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75 years ago In November 1944, the 53rd Hiko Sentai of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force was ordered to form a Shinten Seikutai flight of Kawasaki Type 2 Two-Seat Fighters for air-to-air ramming attacks. Aircraft # 98 was one of them. Embellished with the conspicious Karimata arrow, this Ki-45 KAI Tei was modified by removing armament, abandoning the rear cockpit and trimming the antenna mast. It is doubtful, however, if it was ever used for this purpose since the 53rd Sentai was relegated as a night fighter unit in January 1945. 40 years ago I saw Nichimo's Nick for the first time and was thrilled. Unfortunately, with only limited funds I couldn’t satisfy my desire. Then it was gone. Fifteen years later it re-appeared on the shelf of a remote hobby shop. It was my quickest purchase ever! But job priorities prevailed and the treasure was neglected again. 15 years ago I finally started. Meanwhile a young contender, the Hasegawa kit, had conquered the market. I didn't forsake Nichimo, though. Firstly, because I was attached to it after such a long quest, and secondly, because I consider some aspects of this kit, like the riveted surface, much superior. Aftermarket items and scratch-building did the rest. Now I hope that you enjoy the pictures. For me, the Dragon Killer is the most appealing machine in Japanese military aviation and arguably the neatest two-seater of the war - much too graceful for a suicide mission! ハッピーモデル構築 - Michael References The Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu, Profile No.105, René J. Francillon, Leatherhead, 1966 Japanese Army Air Force Camouflage and Markings WWII, Donald W. Thorpe, Fallbrook, 1968 Slayer of Dragons - The Story of the Toryu, Air Enthusiast Vol.5, London, 1973 Army Type 2 Two-Seat Fighter “Toryu“, Famous Airplanes of the World No.21, Tokyo, 1990 Kawasaki Army Type 2 "Toryu" Two-Seat Fighter, Mechanic of the World Aircraft 6, Japan, 1993 B-29 Hunters of the JAAF, Osprey Aviation Elite Units 5, Koji Takai & Henry Sakaida, Botley, 2001 Unit History: 53rd Sentai, JAAF, Arawasi International Issue 11, Eleftheriou & Paul Thompson, Tokyo, 2009