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1/48 Ki61-I Hei (Tony)


rowmk9

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My effort for this group build will be the Japanese Ki61-I Hei HEIN (Allied reporting name Tony) built from Hasegawa's 1/48 kit. I've always liked this plane as it was one of the few Japanese aircraft to use an inline engine rather than a radial. This build will take a bit of a back seat for a few weeks while I finish another build for the Bomber GB but have no fear, I will get this one built!

I'm not sure on the markings yet, I could stick to the box art one or the two natural metal examples from the kit decals, or if I may go for some aftermarket markings if I find an option that I like.

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Some sprue pics...

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Instrument panel looks quite nice with the raised detail. :)

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and the kit decals.

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Edited by rowmk9
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Grud choice Rowan-San..! Hie>>! The Emperor would be pleased...!!

banzai Cheers,

ggc

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  • 4 weeks later...

Hi Rowan, good luck with the build.

I'm guessing this is the engine that was copied/built under licence of the DB601 found in the BF109. I think the Japanese managed to squeeze a bit more horsepower out of them and made them lighter than the germans but suffered reliability problems for it. I believe the crankshafts were the weakpoint?

Anyway, I look forward to seeing the build.

Howard

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I had one for sale but decided to keep it as I don't have any models to represent Japanese aircraft in my collection and so I think I'll watch this interest.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi guys!

Its been a long time but I've finally made a start on the Tony, so moofles your prodding has eventually paid off :P

Here is the cockpit, straight from the box with some rudimentary masking tape belts added to the seat. The canopy will be closed on this one so I dont mind too much.

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The two halves placed together, so don't worry about the gap!

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Hopefully there will be an update soon, rather than in a months time!

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Hi there, I'm glad you are back. It's hard to get to the bench sometimes, isn't it? Your cockpit looks good I think. I like the seat belts (which I wouldn't dismiss as 'rudimentary') and that row of levers on the port sidewall is crazy. in a good way. lol. It reminds me of something from the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - very steam punk!

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Cheers guys!

Hi there, I'm glad you are back. It's hard to get to the bench sometimes, isn't it? Your cockpit looks good I think. I like the seat belts (which I wouldn't dismiss as 'rudimentary') and that row of levers on the port sidewall is crazy. in a good way. lol. It reminds me of something from the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen - very steam punk!

Yes it can be hard to find the time to model sometimes, but I love it so much that I can't shake the bug. Thanks for the kind comments about the belts, they will do ok for a closed up canopy. Haha yeah the levers do look a little steam punk agreed, but that's just how the instructions told me to paint them. Looks cool but I'm not 100% sure on the accuracy front. I'm not gonna loose sleep over it however :wicked:

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Thanks guys.

I've made a bit more progess. The fuslage is closed up, and the wings are together as well. one thing I've discovered is there is a gap between at the wing root that is even on both sides. Now normally I woulf fudge this bit my stuffing in some filler, but I'm thinking maybe of plastic strip cut to size and sanded down would be better. What do you guys think?

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