1/72 Siai Marchetti SM.75 GA Rome to Japan Longe Range Aircraft

Another gem kindly shared by Harvey Low with a most interesting back story of an epic but little known flight, about which some more in due course. Over to Harvey then:

'The Savoia-Marchetti (SM) 75 is well known among Italian WW2 Aviation Enthusiasts. But it also has a direct connection to Japan. The SM.75 held many speed and endurance records in the 1930’s as it was powered by three 559kW (750 hp) Alfa Romeo 126 RC.34 radial engines, making it suitable for extreme long range flights. With such performance features, a SM.75 was tasked for a secret flight from Rome to Tokyo to deliver new diplomatic codebooks to Italy's Axis partner. It was suspected that the Allies had broken their international radio codes in January 1942) and as radio was the most vital means to communicate with the Japanese, the Italians needed to deliver new codebooks to Japan.

'So a SM.75 GA (for Grande Autonomia, meaning "Long Range") Matricola Miltare number MM60539, was specially modified for this single plane flight from Rome to Tokyo and back. In June 1942, this aircraft (an earlier variant GA), was designated the SM.75 RT (for Rome-Tokyo). Flying from Rome on 29 June 1942, first SM.75 flew to German-occupied Ukraine, to be refuelled by an Italian ground crew, then over the vast Soviet airspace to Japanese-occupied Mongolia for another refuelling stage. The aircraft was then repainted with Japanese roundels as a precaution for flying across Japanese airspace. With a Japanese Interpreter now aboard, the remaining distance to Tokyo was flown, landing on 3 July 1942.

'This is the 1/72 resin model from Balaton Models, modified to this unique variant. The model is a conversion from the Civil Passenger version to this long-range military aircraft. I made a number of modifications unique to this specific aircraft, including an entirely new tail, different window configuration, new exhausts, and other smaller details such as pitot tube and landing lights - as none were provided in the kit. The greatest challenge was the absence of the noticeable and thus essential Savoia Marchetti manufacturer logo! My good friend and Italian aircraft expert Tom Ricci stepped in to create these custom logos for me from his design and inkjet printer – thanks Tom!

'The model represents a little-known but significant part of aviation history, and a testament to the engineers, flight crew, and maintenance crew who achieved this flight. The Rome to Tokyo flight was arguably one of the Regia Aeronautica's finest hours. A diorama is now in order showing Japanese airfield crew and trucks servicing an Italian aircraft!' For a full description of this project please refer to Guideline Publications, Scale Aircraft Modelling August 2023, Volume 45.

With special thanks to Harvey for photos of an intriguing model representing an intrepid flight.

Image credits: All model photos © 2025 Harvey Low; Heading Photo via Harvey Low; Tailing photo via Aviation of Japan; Box art © Balaton Models

Rising Decals

In response to recent queries about the availability of Rising Decals please note that they now have two retail outlets in the USA:-

Scott's Model Workshop (via eBay)

and

M&Models

Image credit © 2025 Rising Decals

Ushi 1/72 Aichi S1A 'Denko' Experimental Night Fighter

Due for release this month in the Ushi Models range of fine resin kits from Japan is this IJN Aichi S1A experimental night fighter Denko ('Lightning/Electric Light' - 電光). The crisply moulded Ushi resin kits of Japanese experimental types tend to slip in under the radar and disappear quickly so if you want one you gotta be quick! Fine details on this kit appear to be 3D moulded and the canopies are vacform.  Decals are included for a 'what if' Yokosuka Defence Ku aircraft YoD-1136 and both 'Ko' prototypes. Direct from HLJ it will cost £57.36.

The two prototype 18-shi aircraft were destroyed in bombing raids when 70% and 90% complete respectively so Denko never took to the air. The aircraft was to have a heavy forward firing armament in the nose of two 'original and efficient' Type 5 30mm and two Type 99 Mk.2 20mm fixed machine guns with an additional two Type 99 Mk.1 20mm machine guns in the remote controlled dorsal barbette. The radar operator/dorsal gunner astrodome could be raised for better observation and the dorsal guns could be elevated to fire obliquely at a 30 degrees angle. Gyoku-3 radar equipment was planned but installation arrangements are uncertain. Retractable air brakes under each wing were designed to allow the aircraft to slow and formate with its intended B-29 targets and to increase lift of this heavy aircraft at takeoff bakelite wing tip extensions were designed to be jettisoned once airborne. The Nakajima Homare 22 engines had cooling fans and thrust exhausts. Production aircraft were planned to have turbosupercharged Homare 24 engines to achieve a top speed of 422 mph. 

