In box review:- Infinity 1/32 Aichi D3A1 Val

A good look through this pretty new kit from Infinity models. I have all the extras on order so will give a review of them when I have them all.

[@robertthornton1171]

The ship in the artwork is USS California BB-44. My father was abord her on the day of infamy. He was in R Division damage control switchboard operator. He survived the attack and stayed with the ship during the rebuild and off to Sipan and The Philippines Leyte Gulf etc. He left the ship just prior to the Okinawa Invasion for shorthand school.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

What an amazing story.. I hope I didn't open any wounds for you?

[@kevinjohnson8220]

I picked this up back in July as well and I'm very glad I did. It really is a thing of beauty and the combination of stressed skin and raised rivets is a wonder to behold. In my opinion only Zoukei Mura could outdo even this basic kit.

[@peterfeltmeyer7979]

Kate coming from Border models in 1/35 scale, along with flight deck and Akagi island..... can not wait for that one.....

[@georgecoventry8441]

Those Japanese carrier planes were flawless in appearance when the war began, and they were generally kept that way on the carriers, whereas the land-based planes tended to get a lot more weathered looking as time went by. I usually do them pretty clean looking, early in their service life, because I like them better that way. Regarding the cancelled Kate...which is unfortunate!.........there will be a 1/35 scale Kate, plus the Akagi bridge and a piece of deck coming out from Border Models soon. Thank goodness for that! I don't mind a bit that it's in 1/35 instead of 1/32. I just ordered my Val from Hannants. 😊

[@georgecoventry8441]

Val has arrived from the UK. Happy days! :)

[@NigelsModellingBench]

🎉

[@tjmmodelcraft8486]

They FINALLY came out with a 1/32 Val! I've been dreaming of one since the 70s. Thanks for the vid!

[@NigelsModellingBench]

You bet!

[@charliemessenger6537]

Dammit Nigel, your videos are forcing me to spend my money! I just pulled the trigger on this kit based solely on your review. I'm sure you're a shill for Infinity because it worked, haha! I do hope they stay afloat and press on. That Kate in 1/32 would be fantastic. Can't wait to see what the aftermarket does with this kit. Nice big cockpit waiting for some superdetailing.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

The cockpit is really nice OOB Charlie. They make a PE set for the IP.

[@charliegrech8433]

I’ve been waiting for this review

[@midori6756]

Just ordered one! Thanks for the heads up!

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Hope you enjoy it!

[@midori6756]

@@NigelsModellingBench I’ll be watching your build first!

[@frankiedaymodels8529]

Ahoy Sir Nigel Superb Video and Inbox Review I Just got My New Ifinity SB2C Helldiver 1/32 Scale, What A kit A Bloody Shame This company Foplded up This Gets Me Steamed Like most companies They make So Many and They Shelf The kit and go to something Else wonderful Review Buddy Stay Posted I Have The Review Of My Helldiver Model On buddy Frankie

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Seen and commented Frankie.

[@danielbritton8588]

Wow... Most likely would be set at an angle on a shelf. I guess one could hang it diving. I was stationed at Pearl Harbor & I actually did a book report on the attack in 6th grade. Needless to say it was magic being there. I walked completely around Ford Island on my first free Saturday afternoon. Took photos & relished the surroundings.

[@georgecoventry8441]

Great! I've waited many years for a 1/32 scale D3A Val. Too bad that the Kate is not coming also. Maybe someone else will make use of the molds. Some more info about the tail codes: "AI-" is for Akagi. "AII-" is for Kaga. "BI-" is for Soryu. "BII-" is for Hiryu. "E1-" is for Shokaku. "EII-" is for Zuikaku. And after those comes the individual airplane number....so "AII-256" means the plane is flying from the carrier Kaga, and it is aircraft number 256. Then there are the colored I.D. bands on the fuselage of each plane. Akagi has a single red fuselage band on the rear fuselage of every plane. Kaga has a double red fuselage band. Soryu has a single blue fuselage band. Hiryu has a double blue fuselage band. Shokaku has a single white fuselage band (sometimes outlined in a thin red line). Zuikaku has a double white fuselage band. In this way, every plane was coded clearly to show which carrier it flew from, in which division, and this was the case with all their Zeros, Kates, Vals, etc. A nice system of identification.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Thank you for more great information. You guys are too kind.

[@georgecoventry8441]

One thing I should correct in my above comments...the "231" part of the tail code doesn't mean "Val # 231". It means "Val # 31". Apparently the first number in the 3-number code is either a "1" in the case of a fighter, a "2" in the case of a dive bomber, and a "3" in the case of a torpedo bomber. So, a Zero from the same carrier, if it was the # 3 Zero in the squadron would have a tail code ending in "103", and a Val which was # 3 would be ending in "203", and a Kate which was #3 would be ending in "303". Let's say we had a Kate from Kaga, and it was number 11. The whole tail code would be "AII-311", meaning "Carrier Division A, 2nd ship in that division (which was the Kaga), torpedo bomber, number 11".

