Tuesday, 14 December 2010

Japanese 23 Division - part 2

More progress on the old Airfix Japanese to report.  I have completed the HQ and artillery observer stands and rescued a suitable gun to serve as the divisional artillery.

Starting off with the HQ stand, I was pleased to find among the surviving figures the iconic sword-waving officer.  Sadly (and unsurprisingly) his sword was broken, and I was pondering various methods of grafting on a new blade when I remembered a sheet of Japanese flags.  As the photo shows, I have planted the flagpole (and old Hinchcliffe spear) in the base and glued the officer's hand to the pole.  I had to used a lot of glue for this, as it is basically holding him up (too much sake at lunchtime?) and there is a glob of PVA visible just below his hand.  I may paint over this if I remember.
Next we have the kneeling NCO with what appears to be a Thompson SMG.  He will act as the division's artillery spotter.
Finally, I found this old Fujimi 75mm Infantry Gun.  I have a couple of these still to build, but this one came ready painted as part of a batch of Italians(!) I bought around 15 years ago.  A bit of glue and flock later and the 23rd has some firepower!


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15 comments:

  1. Paul´s Bods14 December 2010 at 19:03

    I think the SMG he is carrying is meant to be the type 100
    http://www.rt66.com/~korteng/SmallArms/images/japsubs.jpg
    but the magazine is in the wrong place.
    Getting to be a nice little army, the field gun is good.
    Cheers
    Paul

    ReplyDelete
  2. Tim Gow14 December 2010 at 20:29

    Paul
    Interesting thought. It explains why he's not firing it - it has probably jammed! I hope it's not a Type 100, as they weren't issued until 1942 and 23ID will be taking the field in 1939.
    Hell, who cares?
    Tim

    ReplyDelete
  3. Bill14 December 2010 at 21:37

    There's my tommy gunner! I think I might have old Fujimi 75mm Infantry Gun set about here some where...)
    That's a nice little set and they do mix in well with Italeri/Esci Japs!

    ReplyDelete
  4. David Crook14 December 2010 at 21:47

    Hi Tim,

    Please, please, please try and add an Airfix Chi-Ha Type 97 tank!! A great model with a really cool camo job!

    Loving all this 'retro-rebuilt-back-of-a-carrier-bag-stuff' - old school? Bring it on I say!

    All the best,

    DC

    ReplyDelete
  5. Tim Gow14 December 2010 at 22:16

    Bill
    I'm glad I included him since you're such a fan. I'm sure I had a Fujimi set in 'stock' anyway, and I picked up another at Triples in April. It gets slated on Plastic Soldier Review but it's cheap and it's here - good enough for me.
    Tim

    ReplyDelete
  6. Tim Gow14 December 2010 at 22:18

    David
    There's a Chi-Ha on the modelling table at the moment!
    Tim

    ReplyDelete
  7. Don M14 December 2010 at 23:11

    I'm sure I had a Fujimi set in 'stock' anyway, and I picked up another at Triples in April. It gets slated on Plastic Soldier Review but it's cheap and it's here - good enough for me.

    I'm with you there...it was about the only Japanese support weapon around back in the day, and I think
    it still serves well!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Paul15 December 2010 at 08:20

    Yes a strange looking SMG on that pose. Lets call it a MAS 38 captured by Japanese forces in Indo China.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Tim Gow15 December 2010 at 10:42

    Paul
    It's only 1939 - they've not been to Indo-China as yet. I expect it found it's way into China during the warlord wars and was captured by Sgt Tojo (as he will now be known) in 1938. Everyone happy with that explanation?
    Tim

    ReplyDelete
  10. Don M15 December 2010 at 17:52

    On the Axis History Forum
    there is an interesting subject
    line on "Japanese Use of Captured Equipment" Think you might find
    this very useful Tim...and they
    did use Tommy Guns...)

    http://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=65&t=143912&start=60

    ReplyDelete
  11. Bartender15 December 2010 at 19:20

    Are you preparing an Iwo Jima game with those volcanic rocks? Marvelous collection. That's the beauty of 1/72.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Tim Gow15 December 2010 at 20:53

    Don M
    Is my NCO the most talked-about plastic figure ever?
    Thanks for the link.
    Tim

    ReplyDelete
  13. Tim Gow15 December 2010 at 20:55

    Bartender
    Welcome. I haven't got as far as Iwo Jima as yet - but you never know!
    Tim

    ReplyDelete
  14. Don M16 December 2010 at 00:46

    Don M
    Is my NCO the most talked-about plastic figure ever?
    Thanks for the link.
    Tim

    At the risk of sounding like a 9 year old, "Bill started it" lol.
    Which is often the case he gets a kick out stirring things up...)

    Hope you can use the link, I have a far better one, it is the best by far as a primary source for WWII Soviet weapons and equipment I've found!

    http://www.armchairgeneral.com/rkkaww2/index.htm

    ReplyDelete
  15. Tim Gow16 December 2010 at 09:53

    Don M
    So Bill is the troublemaker eh? I'll bear that in mind! Looks an interesting link - I've saved it for now and will have a look later.
    Tim

    ReplyDelete