The Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien was a WWII Japanese fighter powered by the Ha-40 engine – a license-produced version of a Daimler-Benz power plant. On account of its liquid cooled engine (it was the only Japanese fighter in the Pacific fighting to have one), the Hien was apparently mistaken for a German aircraft and then for an Italian bird, and was given the reporting nickname “Tony.” It saw combat action from early 1943 and proved a competitive aircraft with its top speed of 580km/h, used in the desperate Japanese defense of the Solomon Islands and even as an interceptor when U.S. B-29s got in range to bomb the Japanese home islands toward the end of WWII.
In Desperate Defense
The Hien was officially adopted by the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) in 1943, and stood out among its Japanese aircraft contemporaries in the Pacific War on account of its liquid-cooled Ha-40 engine, slimline fuselage and long, elegant wing. A number of different variants were produced, among them the Ki-61-Id which featured a 20cm-elongated nose to house 20mm cannons, plus 12.7mm machine guns in the wing. In fact, with 1,360 units it was the most prolifically produced Hien variant; its superior performance at higher altitudes meant that it was often given the brief of taking on incoming U.S. B29 bombers in the skies around the home islands of Japan. One IJA unit which notably deployed the Hien was the 244th Air Group led by Captain Teruhiko Kobayashi.
About the Model
★This is a 1/48 scale plastic model assembly kit. Fuselage length: 187mm, wingspan: 250mm.
★The model accurately depicts the Ki-61-Id Type Hien with elongated nose and slim fuselage.
★The inverted Ha-40 V12 is depicted complete with supercharger and other details.
★Cramped cockpit interior features 20mm cannon ammo cases, oil tank and more.
★Fuselage underside radiator showcases superb detail and accuracy, right down to the depiction of air intake slats.
★Canopy can be assembled open or closed.
★Comes with parts to recreate 2 drop tanks, 1 figure, and 2 marking options recreating aircraft of the 244th Air Group
★Tamiya Color paints for finishing the Kawasaki Ki-61-Id Hien (Tony)
Tamiya Colors Spray Colors
(Item No.) Tamiya Colors
Spray Colors
(Item No.)
AS-12 Bare-Metal Silver 86512 AS-18 Light Gray (IJA) 86518
Tamiya Colors Acrylic Colors
(Item No.) Enamel Colors
(Item No.) Tamiya Colors Acrylic Colors
(Item No.) Enamel Colors
(Item No.)
X-1 Black 81501
80001 XF-13 J.A. Green 81713
80313
X-4 Blue 81504
80004 XF-15 Flat Flesh 81715
80315
X-7 Red 81507
80007 XF-16 Flat Aluminum 81716
80316
X-10 Gun Metal 81510
80010 XF-18 Medium Blue 81718
80318
X-11 Chrome Silver 81511
80011 XF-26 Deep Green 81726
80326
X-18 Semi Gloss Black 81518
80018 XF-49 Khaki 81749
80349
X-32 Titanium Silver 81532
80032 XF-52 Flat Earth 81752
80352
XF-1 Flat Black 81701
80301 XF-56 Metallic Grey 81756
80356
XF-2 Flat White 81702
80302 XF-57 Buff 81757
80357
XF-3 Flat Yellow 81703
80303 XF-59 Desert Yellow 81759
80359
XF-4 Yellow Green 81704
80304 XF-63 German Grey 81763
80363
XF-7 Flat Red 81707
80307 XF-64 Red Brown 81764
80364
XF-8 Flat Blue 81708
80308 XF-85 Rubber Black 81785
80385
XF-10 Flat Brown 81710
80310 — — —
Useful tools in construction of the model
Item 74095 Drill Bit (1.0mm)
Item 74112 Fine Pin Vise D-R (0.1-3.2mm)
Make the details stand out!
Items 87131, 87132, 87133 & 87140: Panel Line Accent Color (Black), (Brown), (Gray), (Dark Brown)
Display your model as it deserves to be shown
Item 73010 Display Case H
