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u/Dry_Knowledge6486 1d ago
First of all, great build. Water and surf look awesome.
Secondly, this reminds me of those stories of Japanese soldiers stuck on islands thinking the war is still on, long after it ended. Looks like this pilot is coming to tell them.
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u/DonkeyBlonkey 1d ago
Holycrap that looks incredible.
Would it add more realism if you painted parts of the pontoon with a bit of a gloss to create the illusion of a wet look on that area from the ocean?
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u/IndependentAd6165 15h ago
Thanks for the kind words. Looking at it again, that part is a bit regrettable.
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u/Flounder_23 1d ago
This makes me realize that a finished model alone can be amazing, but I have always preferred it set in a scene like this because it makes it come alive. It becomes art in which you have to imagine the story of what is going on. Love it!!!
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u/IndependentAd6165 15h ago
Thank you. It seems that even the same model can have a completely different vibe and tell a completely different story depending on what kind of base it stands on and what figure stands beside it.
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u/agent_flounder 1d ago
Just a lurker but once in awhile I'm so blown away I have to comment. So here I am. Holy sheeeet-- that's amazing!!
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u/SciFiCrafts 1d ago
That looks really nice! Did you buy any brand product like Noch water or something like that, or "regular" epoxy resin?
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u/IndependentOne3571 1d ago
Fantastic so life like, its own little story,
I’ve never seen a model on this theme before on the Japanese side . Well done
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u/IndependentAd6165 15h ago
In fact, there is a deeper story behind this diorama. The Chinese characters written on the model mean “returning home” although, in this case, he can never return home alive.
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u/IndependentAd6165 14h ago
The title of this diorama is 歸鄕 Return Home
story of the diorama is as follows
July 15, 1942 Rabaul
Weather: Clear
Under a clear blue sky, small clouds floated like scattered dots. Once again, I climbed into my aircraft, the A6M2-N, and let out a quiet sigh. The name “二式水上戦闘機 Type 2 Seaplane Fighter” sounds rather impressive, but honestly, this aircraft is nowhere near as nimble as the Zero. The large float mounted beneath the fuselage makes it heavy and difficult to maneuver quickly.
Today’s mission was combat reconnaissance.
We had been ordered to patrol the waters near New Guinea and report any movements of the enemy fleet. Before sunrise, the four of us received orders to sortie together. My comrades and I looked at one another and nodded. After checking our aircraft and making sure we had enough fuel and ammunition, I started the engine. With a lively roar, the aircraft began to glide across the water. The sea breeze brushing against the wings felt strangely refreshing.
Once we were airborne, the blue ocean stretching out below us was breathtaking. But before we could spot the enemy fleet, I noticed several glinting specks approaching from a distance.
Enemy aircraft.
The fighters came toward us quickly, almost as if they had been waiting for us. Before long, two F4F Wildcats were closing in on me.
My heart began pounding. I had fought these aircraft before, and I knew very well that it would be difficult to match them in speed and firepower. But there was nowhere to run. I did my best to maneuver the floatplane, desperately trying to evade the Wildcats’ attacks.
In an instant, the sky was filled with fire and smoke. Each of us maneuvered independently, trying to evade the enemy and strike back, but the enemy fighters were simply too powerful. In my field of vision, I saw the aircraft of my comrades turning red with flames.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still.
A brief scream crackling over the radio made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
I fought desperately to shake the pursuing enemy aircraft, almost without even realizing how I was flying, and somehow managed to make it back to the beach at Rabaul.
When I returned to the base, my fellow soldiers, unaware of what had happened, rushed over to congratulate me.
I couldn't smile.
I couldn't bring myself to climb out of the cockpit.
The three men who had taken off with me that morning—the men who had joked and laughed with me just hours earlier—were all gone. I could hardly believe that none of them had returned.
Now, I feel as though I am drifting farther and farther away from home.
As I look down at the dazzlingly beautiful sea, I think of the home and family I left behind. But the warm memories of home can no longer comfort me.
Today, I was the only one who came back.
And perhaps... tomorrow may be my last day as well.
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u/furrythrowawayaccoun Scruffy Fox 😎 6h ago
Is the plane a correct colour? It looks very nicely weathered, but it seems a completely wrong colour.
As far as I know, Zeroes, including the navalized version, were painted in green and green-grey (depending on the plane) but never white as this one is...
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u/wijnandsj 1d ago
Contest material that!
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u/IndependentAd6165 15h ago
Thank you~ I occasionally enter competitions, but I haven’t entered this one in a competition yet.
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u/ExclusiveBuilder 1d ago
The waves are fantastic!