Area 88 – 1/144 scale projects

The Area 88 manga is so full of exciting scenes of air-combat, that they almost beg to be depicted in scale model dioramas.  However, considering the space needed and the wide variety and relative size of the aircraft involved, I’ve decided to constrain my mini dioramas to a reasonable 1/144 scale.

The finished models:

The 1/144 Scale Projects:

My current (and ever growing) list of projects, listed in the order they appear in the manga not necessarily in the order I intend to build them.

I  also encourage you to check out this great Area 88 focused blog – https://wollcraft.com/ more 1/144 Area 88 action!

This is Shin Kazama!

001 (v01c01) | The Blue Skies of Betrayal
Welcome to Area 88.  This is Zero-Zero Section – Shin Kazama, Come in Area 88 Control!

The Fang

002 (v01c02) | A Man Named Boris
Shin and Boris fly through the Fang air defence shield with the wings of their F-8E Crusaders folded in mid-flight.

Shot Down!

003 (v01c03) | The Endless Desert

Shin is shot down by an enemy pilot and is forced to ditch his wrecked F-8E in the desert and walk back to base.

Locust Roast

004 (v01c04) | The Old Soldier’s Fire

A nuclear strike and a swarm of locusts means Maurice and his ancient T-6 “Texan” have a chance to be the hero.

Nuclear Attack!

004 (v01c04) | The Old Soldier’s Fire

After Maurice clears the runway, Shin takes off in the F-15A just in time to shoot down the nuclear missile and be the hero.

A Close Save

005 (v01c05) | The Crossing Point of Solitude

Shin’s new F-5E Tiger II has a near collision over the Mediterranean with a Yamato Airlines B-747-200 piloted by none other than Kanzaki.

Friendly Fire

006 (v01c06) | Blue Mirage

Mickey thinks back to his days in Vietnam, and recalls the friendly fire incident that cost one of his wingmates his life.

A Rocky Arrival

007 (v01c07) | The Distant Battle

Goh “Rocky” Mitsuki, a NP new correspondent arrives at the Area 88 base in an old DC-3 transport plane.

A Game of Chicken

009 (v01c09) | The Horizon of Anger

Rocky tries to avenge Sara’s death by jumping in a Jeep and playing a deadly game of “chicken” with a T-62 tank.

  • T-62 Tank (T-62 by Kami de Korokoro)
  • Jeep (U.S. Jeep by Brengun)

The Escape Killers

010 (v01c10) | Longing at Dawn

A trio of African mercenaries, known as “The Escape Killers” arrive at Area 88 looking to collect a bounty on deserters.

The Bloody Screw

012 (v01c12) | The Wolves of the Air

Colonel Kilvic and his mercenary group, known as “The Wolf Pack”, attack Area 88 with their signature move… “The Bloody Screw!”

Frecce Tricolor

014 (v01c14) | The Requirements of Wolves

A flashback that never happened. Mario Bandini arrives at Area 88, fresh off his career as a solo flier for the Italian Aerobatics team, the Frecce Tricolor.

  • Fiat G.91x3 (Fiat G-91 by strobez)

Sitting on the Tarmac

016 (v02c02) | The Explosive Sky

Moments before a chance encounter with Saki, Ryoko stares out the window and sees a Lufthansa Boeing 707 sitting on the tarmac.

The Upside Down Bomb

016 (v02c02) | The Explosive Sky

The A.G.F targets a McGregor Airlines flight all for one passenger – Saki Vashtal.  When bombs are discovered under the wings of the DC-10-30, Shin and Mickey must fly their Kfirs upside down to get a shot.

Kamikaze Cessna!

022 (v02c08) | Clinging to Life

Ryoko reminisces about her first meeting with Shin and their flight in her father’s Cessna 172 – while Zenzou reminisces about his time as a Kamikaze pilot during the war.

Fight of the Phoenix

027 (v02c13) | The Festival of Demons

The final mid-air confrontation between Shin and the hitman that’s been hired to kill him, ‘Phoenix’ Charlie!

A Leopard in the Sand

030 (v03c01) | Warriors in the Haze

After being reassigned to support a helicopter base, the team is ambushed by a tank hidden in the sand.

  • UH-1H Huey (UH-1H by F-Toys)
  • AH-1S Cobra (AH-1S Cobra by Kaiyodo)
  • Leopard 2A4 (Leopard 2A4 by Takara)

Enter the Desert Carrier

031 (v03c02) | The Passage to Hell

After unexplained Harrier attacks, the Desert Carrier makes an appearance and launches a remote controlled F-18 Hornet.

Escape the Desert Carrier!

035 (v03c06) | A Dark Cloud of Intrigue

Shin and Mickey escape the Desert Aircraft Carrier by hijacking a pair of auto-pilot F/A-18 Hornets, but some fancy flying is needed to disable the self-destruct mechanisms.

Yamato Airlines Flight 31

036 (v03c07) | Prelude to Collapse

As the Maxwell MB-14 airliner finally falls victim to its corner-cutting construction, the doomed Yamato Airlines Flight 31 goes down in flames in Tokyo bay.

