1:48 Art Scale Kit Aichi D3A1 Val Decals and stencils

[rverissimo]

Art Scale Kit Decals

Aichi D3A1 Model 11 Val

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Stencils

1:48 Decals set

Introduction

The Aichi D3 Val is the Japanese equivalent of the US Navy’s SBD Dauntless, in the sense that both were considered obsolete at the start of the conflict but continued to serve until the end, undergoing constant upgrades.

I present five decal sheets for this iconic dive bomber, four of which feature original and colourful markings representing various moments from the Pacific theatre of operations. The fifth sheet is dedicated to stencils and operational and maintenance markings, providing a complete set for two aircraft and serving as a complement to any of the four decal sheets included.

What all five decal sheets have in common is their outstanding quality. The printing is rich in colour tone, with the roundels—arguably the most striking element—displaying uniform coverage without distortion. Likewise, the white outlines found on some roundels are well-defined and opaque.

All decals include a slight natural film from the printing process, and to minimise silvering, they should be trimmed before application.

 

 

Currently the only offer in town for a 1:48 scale Aichi D3A1 Val is the Hasegawa offering or, the same model released from revell and dated from 2001.

 

D48069 Aichi D3A1 Val Part 1

Imperial Japanese Navy Air Services

Pearl Harbor Raid

Price: 11,90€

To order, click here

This set covers 3 unique and flashy decoration. All the planes participated on the Pearl harbor attack. Two of the decorations regard airplanes from the aircraft carrier Soryu and one from the carrier Shokaku.

All decorations as mentioned before are very original in the patterns and colours and to be honest I’m unable to point a favourite one.

All planes are painted on the standard grey green and for two of the decorations, the red orange needs to be painted.

The decal sheet contains follow markings:

1. Aichi D3A1 Val, Model 11, Bl-231, the crew were Lt.Cmdr.Takashige Egusa and PO Tatsu Ishi. Lt.Cmdr. Takashige Egusa led the second attack wave´s D3A1, had two different D3A aircraft which were garishly painted. Both had unique schemes (Ja-Ja Uma). Pearl Harbor raid, 7. December 1941, aircraft carrier Soryu.
2. Aichi D3A1 Val, Model 11, Bl-231, the crew were Lt.Cmdr.Takashige Egusa and PO Tatsu Ishi. Lt. Cmdr. Takashige Egusa led the second attack wave´s D3A1, had two different D3A aircraft which were garishly painted. Both had unique schemes (Ja-Ja Uma). Pearl Harbor raid, 7. December 1941, aircraft carrier Soryu.
3. Aichi D3A1 Val, Model 11, Bl-238, the crew were Lt.Kakuishi Takahashi and PO Saizo Koizumi. Lt. Kakuishi Takahashi led first attack wave´s D3A, his plane had a special painted. Pearl Harbor 7. December 1941, aircraft carrier Shokaku.

D48070 Aichi D3A1 Val Part 2

Imperial Japanese Navy Air Services

Pearl Harbor Raid

Price: 11,90€

To order, click here

This set continues with unique decorations schemes.

Two in the standard grey green all around, one with red landing gears fairings painted in red and white fuselage chevrons

The second one with a red filet on the landing gear fairings and fuselage red chevrons.

These planes are both from the Zuikaku aircraft carrier.

The last one, for me the more flashy and certainly did not involve in the pearl harbor operation, but a production Batch test plane with black engine cowling (common to all decorations In all decal sheets) yellow fuselage / wings and rudder and horizontal stabilizers in dark red (this needs to be painted) . Rudder id number in white (decal).

The decal sheet contains follow markings:

.      Aichi D3A1 Val, Model 11, Ell-206, aircraft carrier Zuikaku, Pearl Harbor raid, 7. December 1941.

2     Aichi D3A1 Val, Model 11, All-256, crewed by F1/c Shisaku Yanakawa, aircraft carrier Zuikaku, Pearl Harbor raid, 7. December 1941.

3     Aichi D3A1 Val, Model 11, White 7, first production batch tests in China early 1940

D48071 Aichi D3A1 Val Part 3

Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force Battle of the Coral Sea

Price: 11,90€

To order, click here

 

This decal sheet present 3 possible decorations for planes involved in the battle of the coral sea. All planes have the standard camouflage Green / Medium Grey. The third option presents a red tail (that needs to be painted) and the Hinamaru is presented under a white rectangle, making this airplane the showiest one.

he decal sheet contain follow markings:

1. Aichi D3A1 Val, Model 11, Bl-263, the crew were FPO2/c Takeo Yamazaki, aircraft carrier Soryu, Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942.
2. Aichi D3A1 Val, Model 11, 35-201, 34th Kokutai, Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942.
3. Aichi D3A1 Val, Model 11, Al-208, aircraft carrier Akagi, Battle of the Midway, 4th June 1942.

D48072 Aichi D3A1 Val Part 4

Japanese imperial Army Air Service over China

Price: 11,90€

To order, click here

 

This last set presents us Planes assigned to the Imperial Army air service.

Again, very colourful choices, all of them with black engine cowling, rudder and horizontal stabilizers in red. Please note that the white stripes present on the upper horizontal stabilizers needed also to be painted. No decals are supplied.

The fuselage is all painted in Light Grey.

The decal sheet contain follow markings:

1. Aichi D3A1 Val, Model 11, 9-257, 14th Kokutai, Nanning airfield, South China, March 1940.
2. Aichi D3A1 Val, Model 11, 3-222, 12th Kokutai, Hankow airfield, South China, June 1940.
3. Aichi D3A1 Val, Model 11, Al-205, aircraft carrier Akagi, Japanese Islands, April 1941

Common to all decal sheets:

The painting guide always mention colour references for Gunze / Mr. hobby and Tamiya acrylics.

D48073 Aichi D3A1 Val stencils

Price tag : 7,80€

To order, click here

 

These offering complements any of the decals sets above, as supplies complete stencil data for two airplane. An important add on are the red or white stripes mentioned above and present in this airplanes, painted in the upper area of the horizontal stabilizers. White or red stripes are supplied and properly trimmed

A four-view diagram is supplied with guide to place all decals. 

Conclusion

All this sets are very original and derived from the classical American / German / English offerings of this era.

Despite the model itself is not easily available, some are still available in the second-hand markets all around the virtual and physical modelling ecosystem. And if so, any of this decal sheets are an excellent excuse to start a new modelling project, with guarantee of a very original decorations schemes.

They are recommended choices !

Thanks to Art Scale Models for the decals sheets to review!

Ricardo Veríssimo

[KevinM]

Another Nice write up Ricardo thanks!

[rverissimo]

Hi @KevinM thanks for the feedback !