**** DONE 1/48 Ki 61 Hein 'Tony' Maj T.Kobayashi - Aircraft of the Aces GB.

[Nxthanos]

Username: Nxthanos
First name: Chris
Category: Casual 2 (**)
Scale: 1:48
Manufacturer: Arii (Otaki mold)
Model Type: Kawaski KI 61 Hein
Details: Single seat Fighter/Interceptor
Aircraft Assignment: Major Teruhiko Kobayashi
Accessories: None
Decals: Techmod

One last build for the aces.


Maj. Teruhiko Kobayashi started his career in the JAAF as a light bomber pilot over China. He rose to fame as a CO of the 244 Sentai defending the skies over Tokyo in 1944/45. Kobayashi's final credit is 14 (20?) kills, most of them B-29s, and although formally not a "shinten" pilot, he scored his 6th victory on January 27, 1945, by ramming a Superfortress. For this merit he received the Bukosho Medal of Honour. He flew several different Hien and the very fact that the many markings of his aircraft are well documented is a confirmation of his popularity.

[Nxthanos]

The Arii kit is an Otaki repop from the late 1970s and holds up pretty well.

Let's see what we have got:






The Major's plane is included in the techmod decals I bought for this kit, and include cammo and canopy masks.

[Crimea_River]

Should be good.

[Wurger]

Yep.....

[ccheese]

Looks like a big job..... Interesting, too.

Charles

[Wayne Little]

Which one Chris, Red 24 or blue 24?

[rochie]

looks an alright kit, another type i would like for my stash

[Nxthanos]

Which one Chris, Red 24 or blue 24?

I think its blue 24, seems more snazzy to me!

[Airframes]

Should be good, looking forward to the build.

[Wayne Little]

I think its blue 24, seems more snazzy to me!

good call sir!

This nice clear shot should prove useful....

Source : Internet

[Nxthanos]

Been so busy this week I haven't had much of a go yet on this little guy, did gloss cote the decals and have been considering how i will do the camo on an all metal finish.

It seems a good bet the metal will not be shining silver on an active duty fighter nor would it be overly worn on a home defense aircraft, so it will be something in between. I have been thinking i might do the decaling of the lines and meatballs and then do the green as it could be easier that way.

Right now nothing is decided, I did find good shots of the interior of a Tony, it seems its green with a blue instrument panel.

[vikingBerserker]

Very cool! Such a beautiful aircraft.

[Nxthanos]

Today's update;

Did the prelim painting, including the pilot and cockpit interior.




the interior is green with a panel matalic blue.

[Airframes]

Coming along nicely.

[Nxthanos]

Today's update;

I suddenly realized Japanese pilots had green parachute straps, so the lil maj got them added quickly!


The cockpit, engine a fuslegae are assembled, I did little work inside as i knew the pilot would block the view in there.



next the wings were built, and i made an odd mistake and didn't notice one woith was misaligned! I had to pry them apart and do it again, no harm done.


next the wing is joined to the fuselage, and its a tribute to Otaki's engineers, the wing fit nearly seemlessly, no putty needed at all, a relief!