A Rocky Rescue

036 (v03c07) | Prelude to Collapse

While covering the breaking story of the Yamato Flight 31’s crash, Rocky rescues Ms. Yatsuda from drowning.

  • Jetranger (Bell 206 Jetranger by strobez)

Attack the Desert Carrier

039 (v03c10) | Of Ants and a Monster

Greg and Campbell attack the Land Carrier.

Break the Big Leg

047 (v04c02) | 88 Desperate Situations

With the base being threatened by “The Grand Slam” – a subterranean guided missile – Saki must take the B-1 up to “break the Big Leg” and drop a massive boulder in its path.

Runway RUN!

048 (v04c03) | The Longest Day

Shin and Mickey tear down the runway in a couple of sacrificial F-4Es and eject just before takeoff as the resulting collision sets off a massive explosion as the Grand Slam missile detonates a reasonably safe distance from the Area 88 base.

Insert Another COIN

050 (v04c05) | The Winds of the Mediterranean

A drunken Greg learns why you should never attempt to use a Bronco OV-A to attack a desert Land Carrier

Need A Boost?

051 (v04c06) | Battle Line 88

After the runway is badly damaged and partially obstructed by the land-based Desert Air Craft Carrier attack, Mickey uses rocket boosters to make a near vertical take-off in his F-100D Super Sabre.

Gravedigger

052 (v04c07) | Dunes of Steel

After being hit by anti-aircraft fire, Roxy “digs his own grave” by heroically crashing his A-7 Corsair II into the deck of the desert aircraft carrier.

Bugsy hits the Windshield

052 (v04c07) | Dunes of Steel

After being blinded by shrapnel during the final battle with the Desert Carrier, Bugsy heroically crashes his jet into the carrier.

The Olive Garden Takeout

054 (v04c09) | The Gods and the Men of Twilight

After Shin makes an emergency landing in an olive grove, Saki dispatches a CH-54 to go pick up the grounded F-5A.

Heavy Lifting

056 (v04C11) | A New Set of Molars

McCoy lands his C-5A Galaxy in Greece, bringing with him a brand new F-20 Tigershark for Shin.

Flamenco Flight

060 (v04c15) | Flamenco Survivor

Major Roundel leads the Area 88 team on a dangerous flight through a rocky crevasse to mount a sneak attack on the enemy base.

A Day Like This

062 (v05c02) | Memoirs of a Tiger PART1

Greg and Ken fly A-10 Thunderbolt II’s on a patrol around the Area 88 Mountain Base, and Greg remembers, “it was on a day like this…”

Blue Cheese 7

062 (v05c02) | Memoirs of a Tiger PART1

In a flashback, Greg pilots a private Learjet in the dramatic defection of a world-class Soviet violinist and her daughter.  However things get dicey when they come face to face with a trio of East German MiG-21 fighter jets.

McCoy Express

064 (v05c04) | The Funeral March of Betrayal

McCoy arrives at the new Area 88 mountain base in style, in his own C-130 transport plane and bringing Mickey a replacement F-14A.

Mountain Game

065 (v05c06) | Mountain Game

It’s the battle of VTOL cat and moused as Kim faces off against a Yak-38 that has infiltrated the Area 88 base defences.

The Man-Eating Tiger

068 (v05c08) | The Man-Eating Tiger

Nguyen shows his reputation as a killer when he shoots down a pilot that’s already ejected from his doomed plane.

’76 Steinberger

069 (v05C09) | Bandit Report

In a flashback scene, Hoover saves Benditz from certain death after a MiG-21 gets him in his sights.  In gratitude, Benditz offers up a bottle of ’76 Steinberger.

Rishal’s Reunion

073 (v05c13) | The Plot’s Fuse

Rishal leaves Switzerland with Gigliola to be reunited with his father in Sweden. They fly on a DC-8

Come in Control! This is Recon 5!

075 (v05c14) | An Aura of Blood

Recon 5 is dispatched to the coast to try and discover what happened to Recon 2… and they do!

A Dill Hill To Die On

075 (v05c15) | The Grim Reaper’s Fugue

Project 4 enters the fray and makes an amphibious landing on the shores of Asran near Dill Hill. An F-111 Aardvark is sent to investigate and is quickly brought down by anti-aircraft mines.

Blue Angel

078 (v06c01) | Heaven and Earth

Gary McBurn days as a pilot in the Blue Angels.

For Whom The Bells Toll…

079 (v06c02) | Sand and Trust

When a sandstorm turns visibility to 0%, McKinley must navigate by sound to land at the Area 88 Mountain Base.

The Queen of the Sand

081 (v06c04) | The Queen of the Sand

Project 4’s Sirene Barnack shoots down Shin in a loaner F-5E Tiger II… and then soothes his wounds.

Escape from Asran!

085 (v06c08) | One Step Towards Heaven, One Towards Hell

Project 4’s first major assault results in a dog fight with Area 88’s finest.

See King Zak… Run!

087 (v06c10) | 24 Hours of Destiny

During Project 4’s invasion of the Asranian Capital city, King Zak escapes from the palace in a Sea King.

