FROG F274 Nakajima G8N1 Renzan ("Rita")

FROG deluxe Series FROG F274 Nakajima G8N1 Renzan ("Rita"), 1969

NEW AND IN VIEW NEW AIRCRAFT KITS
FROG. Nakajima G8N1 Renzan (Rita) Bomber. 1/72 scale. Price not yet known.

Rita was featured in the centre spread of the May 1968 issue of IPMS Magazine and this kit certainly offers unlimited scope for those seeking to super-detail a four-engined aircraft.

The parts are moulded in Dark Green plastic, and assembly is straightforward and quite simple. The cockpit and turret transpanencies are very clear and fit well, and the kit makes up into a most striking model.

The box art is, however, very misleading. The artist has depicted a formation of Ritas dropping bombs over some unspecified target with flak bursting dramatically all over the place, but as the Rita in fact never got beyond test flying this type of dramatic art seems out of place. On the other hand the profile art-work is, as usual on Frog kits, very good, showing as it does the finishes of the 3rd Prototype E—68—3 and the 4th Prototype in American markings as it appeared just after hostilities ceased. The decals are simple, but complete and very accurate.

This is an excellent kit of an unsual aircraft which, with its somewhat startling Orange/Green and other optional finishes, would look well in any collection.

The IPMS magazine, DECEMBER 1968 VOL.5 No.12

Modelling World
JAMES GOULDING
New Frog 1/72nd kits
Nakajima G8N1 Renzan ("Rita")

This is a good, straightforward, kit of the Rita. The surface detail is very nice, and the moulding standard is clean and sharp. The choice of this four-engined bomber is, to me, rather suprising as there were many other Japanese medium-bombers which were more widely used. Possibly the answer lies in the kit itself. Somehow, this does not look like a Frog kit. Over the years, one gets used to the way in which the various manufacturers produce their kits. The detail design of the components, the type of fixings, etc, all label the manufacturer. In the recent Frog releases, there have been a number of kits which have a different look about them. But I am not complaining, as long as we get first-rate kits!

For the Rita, two sets of transfers are provided—for the third prototype and the captured fourth prototype in US markings. If you want a plastic model of this four-engined Japanese bomber, this Frog kit is the cheapest way of getting one. It costs 22s 5d.

AIRCRAFT ILLUSTRATED 1969-04

Hasegawa JS-22:850 No.12 Nakajima G8N1 Renzan ("Rita"), 1968

HONG KONG COMMENT by Colin Bramwell

The review is of 18—Shi Attack Bomber, Renzan G8N I (N-40) 'Rita', which was released recently. This is a far better kit than 'Emily' about which there have been a number of adverse comments on account of the heavy detailing. There will, I am sure, be no such complaint in respect of 'Rita'.

The kit has some 67 parts in deep green or clear plastic, and is almost entirely devoid of flash. The clear parts are very clear indeed, and have very light frame markings. The cockpit canopy has been moulded in one piece and some of it will have to be over-painted to represent the dropping line of the side windows, but this is clearly marked out. In essence, the kit appears very simple and perhaps this is why it retails for only ¥850. For instance the engine cowlings, turbo-super charger intakes and engines are moulded in one piece, but they do not suffer loss of detail by this, although the modeller who likes to spend several hours making miniature engines will be disappointed. There is some internal detail in the main cockpit with five seats and three, slightly small, crewmen, but not elsewhere, the turrets being devoid of anything but a base and some simplified guns.

Moving parts have been kept to a minimum, consisting only of the turrets, wheels, and airscrews. The rudder and ailerons are moulded separately, but they do not move. Bombs and a rack have been included, and the bomb bay doors can be assemble open or closed, but again are not moveable.

The decal sheet, although well printed, is the worst part of the kit. The Hinomarus are a bright vermillion, the yellow wing stripes are far too bright and the alternative U.S. markings seem to be too light a blue. The only other thing on the sheet are the biack tail codes, and the whole- thing is glossy.

A far cry from their Lightning decal sheet. However, I very much doubt if this rather minor point wil stop anyone but an absolute perfectionist from buying this kit, which must rank as one of the best Hasegawa have produced to date.

The IPMS magazine, FEBRUARY 1968, Vol.5 No.2

AMT A-680:300 Nakajima Renzan "Rita" 18-shi attack bomber, 1968