Hobby 2000 72033 - 1:72 Yokosuka E14Y1 Model 11 Early

Plastic model kit of the Japanese Yokosuka E14Y1 Model 11 shipboard floatplane in 1:72 scale

Hobby 2000 72033 represents one of the most unusual aircraft designs of the Second World War - a small reconnaissance floatplane carried in the hangar of a Japanese submarine and launched from a deck catapult. The kit covers the early production Model 11.

It is based on Fujimi mouldings, reproducing the twin floats on their struts, the cockpit for pilot and observer and the type's short, compact fuselage. What sets this release apart is the included shipboard catapult, which allows the finished model to be displayed in a scene recreating a launch from a submarine deck rather than on a conventional stand. Hobby 2000 adds its own box, illustrated instructions, new waterslide decals printed by Cartograf and self-adhesive masks for the glazing.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with fuselage, wing, float and detail parts
• Parts for the shipboard catapult
• Clear parts for the canopy glazing
• Self-adhesive masks for the glazing
• Waterslide decal sheet printed by Cartograf
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Kit specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Catalogue number: 72033
• Manufacturer: Hobby 2000
• Assembled length: approx. 119 mm
• Assembled wingspan: approx. 153 mm
• Skill level: intermediate (float struts and catapult assembly)

Note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model requires assembly.

Assembly:

The airframe itself is small and straightforward; most attention goes to setting the floats on their struts, so it is worth checking symmetry and angles before the cement fully cures. Assembling the float unit on a flat surface with temporary supports helps. Painting the cockpit before joining the fuselage halves is advisable, and the included masks make finishing the long, multi-pane glazing much easier.

Japanese shipboard floatplanes of this period were usually painted dark green on the upper surfaces with a light grey-green below; the instructions provide paint references for the chosen scheme. Applying decals over a gloss coat limits the risk of silvering, and a satin varnish suits the final finish. The catapult makes a good basis for a simple diorama - a wash and subtle corrosion effects, typical of deck equipment, are worth considering.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Fine modelling tweezers
• Brushes in various sizes
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Gloss varnish for decalling and satin varnish for the final finish
• A wash to accentuate detail

About the aircraft - Yokosuka E14Y1 "Glen":

The Yokosuka E14Y1 was a small two-seat reconnaissance floatplane designed specifically to be carried by Japanese long-range submarines. The aircraft was stored disassembled in a watertight hangar on the submarine's deck, then put together and launched from a catapult mounted on the forward deck. After the sortie it alighted alongside the boat and was recovered by crane. A small handling party managed the whole cycle, and experienced crews could complete it in a matter of minutes.

The design was a compromise between the submarine's stowage limits and combat usefulness: the aircraft had folding wings and floats, a mixed wood and metal airframe and a modest radial engine. Performance was limited and armament amounted to a single flexible machine gun for the observer, but a range of several hundred kilometres allowed a submarine to scout far beyond the horizon. E14Y1s flew reconnaissance missions over Pearl Harbor, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Madagascar.

The best-known episode in the type's career took place in September 1942, when an E14Y1 launched from a submarine dropped incendiary bombs on forests in the state of Oregon - the only aerial bombing of the continental United States by an enemy aircraft in history. The intended forest fire failed to spread, but the raid itself attracted wide attention. The Allies assigned the type the reporting name "Glen".

Original aircraft specifications (Yokosuka E14Y1 Model 11):

• Length: 8.54 m
• Wingspan: 10.99 m
• Height: approx. 3.8 m
• Empty weight: approx. 1120 kg
• Take-off weight: approx. 1450 kg
• Crew: 2 (pilot and observer)
• Powerplant: Hitachi Tempu 12 radial engine of approx. 340 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 246 km/h
• Range: approx. 880 km
• Armament: one flexible 7.7 mm machine gun in the rear cockpit, up to two 76 kg bombs
• Production: 1940-1943, approx. 126 examples

About the manufacturer - Hobby 2000:

Hobby 2000 is a Polish model company based in Katowice that has built its position on themed releases. Its kits are based on mouldings from established manufacturers - in this case Fujimi - completed with original packaging, new illustrated instructions and fresh waterslide decals printed by the Italian printing house Cartograf. Most aircraft releases also include self-adhesive masks for the canopy glazing, which noticeably simplifies painting. The brand favours subjects connected with Polish aviation history as well as less obvious episodes of the Second World War and the post-war years, selecting its marking options from archival material. Production runs are limited, so individual releases are often sought after by collectors. For the modeller this means proven, well-detailed mouldings combined with subjects not available in the original boxings. The company's catalogue covers aircraft, vehicles and ships in scales from 1:72 to 1:35.