History

The Aichi D3A, (Allied reporting name "Val") was a World War II carrier-borne dive bomber of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). It was the primary dive bomber in the Imperial Japanese Navy, and participated in almost all actions, including Pearl Harbor. The Aichi D3A was the first Japanese aircraft to bomb American targets in World War II, commencing with Pearl Harbor and U.S. bases in the Philippines, such as Clark Air Force Base. During the course of the Second World War, the Val dive bomber sank more Allied warships than any other Axis aircraft.
From Wikipedia

First Impressions

Nice clean molding,no flash to be found, Very fine panel lines.
All control surfaces are molded separately.
76 parts (light grey ).
6 clear parts.
This boxing includes paint schemes from the time of the battle of Midway, by which time the IJN's aircraft were beginning to be camouflaged with dark green upper surfaces.

Fuselage

Fuselage halves have nice thin sprue connections and clean up well. Cockpit walls have some detail molded on them but there is no detail on the instrument panels, nor are there decals supplied.

Wings

Wings are molded in three sections with the option to have wingtips extended or folded.
Wing flaps molded separately.

Empennage

Tail molded into fuselage with separate rudder detail.
Elevators molded separately from the stabilisers.

Landing gear

Landing gear is fixed.
Wheels have spats molded separately and the tires have weighted tread.

Accuracy

I don't compare models to drawings or published measurements. When assembled it will look like a Val.

Decals and Markings

Decals are by Cartograf and are to their high standard.
Decals are for four aircraft, all of unidentified units:-
2:- Akagi,Midway Island 1942.
1:- Shokaku, Coral Sea 1942.
1:- Celebes Island 1942.

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