Image credit: All © 2025 Ushi Models via HLJ

1/72 scale Ki-100 'Fastback' by Francesco Borraccino

A fitting follow on to Rising Decals 59th Regimental set are these images of a gorgeous Goshikisen in 59 Sentai markings crafted from the 1/72 scale Fine Molds kit by Francesco Borraccino. And crafted the operative word given the fit challenges that Francesco encountered. 

Francesco noted that the kit is 'not exactly a shake and bake' but in his opinion captures the shape of the aircraft well. He chose to represent '078', a 59th Sentai fighter as shown in a well known photo taken at the end of the war by the allies together with other aircraft in a row. This choice was motivated by a desire to represent an aircraft in a decidedly weathered condition, but supported by documentary evidence and with something for everyone: faded paint, extensive chipping, replaced parts from other aircraft and then some repainting.

Francesco had to make the yellow/red bands of the Sentai insignia by hand because the decals were too narrow and the printed yellow too orange. Furthermore, in analysing the original photo he could see how the insignia was roughly painted, so he painted the red edges freehand using gouache.

Francesco noted several other airframe features and peculiarities from the photograph which he endeavoured to incorporate on the model, including a possible replacement rudder from a Ki-61, the apparent lack of yellow tips to the rear of the prop blades and evidence of fuel staining. Although the antenna mast seemed to be a different colour to the airframe, possibly painted red, Francesco decided against representing that.

Regarding the fit of parts Francesco found a lot of remedial work was required. The instrument panel needed additional support to be positioned centrally, the tailplanes had tabs which prevented correct alignment and positioning. The upper cowling part was misaligned and had to be supported on one side to prevent sinking. The cowling front did not align so had to be trimmed on one side and filled on the other.  He wasn't sure whether the problems were due to the moulds being worn or the kit engineering but the fit problems have been noted in other builds of this kit.

Painting was intended to represent the # 7 colour but Francesco's mix resulted in a convincing representation of the darker # 43 Earth colour, the so-called 'charcoal' or blackish-brown colour (kuro kasshoku).

The finished model gives no indication of the battle with the fit as shown above and is an excellent representation of the 'fastback' Goshikisen. With special thanks to Francesco for sharing another fine model with Aviation of Japan.

Image credit: All model photos © 2025 Francesco Borraccino.

Fine Molds Ki-100

The first release of this kit in 1990, under the Fine Molds label  as FP3 'Tony Type 5 (Early Version)' but marketed by Hasegawa with monochrome box art by Masao Satake, who also illustrates the monochrome FAOW covers, was a hybrid, consisting of the complete Hasegawa Ki-61-I Tei kit with a new injection moulded sprue frame to convert it to a 'razorback' Ki-100. The additional sprue frame consisted of two new fuselage halves, a new cockpit floor, two part instrument panel, upper cowling, cowling front, relief moulded radial engine, prop, spinner, ventral fairing and oil cooler. Also included were white metal parts for the pilot seat, control column, undercarriage legs and tail wheel plus a new one piece transparency for the canopy.  The antenna mast was moulded integrally with the starboard fuselage half and the separate mast on the sprue frame marked as 'not for use'. Three subjects were offered on the decal sheet, '43'  of 111 Sentai Akeno as depicted on the box art,  '177' of 59 Sentai and '32' of 244 Sentai.

The 'bubbletop' Ki-100 kit, FP2 marketed as Ki-100-I the same year was another hybrid but always seemed harder to find.  Fine Molds Kit FP1 'Kawasaki Ki-61-II Kai Hien (Tony) shown above, was the first Hasegawa-Fine Molds hybrid, released in 1989 and also combining the complete Hasegawa Ki-61-I Tei kit with new Fine Molds parts to convert it to the bubble canopied version. This kit included white metal parts for undercarriage legs, oil filter scoop, spinner, pilot seat, control column and tail wheel. The decal sheet offered two 56 Sentai aircraft, one camouflaged per the box art and an overall natural metal aircraft. 

