The Cockpit – 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.
Leiji Matsumoto’s collection of WWII-based short stories, collectively known as The Cockpit (ザ・コクピット) and/or as The Battlefield (戦場まんがシリーズ), are full of exciting scenes of air combat and tank battles, across both the Pacific and European theatres, that are perfect subjects for scale model dioramas. However, considering the space needed to depict a wide-variety of the aircraft and armoured vehicles in a consistent relative scale, 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 no particular order, and regardless of how they appear in the Battlefield manga.
The Black Knight of Berlin (Part 1)
When the Black Knight of Berlin’s code of honour is used against him and his Focke-Wulf Fw190 is attacked by a B-17 Bomber and then shot down by a P-51 Mustang.
The Cockpit v02c07 (First published Weekly Shonen Sunday No. 51, 1974)
- Focke-Wulf Fw190 (Focke-Wulf Fw190-D-9 by Platz)
- P-51 Mustang (P-51D Mustang by Platz)
The Black Knight of Berlin (Part 2)
After the Black Knight of Berlin’s Focke-Wulf Fw190 is shot down, he comes back with a vengeance in a new Messerschmitt Me262 and shoots down the American Boeing B-17 Bomber that attacked him earlier.
The Cockpit v02c07 (First published Weekly Shonen Sunday No. 51, 1974)
- Messerschmitt Me262 A-2a (Messerschmitt Me262 A-2A by Trumpeter)
- Boeing B-17 (Boeign B-17G by Crown)
Slipstream
After Luftwaffe Captain Erhard von Reinders’ Fw190 is shot down without a single bullet hole, he is branded a traitor. However, equipped with the latest Ta152H high altitude fighter, he’s given the mission to escort a captured B-17 bomber with a terrible cargo to the Peenemünde rocket testing sight. Can Reinders do the right thing an be forever branded a coward?
The Cockpit v04c03 (First published Big Comic Original July 5, 1977)
- Focke-Wulf Ta152H-1 (Focke-Wulf Ta152H-1 by Mark I)
- Boeing B-17 (Boeign B-17G by Crown)
- Spitfire Mk.V (Spitfire Mk.V by Mini Hobby)
The Necklace of Santa Isabella
TBC
The Cockpit v05c11 (First published Big Comic August 25, 1976)
- Kawanishi H8K2 “Dinah” (Kawanishi H8K “Emily” by Aoshima)
- F4F-3 Wildcat (Ghost Fighter FM-2 by Sweet)
The Big Boat Never Returned
TBC
The Cockpit v02c10 (First published Big Comic Original August 26, 1975)
- Mitsubishi Ki46 “Emily” (Kawanishi H8K “Emily” by Micro Ace)
- PBY-5A Catalina (PBY-5A Catalina by MiniCraft)
The Mountain Where Revenge was Buried
TBC
The Cockpit v04c01 (First published Big Comic Original December 20, 1976)
- Zero Fighter A6M2b (Zero Fighter A6M2b by Sweet)
- F6F-5 Hellcat (F6F-5 Hellcat by Eduard)
Stratosphere Fighter
TBC
The Cockpit v01c07 (First published Weekly Shonen Sunday No. 34, 1973)
- Nakajima Ki-44-II (Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki by Minicraft)
Sonic Speed Thunderbolt Attack Squadron
TBC
The Cockpit v02c02 (First published Weekly Shonen Sunday No. 15, 1974)
- Mitsubishi G4M2E Type 1 (Mitsubishi G4M1 by Academy)
- Ouka Model 11 (3D print)