[@JeffDonahueScaleModeling]

Hi Nigel, This looks like a great kit. To bad Infinity is going away. Thanks for sharing. Have a great day. Jeff

[@NigelsModellingBench]

It sure is

[@johnkelly2098]

Nice review, Nigel Not my scale but if I download the instructions from Scalemates there will be great info for scratch building an interior for my 1/72 vintage Airfix !

[@justinove7521]

Before you get started with her I can pass along some original documentation and other references if you'd like to really go full bore with this kit.

[@markbelsom3174]

Looks a pretty nice kit and yes I find it annoying when a build video has loud music.

[@joeokabayashi8669]

Totally agree; model vids with only music are not worth the viewers time. I get that not every creator speaks the viewer's target language, or speaks well at all. I'd rather have ai voice to fill in the "voice void."

[@AlisonFort]

Looks lovely - might just have to get one… so sad if the Kate doesn’t see the light of day. Japanese aircraft in larger scales make such interesting subjects

[@rottiehood3872]

Nice! And just like the Helldiver the fuselage half's have no locating pins. lol

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Exactly! They are short run kits.

[@Builtbyronny]

👍

[@mode1charlie170]

Looks like a nice kit. I never understood the thinking behind a short run kit with all the money that is invested in tooling.

[@johnhughes2653]

I had their Beaufighter TF.X on my wishlist. Won't hold my breath for that now, though.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

I reckon Zoukei Mura will give us a Beaufighter series?

[@johnhughes2653]

@@NigelsModellingBench I could live with that idea!

[@davidheylen3532]

Nigel, do you sell merchandise? I have an idea for merch that I would love to buy: A T-Shirt with you face logo on the pocket. Across the front would be printed the caption "Very very nice indeed!" and across the back would be "An absolute nightmare!" That would be an amazingly cool T-Shirt.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Great idea.. I don't sell Merch no.

[@davidheylen3532]

Any possibility? Even as one-time deal? I'll bet I'm not the only one who would wear that with NMB pride....

[@markoldreive]

@@davidheylen3532 I’d buy one👍

[@brettpeacock9116]

I have an order in with my "local" modelshop fir the D3A1, myself. I already have their lovely Helldiver in 1/32, and some of the extras for that. I guess I will need to order the Midway markings, myself, from ASK. Additionally, The green option from the kit is also found in the 1/48 Hasegawa kit of the D3A1. However One expert opined that this machine was actually seen in this configuration at Coral Sea, & not 16:24 at Pearl Harbor, where it was in the Grey standard and lack many of the yellow stripes on the fuselage... but I have no corroboration of that. FWIW, the expert was a consultant on a well regarded Japanese website about the IJNAF.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

You should order the extras for it Brett, the wing fold and gun are exquisite.

[@brettpeacock9116]

​@@NigelsModellingBench I think the gun, yes. The wing folding not really how I want it depicted.

[@brettpeacock9116]

And, last night my LHS emailed to tell me that my Val is in stock.... !!

[@kennethmclennan905]

Will you be getting the new seaking from AIRFIX looks interesting

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Yes in a word. i was invited to the launch, if I'd gone i would have one here Doh!! Still, I need to look after Jess...

[@steveclarke6257]

Nigel, do you think someone else would pick up the moulds, a bit like Border picked up the WNW Lancaster moulds.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

I believe they are for sale Steve.. I certainly hope someone buys the Kate project?

[@melvilib]

They are dive brakes under the wing

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Thank you, i shall have to look into how they work.. These Japanese Aircraft are a whole new world!!

[@melvilib]

@@NigelsModellingBench The Ju87 and Ju88 both have something similar in the dive bombing versions

[@markoldreive]

Might those aerodynamic aids you referred to be dive brakes?

[@NigelsModellingBench]

They are Mark apparently.

[@JL-hr7xm]

Great review Nigel, I saw this build of the Aichi and thought you might like to view it. His build is not like your detailed builds, just an over view of his process; kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJ_Egmd7od2Ub7M . Give Jess a rub for me.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Thanks for that link.. well worth a watch!!

[@alecralph6667]

It seems that you could almost build the model without the original kit simply by just buying all the after market!!!

[@NigelsModellingBench]

As with many kits these days lol.

[@stanikicin]

Build it pleaseee😮

[@simongorton6297]

Hi Nige yes I'm not a fan of the reviewer you mentioned i prefer your reviews

[@NigelsModellingBench]

I don't know who you're talking about??.......

[@007NateNasty]

Is this out of print? Why is it so expensive? It's over $100.

[@NigelsModellingBench]

???

[@007NateNasty]

@@NigelsModellingBench What is it? What do the question marks mean?

[@NigelsModellingBench]

Sorry, the question marks mean I have no idea

[@007NateNasty]

@@NigelsModellingBench I'm just now getting into modeling. Is 1:32 a bad scale because it's so expensive or do you find kits for $40?

[@NewbType07]

A beauty indeed, wouldn't call it "little" though😂