Scale aviation modeller international

I was deeply impressed by the precise fit of all sub-assemblies

into the overall main airframe, everything went together fine

without any ‘persuasion’ or filler

The commencement of the most pleasurable side of this project,

its final painting and decal application, with various sections

roughly applied before finer masking and detailed work

Suitably masked for the overall bare-metal finish, a number of

wing decals were fixed in place prior to the camouflage following

Tamiya’s instructions here

part sets for it, and every major

aftermarket concern must have

been ready to flood the market

for this new 1/72 release.

However, I was so impressed

with the high degree of superbly

crafted and integrally moulded

detail in the 1/72 version that my

example was built straight from

the box, without enhancement

(apart from an aerial wire).

However, its overall finish

was to see a very welcome

addition...and that was released

by Tamiya themselves!

DECALS

The single most challenging, but

thoroughly enjoyable aspect of

my entire build was reproducing

my preferred marking option.

Tamiya’s decal sheet in this

kit comes with full artwork and

decals for three marking options,

involving machines from the

renowned 244th and 19th Sentais,

and following this path would

result in a nice display piece.

But I decided instead to use

T a m i y a’s K a w a s a k i K i-61-Id

Hien Tony Camouflage Decals

(No.12683) from their Detail-Up

Parts Series, which enables you to

faithfully reproduce the IJAAF’s

Type B3 camouflage pattern of

mottled dark green (A1) upper

surfaces over a natural metal base.

I have laboriously replicated

this mottled paint finish on a

number of IJAAF models over the

years and would have committed

myself to this again, but with

such a low asking price for the

decal set, along with the prospect

of practicing a new technique,

I couldn’t resist purchasing

this supplementary item.

This camouflage sheet is

used in conjunction with

the kit’s IJAAF national roundels

and Captain Kobayashi’s personal

markings. In May 1945 this battle-

weary Ki-61-Id No.24 was passed

on to 2nd Lieutenant (Shoi) Shunzo

Takashima, to be incorporated into

the 159th Shinbu-tai (special attack

Kamikaze unit) and expended on

its terminal mission off Okinawa

on 28 May 1945. (One does wonder

why, as this worn-out aircraft was

to be expended in a ”special attack”,

did the 244th Sentai not use it in

their dedicated aerial ramming

”Shinten seiku-tai” attack unit.)

One thing to note is that

in Shunzo Takashima’s final

flight, this fighter would have

One of the most daunting phases of this entire build was the

application of the four principal overall camouflage decals, but

I was greatly relieved to discover this process was easier and far

more successful than I originally anticipated

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