Hello there, I wonder if someone can possibly direct me to this info, I'm getting myself all worked up because no matter how hard I try, I simply can't find anything on the aircraft used on the Japinese seaplane tender Notoro, the model comes with just 2 biplanes and these are type 14, later these were changed to type 90 and 94, and in the ideal world, I'd be able to find these in 1-700 scale, but I can't find these in any scale, can someone please help.

Hi Alec,

First, you can aquire some of these models without going to vacuform or resin. Also, here's info on IJN Seaplane Tender/Oiler NOTORO.

According to Japanese aircraft of the Pacific war by René J. Francillon, all except the Type 94 were obsolete/withdrawn by 1941.

The Type 94 is in both 1/72 (Hasegawa, in-line engine version; some kits issued with a steam catapult) and 1/700 (Tamiya, with their Light Cruiser Tama, Item 31317, Light Cruiser Natori, Item 31320, and Light Cruiser Abukuma, Item No：31349. Maybe other kits.) It was the Kawanishi E7K1 and E7K2, codename "Alf", a two-place twin-float biplane that was in action into 1943.

The Type 14 was the Yokosuka E1Y1/E1Y3.

The Type 90 is more of a riddle. There were four Type 90 seaplanes and two Type 90 flyingboats:
Type 90-1, Aichi E3A1
Type 90-2, Nakajima E4N1/E4N3
Type 90-2-3, Nakajima E4N2-C
Type 90-3, Kawanishi E5K1

Type 90-1, Hiro H3H1, codename "Tillie"
Type 90-2, Kawanishi H3K1/H3K2, codename "Belle"

Tamiya's model Light Cruiser Kinu, Item 31321, has either the pusher biplane flyingboat Aichi E11A1 Type 98 "Laura" or Aichi EI0AI Type 96 "Hank". IIRC, one of Laura was issued in 1/72 by Fujimi.

No doubt one or more of these planes are also 1/700 kits by Aoshima, Fujimi, Hasegawa, or Pit Road/Skywave.

A great place to research and cross-reference Japanese planes is http://www.daveswarbirds.com/Nippon/Japanese.htm

Frederick - that's a lot of information, and thank you very much for the click-on links.