used the very simple but nice HobbyBoss A5M4, with the cowling from an Airfix Kingfisher.  I had to SERIOUSLY thin down the interior walls of the cowling, and used a leftover engine from a Williams Brothers B-10 to vaguely represent the Fiat motor, keeping the A5M4 prop.  The exhaust stacks are scratched from Evergreen tube. 

Hope you like it!  One more photo coming...
Title: Re: Mitsubishi A5M5-P
Post by: Acree on February 08, 2015, 03:56:32 AM
Additional photos:
Title: Re: Mitsubishi A5M5-P
Post by: GTX_Admin on February 08, 2015, 03:59:50 AM
Very nice work. :)
Title: Re: Mitsubishi A5M5-P
Post by: FAAMAN on February 08, 2015, 07:41:43 AM
Ditto, wonderful work, fantastic!!!! 8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: Mitsubishi A5M5-P
Post by: finsrin on February 08, 2015, 08:05:01 AM
Super combination of parts on uncommon subject.  All of it is "correct" including color scheme:)
Title: Re: Mitsubishi A5M5-P
Post by: Frank3k on February 08, 2015, 09:40:09 AM
Great job! I'll have to change the paint job and markings on mine.
Title: Re: Mitsubishi A5M5-P
Post by: Brian da Basher on February 09, 2015, 07:03:36 AM
That A5M5 looks an absolute natural in Peruvian colors!

Truly inspired and sharp as a tack!

Brian da Basher
Title: Re: Mitsubishi A5M5-P
Post by: Buzzbomb on February 09, 2015, 07:52:54 AM
Marvellous job
Title: Re: Mitsubishi A5M5-P
Post by: jcf on February 09, 2015, 02:18:11 PM
Brilliant!

Do you know Amaru Tincopu who does a lot of Peruvian/ Latin American air history stuff?
He'd enjoy this.