Special Hobby Nakajima Ki-115 Tsurugi - 1:72 Special Hobby

[Paul A H]

Nakajima Ki-115 Tsurugi

1:72 Special Hobby

 

 

The Nakajima Ki-115 Tsurugi (sabre) was a kamikaze aircraft designed for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force towards the end of the Second World War. In the absence of a large number of obsolete aircraft being available for suicide attacks, the Japanese command decided that a simple, cheap aircraft should be designed in case a last-ditch effort to halt an Allied invasion would be required. The resulting aircraft was designed to be easy to build (the fuselage has a circular cross-section rather than elliptical) and used mainly non-strategic materials such as wood and steel. The undercarriage was designed to be jettisoned after take off - a grim reminder of the one-way journey its pilots were expected to take. The aircraft was designed to be able to use any surplus or obsolete engine from stocks. In the end, the prototype was fitted with the Nakajima Ha-35 radial engine, and it is unknown if any other engine was ever fitted. By all accounts, the resulting aircraft was extremely challenging to fly by anyone other than experienced pilots, which was not ideal for a kamikaze aircraft. The design of a revised version, intended to address these shortcomings, was interrupted by the end of the War.

 

 

 

It's good to see Special Hobby re-releasing some of their back catalogue. There are quite a few kits that I didn't think would see the light of day and it will be interesting to see what else they bring back over the next few years. Returning to the Tsurugi, the kit is as simple as the real aircraft. A single sprue of plastic is all you need, although there are a few resin parts, mainly for the bomb and engine, as well as a small fret of photo etched details. The cockpit is surprisingly well detailed, with a seat, instrument panel, control column, rudder pedals and throttle controls. Photo etched parts are used to provide fine detail to the rudder pedals and instrument panel, while there are also etched harnesses for the pilot's seat. 

 

Typically for a low-wing monoplane, the lower wing is moulded in a single span, with separate upper surfaces. None of the control surfaces are moulded separately and the horizontal stabilisers are solid parts too. In contrast, the engine is richly detailed. The cowling is split into two halves, while there are 12 tiny exhaust pipes as well as the resin engine itself. The undercarriage is as basic as you would expect, and of course there are no landing gear bays. The propellor has been moulded as one part, with a separate spinner. There are a couple of air intakes to fit to the forward fuselage, as well as some basic slats, which affix to the trailing edge of the wing via tiny photo etched hinges. This will probably be the only tricky part of what looks to be a very straightforward build. The canopy is moulded in two parts and is thin and clear. 

 

 

The decal sheet provides for three options:
⦁    Ki-115, September 1945. This option depicts the first scheme worn by the Tsurugi. It comprises a black anti-glare panels and Hinomaru;
⦁    Ki-115, September 1945. This is the option shown on the box artwork It comprises the same black anti-glare panels and Hinomaru, but the latter are painted on a small area of IJA Green camouflage and have white outlines;
⦁    Ki-115, September 1945. This is the final scheme worn by the prototype, with overall IJA Green camouflage and grey-green under surfaces.

 

 

Conclusion

 

From time-to-time I review a kit that really appeals to me, regardless of the subject. This is a really nice little model. Despite its simplicity it is well detailed and nicely executed. I can't see how it would take longer than a week to build, and it will take up hardly any space on your model shelf. Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of