Garry Tobiss tackles Hasegawa’s superb new-tool 1/72 Kawanishi H8K2, with extra help from Eduard aftermarket offerings
ADVANCED BUILD KAWANISHI H8K2 EMILY
Developed to a 1938 Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service requirement, and entering service in 1941, Kawanishi’s H8K (Allied codename ’Emily’) was the fastest flying boat to enter service in significant numbers during World War Two.
The H8K2 was the most numerous variant with 112 produced. Despite its large size, Allied pilots treated the Emily with great respect because the heavy defensive armament made it extremely difficult to destroy. A crew of ten manned the aircraft and the four Mitsubishi MK4Q Kasei 22 engines gave a top speed of 290mph (465km/h). Emilys were active throughout the Pacific theatre, being used for transport and reconnaissance, and were armed with bombs, depth charges or torpedoes for attack missions.
Old favourite revisited
Hasegawa first released a 1/72 Emily more than 50 years ago, and that was definitely a product of its time, with raised panel lines and limited detail compared to modern offerings…although in 1967 it was regarded as a game-changer. The firm’s announcement of a newly tooled version of this enigmatic and impressive…
