[lanslide]

Thanks Ara1...I have the Misawa Betty Bomber that is dark green on top and light gray on the bottom. The other one that was available was the Kanoya brown and green top. I don't know which one is more valuable. The one I have is modeled after the one Yamamoto was shot down in.

[Ara1]

I've seen the Misawa version around the internet more recently as opposed to the brown/green.

I'd prefer yours to own and the mixed color version to sell.

Is the Misawa Betty from the 1942 period?

[lanslide]

Here is a scan of the Marushin brochure that shows the only two versions of the Betty that were made by them:

[Ara1]

Nice scans, I'm not sure when the yellow wing IDs were implemented but it may be post-1942. The segmented green brown version may be 1942 or earlier. Time to check my Mikesh/Francillion/Bueschel/Thorpe archives...

[lanslide]

Yamamoto was shot down in this NO. 705 Kaigun Kokutai (Naval Air Group) Betty on April 18, 1943. NO. 705 Air Group had been re-designated from Misawa Kokutai on November 1, 1942.

[lanslide]

My father is a very close friend of Bob Mikesh and Don Thorpe. He has collaborated with both of them. He also was a very good friend of Dick Bueschel's until he passed away.

[lanslide]

According to Jim Lansdale, the yellow I.D. stripes were ordered in August of 1942. Also, the undersides of Bettys were unpainted natural metal unlike the Marushin painted light gray - unfortunately.

[hworth18]

Originally Posted by lanslide

According to Jim Lansdale, the yellow I.D. stripes were ordered in August of 1942. Also, the undersides of Bettys were unpainted natural metal unlike the Marushin painted light gray - unfortunately.

The N1K2's are the same way.. The undersides of all Georges were natural metal and Marushin paints them gray, but as I said before, I am not going to knock Marushin for painting these a color.. I am very happy with my 10 Marushin planes and wouldn't get rid of any of them..

[Ara1]

Originally Posted by lanslide

Also, the undersides of Bettys were unpainted natural metal unlike the Marushin painted light gray - unfortunately.

This is coroborated by Dick Tregaskis's GUADALCANAL DIARY where he witnesses a Betty attack and references their silver underside color.

[lanslide]

Originally Posted by hworth18

The N1K2's are the same way.. The undersides of all Georges were natural metal and Marushin paints them gray, but as I said before, I am not going to knock Marushin for painting these a color.. I am very happy with my 10 Marushin planes and wouldn't get rid of any of them..

I also am VERY happy with all 28 of mine and would not get rid of any of them either! These are among the best models in my collection. Well I might part with 2 of my duplicates.