When the Ki-100 kit was re-released in 1999 by Fine Molds as FP17 'Imperial Japanese Army Type 5 Fighter 1 Kawasaki Ki-100-I 'Fast Back' Tony' with new colour box art by Masao Satake, shown above, the Hasegawa Ki-61 parts had been replaced with a new dedicated Ki-100 sprue frame and the metal parts had been replaced with plastic items. The kit offered five subjects, '43' of 111 Sentai Akeno, '88' of 5 Sentai, '078' and '153' of 59 Sentai and '22' of 244 Sentai. One of the omissions of the Hasegawa Ki-61 kit was also rectified with the inclusion of a landing light recess and transparency for the port wing. A second re-release FP22 'Imperial JapaneseArmy Type 5 Fighter 1 Kawasaki Ki-100-I 'Bubble Canopy' Tony', also shown above, followed in 2001 with the same all-Fine Molds, all-plastic presentation. The three kit decal sheet options were '39' of 5 Sentai, '022' of 59 Sentai and '80' of 111 Sentai Akeno. 

Image credit: Box art © 1989, 1990, 1999 & 2001, Hasegawa Corporation and Fine Molds

Rising Decals Regimental Duo in 1/72 scale Part 2

The second set of Rising's Regimental decals in 1/72 scale RD72114 features Hiko Dai 59 Sentai and the 14 subjects cover the full range of aircraft flown by the unit as follows:-

• Ki-43-II 6010 at But, New Guinea in late 1943, the aircraft of Capt Shigeo Nango in solid green camouflage. He was not the Sentai leader but the Executive Officer and Hikotai leader from July 1943 until his death in action in January 1944. His Oscar has sometimes been depicted with red fuselage stripes. When the unit withdrew to the Philippines in October 1943 it was replenished with 34 aircraft, sufficient to assign aircraft to pilots. As the former 2nd Chutai leader from January 1942 to July 1943 Nango's assigned aircraft continued to be serviced by the 2nd Chutai maintenance crew and therefore retained the red tail insignia. The blue fuselage bands were applied to reflect his role as the executive  officer of the Sentai HQ. This information was obtained from 1Lt Hitoshi Kawamura, an engineering officer who had served in the Sentai HQ as armaments officer, by the respected researcher Yoji Watanabe in an interview published in FAOW 65 (July 1997) and helpfully translated by another respected researcher Osamu Tagaya in 2009.

• Ki-43-II of 3rd Chutai, at But in late 1943/early 1944, attributed as the aircraft flown by the Chutai leader Capt Kenjiro Kobayasahi  from the twin yellow fuselage bands, in solid green camouflage. This aircraft is one of the subjects of the recent Arma Hobby kit which depicted the rearmost fuselage band as yellow. Close examination of the photograph suggests that the band was probably white, being the senchi hiyoshiki, as depicted on this sheet.

• Ki-43-II of 3rd Chutai, at But in October 1943, the aircraft of Sgt Maj Tomio Hirohata, in a sparse mottle of green over natural metal. As in the 1/48 sheet recently reviewed the bird motif is provided in red or black. FWIW in the known photograph of the aircraft it appears darker in tone than the Hinomaru. The motif resembles the Japanese phoenix - Hōō - (ほうおう), the mythical bird which had associations with the Imperial family, represented fidelity and was also  believed to rule over all other birds. However, if the colour of the motif was indeed red it might have represented the Suzaku (朱雀 - すざく), the Japanese name for the mythical Chinese 'Vermilion Bird' which was considered the guardian of the south. Representations of the two mythical birds are similar in appearance and sometimes get confused.  FAOW 65 identified Hirohata's Oscar as being 2nd Chutai and puzzled over the appearance of the tail stripe which in the photo is lighter than the Hinomaru and bird motif.

• Ki-43-II of 1st Chutai at But in November 1943, attributed as the aircraft of the Chutai leader Lt Masaaki Yoshida from the twin white fuselage bands, in solid green camouflage. 

