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Hi All, My first completed kit in 2017: Kawasaki Ki-100-I Koh Type 5 Fighter from Hasegawa, 1:48th scale - white “177†of the 2nd Chutai, 59 Sentai, Ashiya, Kiusiu near Fukuoka, 1945. I used Eduard's photoetched parts dedicated to this kit, in its interior as well as for the exterior of the model. Next are the wheel well covers, where I used a mix of photoetched and resin parts form QB. QB also produced the horizontal tail planes and exhaust stacks (not visible on the photos). Paints used here are Vallejo's White Aluminium, Tamiya's IJA Green, Gunze's H79 and IJA Green inside the cockpit. Markings have been sprayed with use of Montex and DIY masks. Not fully happy with the result, especially the weathering - most of my efforts simply vanished after a flat clear spray cote. Feel free to comment, hope you like it. Best regards Hubert

Okay, so I am throwing my hat into the Tony ring. I started this a couple of weeks ago as something to do while I build an old Bandai 1/30 Nashorn kit for a friend. This will be my second Japanese plane since I built the old Revell Raiden about 3 years ago. For the most part I am building it OOB, but I decided to add some bits and bobs here and there just to see if I could do so. I am also making this my first attempt at a natural metal aircraft so we'll see what happens. So I start. The scheme I am attempting: Building the interior: A lil' red hot test-fitting action: Interior paint, Vallejo Model Color RLM 79: Stuff and nonsense: I try some plumbing: IP decal seemed kind of lame, so I painted it: Getting it together:

OK, so as I threatened hinted at earlier today, I've got a Hasegawa 1:32 Ki-61 'Tony' and by gum I'm gonna build it. Cue the de rigeur shot of the box: And the reference material I picked up for the occasion: And what I hope will be the only aftermarket I purchase for this build: The seatbelts look impressive, but they've got me worried because you only get a lap belt and at least one Ki-61 build I've seen shows a shoulder harness as well, which doesn't come with this set. I'm still trying to ascertain if I have to add one, but if anyone knows please let me know. The Kagero book indicates that Brown flew a captured Tony in San Diego after the war, possibly the one captured by the Marines on Okinawa. If that was the case, it may well also have sported its distinctive red, white & blue paint job applied shortly after capture. I'd really rather do an example still in Japanese service, so this model won't be living up to the spirit of this group build 100% but I hope I can do something pretty neat anyway. The cockpit is still under assembly, but once I start showing some paint there will be photos. Darren

Ever the ambitious chap, I'll be trying to finish several models over the coming 12 months or so, including this one, for the region 5 event being hosted next year by my home chapter. Obligatory box art.

Hi All, I have just finished the project, that distracted me a bit (together with several other projects) from my "the only right scale" Hien. The RS Models kit probably represents the production version of the Ki-61-II-Kai, armed with 2 x 12.7 mm (.50 in) machine guns in the wings and 2 x 20 mm cannon in the fuselage. In this version it returned to the wings of the Ki-61-I-Tei, fuselage was extended by 220 mm, vertical tail was enlarged, and it used Ha-140 engine, the equivalent of DB-605. The machine, which my miniature is meant to represent, apparently was deprived of machine guns in the wings, presumably in order to reduce weight and improve performance. At the end of the war, 56. Sentai used possibly four such planes, of which there are two known to me photos showing the machines captured (two different machines and possibly a tail unit of a third one), taken after the end of hostilities. Comparing the line of Hasegawa Hiens, I estimate the Czech product quite high. There are some visible similarities (so that the resin cockpit dedicated to Hasegawa fit nicely), but there are also many small differences in favor of this or that kit. Drawbacks are weaker fit (for example, the cover of the guns mounted in the fuselage) and generally inferior quality: slightly rough surfaces, very weak glazing (would recommend a replacement), some of the details are a little "soapy". Typical features of a short-run and should not cause a problem to the modeler with intermediate skill. In favor of the Czech model I would point slightly better technological breakdown (for example the housing the radiator under the fuselage made as one piece), the deeper wheel wells of the main undercarriage - and besides, there is no alternative, if someone wants to build this version of Swallow without a major surgery. I am not very happy with the outcome, I made a lot of mistakes in the finishing, but the lessons have been learned. Hope you like it anyway. Feel free to watch and comment. Best Hubert