Kit: ST28
Scale: 1/32
Manufacturer: Hasegawa, from Dragon Models USA, 626-968-0322, www.dragonmodelusa.com
Price: $54.95
Comments: Injection-molded, 165 parts (4 vinyl), decals
Pros: Great subject; trouble-free fit
Cons: None, really – a joy to build
The Kawasaki Ki-61 was a radical departure from all previous Japanese fighter planes. Using a liquid-cooled engine, the famous Daimler-Benz DB 601, the Ki-61 looked like nothing the Japanese had fielded before. Its heavy armament, armor, and good diving capability surprised the Allies when it appeared in 1943 over New Guinea. It received the code name “Tony” because Allied intelligence surmised it was an Italian-based design!
After 30 years of nothing but the old, out-of-production Revell kit, Hasegawa finally provides another plastic model of the Ki-61. Examining the kit, I found it was up to Hasegawa’s high standards – clean molding and impressive surface detail. Features include two canopies (one open, the other closed), drop tanks, a pilot figure with optional heads, and, with the initial release, a bonus metal pilot figure. Hasegawa has also issued a separate detail set featuring the pitot tube, machine gun, and cannon barrels in brass.
The cockpit was very well detailed, with most of the controls, consoles, and levers given as separate parts.
Following the instructions, I assembled and installed the cockpit into one half of the fuselage. There is an alignment tab for the horizontal tail planes that needs to be installed at this time. This is a nice touch, as it helps keep the tail planes from going off angle.
The fuselage construction includes an impressive main wing spar. The spar is cleverly designed with tracks that will take rails molded in the inner surface of the wings!
The wings are simple two-piece components with a gun-panel insert. Differing from its previous 1/32 scale kits, Hasegawa has not provided separate landing flaps. Instead, the flap detail is molded on the inside of the wing to provide the option of cutting out the flaps to show detail.
After I constructed the wings I slid them down the spar and was immediately impressed with the solid fit. The dihedral was perfectly captured. Very impressive!
I did need some filler at the left wing root, although I think I could have avoided that with more careful construction.
There is a lot of external detail to finish the construction. All the navigation lights are clear parts. The tail surfaces have separate actuators. Boarding steps and handles are provided.
To create the natural-metal finish, I used Hawkeye’s Hobbies new acrylic aluminum paint and polishing powder. The worn, faded anti-glare panel was created with Tamiya’s NATO black. The yellow and red markings were done with Hobby Color acrylics.
Decals are provided for three aircraft, all with victory markings. One of the schemes is for the famous Ki-61 pilot Capt. Teruhiko Kobayashi, which coincides with the bonus metal figure. The decals applied well with the use of some decal setting solution.
The finished model looked convincingly like the first series Ki-61 when compared to my reference, Famous Airplanes Of The World Number 17: Army Type 3 Fighter “HIEN.”
I completed my Tony in 24 hours. With it’s impressive engineering and level of detail, it was a joy to build. I hope Hasegawa will be issuing other versions of the Hien, particularly the radial-engine Ki-100. Fans of 1/32 scale World War II models should not pass up this kit.
– Jim Zeske