• Ki-43-II 5388 of 2nd Chutai abandoned at Hollandia in April 1944, in solid deep green camouflage over brownish grey green under surfaces,

• Ki-43-III Ko of 2nd Chutai at Kimpo, Korea in 1945, in solid # 7 (olive brown) or # 27 blue green over natural metal.

• Ki-27 Ko 91 of 2nd Chutai at Hankow in September 1939, flown by Sgt Maj Isamu Kashiide, a 9 victory ace and Bukosho winner, on overal grey green or light blueish grey. The lightning flash included on the sheet is blue but has been depicted as red or black.  In Osprey 103 we followed earlier references stating that the flash was a blue-black colour. The sliding canopy was removed on this aircraft.

• Ki-27 Otsu of 2nd Chutai at Ashiya, Japan in the Spring and Summer of 1944, in grey green or light blueish grey, attributed as an aircraft used for training.

• Ki-61-I Tei of 3rd Chutai at Saishu (Jeju) Island in October 1945, in 'snake weave' camouflage of green over natural metal. 

• Ki-100 Ko 16153 of 3rd Chutai at Ashiya in October 1945, attributed as the aircraft of the Chutai leader 1Lt Naoyuki Ogata, in a scheme of # 7 or the darker # 43 over natural metal. The 'P-51' victory mark is reported to represent Ogata's claim of 14 August 1945.

• Ki-100 'Razorback' 16078 of 3rd Chutai at Ashiya in October 1945, in a scheme of # 7 or the darker # 43 over natural metal.

• Ki-100 'Razorback' 16177 of 2nd Chutai at Ashiya in October 1945,  in a scheme of # 7 or the darker # 43 over natural metal.

• Ki-100 'Bubbletop' 16321 of 3rd Chutai at Ashiya in Octiober 1945, in a scheme of # 7 or the darker # 43 over natural metal.

• Ki-100 'Bubbletop' 16313 of 3rd Chutai at Ashiya in October 1945, in a scheme of # 7 or the darker # 43 over natural metal.

Regarding Ki-100 propeller colours please refer to the blog article here and for Ki-100 camouflage colours the blog article here. All the subjects of this set, including the Ki-100s, have the distinctive tailplane stripes, an integral part of the unit's insignia but so often having been omitted in depictions. Only recently I shared a photograph to convince a modeller that the stripes were present on the Ki-100. All Ki-100 subjects in this set also have the white rectangular 'cartouche' 迷彩塗料 (meisai toryô - camouflage paint) beneath the tailplanes, reportedly a warning stencil to show that the aircraft had been camouflaged with inflammable nitro-cellulose paint. IJAAF requirements were for acetyl cellulose or benzyl cellulose paint and although nitro-cellulose paint was easier to produce it was vulnerable to catching fire and had been long discontinued for aircraft use.  However when it became urgently necessary to increase aircraft production late in the war, nitro-cellulose paints had to be used. This practice may have been relevant to the way the Ki-100 was produced and the re-introduction of factory painting in the autumn of 1944. The stencil is seen on some other aircraft such as the Ki-44, with Nakajima being another company perhaps caught between running down the production and delivery of unpainted aircraft and the directive to reinstate factory painting. 

A very fine set of decals with Rising's usual attention to detail, crisply printed and with good colour saturation. Particularly impressive is the fine register of the various thinly bordered bands and stripes. With special thanks to Rising Decals for the review set.

Image credit: All © 2025 Rising Decals.

Rising Decals Regimental Duo in 1/72 scale Part 1

Two more recent sets of decals from Rising Decals in 1/72 scale feature the aircraft of specific Japanese Army Air Regiments - Hiko Dai 25 Sentai with 12 subjects and Hiko Dai 59 Sentai with 14 subjects. 

Beginning with RD72113 which includes markings for the following aircraft:-

• Ki-43-II '00' at Hankow in the Spring of 1944, the aircraft of Sentai commander Maj Toshio Sakagawa in a scheme depicted as solid green with a brown or darker green mottle applied over that. The Rising sheet includes the insignia in three Chutai colours as recorded by the late Dr Yasuho Izawa and the subject of Maj Sakagawa's Oscar was also discussed at the blog here.  Note that this aircraft had the armoured headrest removed.