Homecoming

093 (v06c16) | The Coffin of Flames

Abdel Vashtar finally returns to Asran following Project 4’s victory for a meeting with Satoru Kanzaki… and then Gigliola returns to Europe with Saki’s mother, Princess Soria’s cryogenic coffin.

Vive en France! Libre!

095 (v07c01) | Secret Paris

Shin transports King Zak into exile in France, landing the unarmed T-38 in Paris before being honourably discharged.

Welcome to Paris!

095 (v07c01) | Secret Paris

A pair of French Mirage fly overhead as Shin takes his first steps of freedom.

A Wild Goose Chase

097 (v07c03) | Whisper of the Lonely Sky

Lieutenant-Colonel Laurent Bosch of the Patrouille de France explains to Shin why mercenaries are sometimes referred to as “Wild Geese” and then Invites him to fly some French military planes during his stay in Paris.

Mark III

097 (v07c03) | Whisper of the Lonely Sky

Lieutenant-Colonel Bosch recounts his days as part of the cut-throat mercenary group known as Mark III. He doesn’t mention what planes they flew, but he didn’t say they DIDN’T fly Panavia Tornados…

Sera Returns

098 (v07c04) | In the Freedom of Hell

Sera returns from Paris and arrives at the Area 88 base in style, in a “borrowed” F-104 Starfighter.

Is There A Pilot On Board?

099 (v07c05) | Southern Flight Plan

After being talked into taking an aerial tour of France by some cute schoolgirls, Shin has to grab the controls of the Cessna 160 when the tour pilot suffers a heart attack.

  • Cessna 336 Skymaster (Cessna 336 Skymaster by strobez)

Wargames in the Sand

104 (v07c10) | Wargames in the Sand

The Royal Asran Air Force lead a devastating attack against the “Brasia Invasion” force tanks… which is really just a Project 4 ruse to give them the excuse to launch an invasion of Brasia as an act of “self-defense.”

Run Through the Jungle

112 (v07c18) | 50 Kilometres to Runga

Shin the mercenaries make a run for it, through the jungles of Bamballa, in the perfect off-roading vehicles – a 1983 Buick Electra Park Avenue and a 1983 Lincoln Continental.

  • 1983 Buick Electra Park Avenue (by strobez)
  • 1983 Lincoln Continental (by strobez)

Death from Above

115 (v08c02) | A Matter of Life and Death

Shin the mercenaries escape in a UNIMOG while Bosch hunts them from above in an Aerospatiale SA 341 Gazelle

  • 341 Gazelle (by strobez)
  • UNIMOG (by strobez)

East Africa Safari Rally

116 (v08c03) | Survival Game

After Bosch kills Map, his life as a Rally Car driver flashes before his eyes.

Supersonic Goddess

122 (v08c09) | Supersonic Goddess

Sera and Kim round up the remnants of the Brasian Air Force.

The Hunters

124 (v08c11) | The Counterattack Begins

Project 4 hunts for the exact location of the Area 88 coastal base.

Fight of the Intruder

137 (v09c05) | Failed Strike?!

The second wave of the attack to liberate Brasia lifts off from the A88 aircraft carrier.

Voodoo Hoodoo

145 (v09c13) | Confessions of a Storm

Saki and Warren to inspect the runway after the return to the original Area 88 desert base.

First Solo Flight

146 (v09c14) | Time Passes By

Shin and Saki take to the skies solo for the first time, and end up flying inverted Cessna 172 Skyhawks.

Kanzaki Returns

146 (v09c14) | Time Passes By

After confronting Shin with the past, Saki returns to the Middle East in style… hitching a ride on a CH-53 Sea Stallion.

Flashback Mac

148 (v09c16) | Nightmare

Gary MacBurn thinks back to his days in Vietnam

The Return of Shin

153 (v09c21) | A New Declaration of War

Shin finally returns to Area 88… in style.

Call in Hawkeye!

156 (v10c03) | Border Zone

Project 4’s Invasion of Tundaria has begun! As a RA-5C takes recon pictures, the ground forces call in “Hawkeye” to shoot it down.

Sink The Sub

157 (v10c04) | The Sound of Pulling the Trigger

The Lafayette-class submarine is destroyed by an S-3 Viking.

Attack the B-52

158 (v10c05) | The Sortie of No Return

Shin, Mickey and the gang attack the Project 4 B-52 bombers

The Land War

160 (v10c07) | Fighter Pilot

The final push to re-take the capital city of Asran begins.

Farewell, Saki…

170 (v10c17) | The Cost of Bloodshed

Shin and Kim come to rescue Saki, but can they do it from himself?

The Final Showdown [Part 1]

171 (v10c18) | The Future Turns to Ash

Mickey Simon vs. Gary MacBurn…. the final battle

The Final Showdown [Part 2]

172 (v10c19) | Battlefield of Sand

As the final battle begins as Ryoko arrives in Asran aboard an Alitalia L-1011 Tristar.

The Final Showdown [Part 3]

172 (v10c19) | Battlefield of Sand

Shin vs. Kanzaki… to the death!