Kawasaki Ki-61-II Kai
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Kit Review
The -I series of the Ki-61 is well know, but RS Models have now filled the gap with the release of the -II series in injected plastic. The Ki-61-II was intended to have a 10% larger wing area, but the II Kai has the original Ki-61-I wing combined with a 220mm (8.7in) stretch to the fuselage, an enlarged rudder and the Ha-140 engines (31 were built)
Inside the big box you will find three tan-coloured and two clear sprues; the kit does not include photo-etched or resin detail parts. Surface detail is via very finely engraved lines and a mix of engraved and raised details for things like the radio access hatch (raised) and tailplane access hatch (engraved). The interior is made up of separate side panels, instrument panel with gun breeches, floor, seat, gunsight, control column, rudder pedals and compass. The exhaust stacks are fitted from inside the fuselage halves early on in assembly, but there may be a way of adding these later to aid painting? The supercharger intake is a separate two-part sub-assembly and the tailwheel, although moulded as combined yoke and wheel, is separate from the fuselage halves. Tab and slot locators are included for the tailplanes and the ventral radiator had a separate inner core with outer fairing and separate rear ramp. The canopy comes in three separate parts, so you may be able to pose it open, although this is not shown as an option in the instructions. The undercarriage is nicely detailed and moulded, with a firm looking location point for each oleo. Wing racks with drop tanks are included
The kit comes with three decal options: 'Red 10' a machine used by the Japanese Army Air Evalu
ation Department at Fussa AB in 1945; a machine operated by the Akeno Flight Training Division in 1945; 'Red 17', also from the Japanese Army Air Evaluation Department. All of these machines are aluminium overall with light grey for the control surfaces, yellow wing leading edges and a green anti-dazzle panel. The second option also has a red outlined white band around the rear fuselage.
Conclusion
Very nice, this is only their third excursion into 1/48th and I have to say that the quality of the parts, especially the surface detail, is very impressive indeed. This kit can be highly recommended to all IJAAF modellers, as it will make a nice companion to a Hasegawa Ki-61-I in its various guises.
Find out more about this and all other RS Models products by visiting www.rsmodels.cz.
The -I series of the Ki-61 is well know, but RS Models have now filled the gap with the release of the -II series in injected plastic. The Ki-61-II was intended to have a 10% larger wing area, but the II Kai has the original Ki-61-I wing combined with a 220mm (8.7in) stretch to the fuselage, an enlarged rudder and the Ha-140 engines (31 were built)
Inside the big box you will find three tan-coloured and two clear sprues; the kit does not include photo-etched or resin detail parts. Surface detail is via very finely engraved lines and a mix of engraved and raised details for things like the radio access hatch (raised) and tailplane access hatch (engraved). The interior is made up of separate side panels, instrument panel with gun breeches, floor, seat, gunsight, control column, rudder pedals and compass. The exhaust stacks are fitted from inside the fuselage halves early on in assembly, but there may be a way of adding these later to aid painting? The supercharger intake is a separate two-part sub-assembly and the tailwheel, although moulded as combined yoke and wheel, is separate from the fuselage halves. Tab and slot locators are included for the tailplanes and the ventral radiator had a separate inner core with outer fairing and separate rear ramp. The canopy comes in three separate parts, so you may be able to pose it open, although this is not shown as an option in the instructions. The undercarriage is nicely detailed and moulded, with a firm looking location point for each oleo. Wing racks with drop tanks are included
The kit comes with three decal options: 'Red 10' a machine used by the Japanese Army Air Evalu
ation Department at Fussa AB in 1945; a machine operated by the Akeno Flight Training Division in 1945; 'Red 17', also from the Japanese Army Air Evaluation Department. All of these machines are aluminium overall with light grey for the control surfaces, yellow wing leading edges and a green anti-dazzle panel. The second option also has a red outlined white band around the rear fuselage.Conclusion
Very nice, this is only their third excursion into 1/48th and I have to say that the quality of the parts, especially the surface detail, is very impressive indeed. This kit can be highly recommended to all IJAAF modellers, as it will make a nice companion to a Hasegawa Ki-61-I in its various guises.
Find out more about this and all other RS Models products by visiting www.rsmodels.cz.