• Ki-43-II '71' of 2nd Chutai in China, Summer 1943, the aircraft of the Chutai leader Capt Nakakazu Ozaki, a 19-victory ace credited with the destruction of six B-24 bombers, in a camouflage of patchy green. He was killed in action over Suichuan on 27 December 1943.

• Ki-43-II '55' of 1st Chutai at Nanking in the Autumn of 1943 in a green mottle over natural metal. The white senchi hiyoshiki, so called 'combat stripe' (literally 'war front sign') was removed or overpainted on most 25 sentai Oscars but this one is said to be overpainted with the mottle but still faintly visible.

• Ki-43-III Ko '18' of 1st Chutai at Hengzhou (Hengyang), in November 1944, the aircraft of Sgt Goro Miyamoto in # 7 (olive brown) colour.  He claimed the first P-51 Mustang shot down by the unit on 10 February 1944. 

• Ki-43-II '05' 6925 of 1st Chutai at Hankow, in April 1944, the aircraft of 26-victory ace 2Lt Moritsugu Kanai in solid dark green. Kanai, a graduate of juvenile flying school, had flown during the Nomonhan Incident as the youngest pilot in 11 Sentai, later entering the Army Air Academy. In 25 Sentai he later flew a Ki-84 reportedly painted black (but possibly the blackish brown # 43 'earth colour'), also displaying the number '05' in white.

• Ki-43-II '51' of 2nd Chutai at Hankow in the Spring of 1944, aircraft flown by 15-victory ace M/Sgt Hazawa Iwataro in green with a brown or darker green mottle applied over that.  

• Ki-43-II '15' of 2nd Chutai at Nanking in December 1943, aircraft of Sgt Maj Kyushiro Ohtake in a sparse or worn away mottle of green over natural metal.  Sgt Maj Ohtake was a veteran of the unit who had served in it from the days of the 10th Independent Flying Squadron until the end of the war. He died from illness in 1947.

• Ki-43-II '62' of 3rd Chutai at Hankow in the Spring of 1944, aircraft flown by Corporal (not Captain) Haruyuki Toda, a classmate of Miyamoto, in a patchy finish of green, The senchi hiyoshiki is over painted in green or brown. A graduate of juvenile flying school Toda was assigned to the unit in the Spring of 1944 and flew as wingman to Capt Keisaku Motohashi, the 3rd Chutai leader, who was killed in action over Hengyang on 4 August 1944.

• Ki-43-II '22' of 1st Chutai at Suwon, Korea in August 1945. in solid green but with a forward fuselageand cowling in natural metal with remnants of mottle. The style of number and presence of the senchi hiyoshiki is unusual but Hasegawa are releasing their 1/48 Ki-43-II kit in the guise of another 25 Sentai aircraft with similar number presentation 'o1' in August this year 'based on new research'. The unit had converted to the Ki-84 at Nanking during February 1945 and moved to Korea in July. Hasegawa put 'o1' in China during 1943-44 as the aircraft of 1st Chutai leader Capt Takashi Tsuchiya. During early 1944 Tsuchiya had flown a Ki-43-II with the number '10'.

• Ki-84 photographed at Suwon in August 1945 in a reticulated 'giraffe' camouflage of green over natural metal. The tail stripe has been depicted in various colours over the years and Rising include red or blue versions on the sheet.

• Ki-43-I of 3rd Chutai at Hankow in November 1943. in solid green with overpainted rear fuselage band.  The marking of horizontal tail band in Chutai colours was changed when the unit converted to the Ki-43-II and the design suggested by Cpl Seshimo Kennosuke of a simple diagonal band was adopted with slight modification.

• Ki-43-I of 1st Chutai at Hankow in the Winter of 1942/43 in solid green with a non typical senchi hiyoshiki. The application of extended lines on the rudder might have represented the Shotai.

This is an excellent and comprehensive decal set which includes Hinomaru and allows the modeller to select from several notable aircraft of the unit. It's also good to see included two Ki-43-I examples from this unit. With special thanks to Rising Decals for the review sheet.

Image credit: All images © 2025 Rising Decals.