Another Terrific Tony from Michael with his personal nostalgia for the Revell box art from 1963 which is shared. Over to Michael then:-
Kobayashi's other Hien
Ki-61-I Hei Otaki 1/48 by Michael Thurow
'This is Revell's box art that sparked my life-long passion for Japanese aeroplanes. Acquired in 1967 from my meagre pocket money it was my second 1/72 scale model - the first one was the Revell P-51D - and those earliest subjects are still my favourites (proof of how deeply childhood impressions engrave on a person).
'I couldn't resist and replicated Brian Knight's impressive illustration, which in spite of some artistic licence, might well represent c/n 3295, the 'other' Hien used by Major Teruhiko Kobayashi, Sentai-cho of the 244th Hiko Sentai. With this Ki-61-I Hei he undertook his ramming attack against a B-29 on 27 January 1945 and bailed out successfully to fly again the next day.
'20 years after my childhood romance with the Hien, meanwhile a staunch 1/48 convert, I returned to build this Otaki kit, then the only Ki-61 available in quarter scale. Last year I finally refurbished it with several upgrades.
'The venerable model received a new cockpit (from my previous Hasegawa build here), an after-market canopy (Squadron SQ 9561), ailerons and elevators (Dead Design Models DDM 48004), exhausts (MasterCasters MST 48013 for 'Judy'), landing gear (Fine Molds FM AC-5), wheels (Eduard ED 648317) and covers (Eduard ED 49822).
'A surplus Aires engine hood, replacing the original part, improved the nose contour. I covered the gun troughs as seen on the familiar photograph of c/n 3295 above. Apparently Kobayashi had the nose armament removed by that time to save weight. It's not clear if the wing guns were also gone (together with the gun sight and the venturi tube) in preparation of the ramming attack. For my model I assumed that he eliminated only the 12.7 mm Ho-103 guns, which didn't synchronise well (Mikesh 2004), in favour of the much acclaimed Mauser MG 151/20 wing cannon.
'Those acquainted with the Otaki/Arii kit* may detect some more modifications on the next picture. The lower surface and extremities are actually the only section of the model that was completely refurbished.
'Even with this all-out restoration I kept my original camouflage, replenishing some blotches here and there. All decals and markings were renewed, however. I'm happy that this treasured model can now hold its own against my more recent creations and thus build a bridge back to 1967 when it all began.
'* Otaki/Arii kits can be a very entertaining experience. Most provide surprisingly correct dimensions and contours (better than on some modern kits) but the cockpit and other detail is generally very poor. As I still own a couple of new boxes and several models that need restoration I developed an inexplicable affection for them and enjoy their upgrading. In regard to detail obsession I'd like to share a little anecdote: The Ki-61 has a small canopy stopper on the port side behind the rear window, often overlooked by modellers. When I checked drawings and photos for its exact location I detected a very small recessed circle on the model at exactly the right position - hail Otaki's dedication!'
References
JAPANESE COCKPIT INTERIORS PART 1, MONOGRAM CLOSE-UP 14, ROBERT C. MIKESH, BOYLSTON, 1976 ARMY TYPE 3 FIGHTER “HIEN“, FAMOUS AIRPLANES OF THE WORLD NO.17, TOKYO, 1989
KAWASAKI KI-61 / KI-100, MODELPRES 4, MIROSLAV BILY, PRAHA, 1992
KAWASAKI ARMY TYPE 3 "HIEN" & TYPE 5 FIGHTER, MECHANIC OF WORLD AIRCRAFT 2, JAPAN, 1994
I.J. ARMY KAWASAKI TYPE 3 & 5 FIGHTER, MODEL ART NO.428, TOKYO, 1994
JAPANESE AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT 1940-1945, ROBERT C. MIKESH, SCHIFFER PUBLISHING LTD., ATGLEN, 2004 HIEN FIGHTER GROUP - A PICTORIAL HISTORY OF THE 244TH SENTAI, TAKASHI SAHURAI, TOKYO, 2004 JAPANESE ARMY FIGHTERS, DESIGN WITH PRECISION 10, MATSUBA MINORU, TOKYO, 2006
KAWASAKI KI-61 HIEN / KI-100, KAGERO MONOGRAPH 18, LESZEK A. WIELICZKO, LUBLIN, 2014
KI-61 AND KI-100 ACES, NICHOLAS MILLMAN, OXFORD, 2015
With very special thanks to Michael for sharing these images and details of his renovation, as well as the memory of that box art for his inspiration. The in-flight shots are splendid!
Image credit: All © 2022 Michael Thurow
6 comments:
Great post. The model you enjoyed building, but later decided ‘had some problems’ and consigned to a box in the attic…is probably not going to be replaced by one that doesn’t. And the hardest stuff is often already done on an orphan build. Gravy. Maybe this post will send some of us back to the scrapyard.
Thanks for the chance to see this this one, Nick. Over the years, Aviation of Japan has been a champion of those oft-forgotten 1/48 Otaki kits. Another fine project and article, Michael, thank – it’s interesting to compare the side view of the model with a well-known picture, it captures it so well.
Some great work there driven by passion. It was a Revell 1/72nd "Fighting Deuces" boxing that included a Hein in it that put me down this road.
Warren
Mr.Thurow is a true double threat as not only a top-notch builder of model aircraft but a highly accomplished artist as well, with truly brilliant paintings!
Thanks to Michael and Nick
Indeed, those Revell "Fighting Deuces" box tops still thrill after all these years :)
Interesting and well done build of a true classic using modern upgrades. Excellent work Mr. Thurow. It was Airfixs Val and Dinah box art that got me but the Fighting Deuces are right up there too.
Excellent work, My old kits were definitely no where near your standard, so not worth sprucing them up. Besides, I think most were tossed out a window or given away after I moved out and lost interest in the hobby .
Woody K
Very convincing work on Otaki's kit, Michael. Thanks to you & Nick for sharing it with us.
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