ARII 1/48 Nakajima Ki 44 "Shoki" (Tojo)
The Ki 44 was a Japanese Army Air Force interceptor. The ARII kit, while old, was at one time, "state of the art", and is still a no-problem, fun build. By today's standards, there's not much detail, but this kit comes from a time when wheel wells were just holes in the bottom of your Monogram wing. Throwing it together was fast, with few fir problems.
I've included the box art, as well as one of the two color plates that ARII used to include. The color plate was what inspired the colors I chose for my scheme. The "fun" part was trying to achieve it. Needless to say (but I will), the old decals weren't usable. Fortunately I was able to have a set copied, and used most of those. I was happy with the way it turned out.
After ignoring WWII Japanese aircraft (as well as French and Soviet), my whole modeling life, I thought it a good way to add some color to my shelves. I'm enjoying the painting as much or more than the building. One these days, I'd take a shot at weathering, if I wasn't so lazy. But, after all, it is a hobby, not supposed to be work.
Well you are achieving you goal for more color….nice work Joe.
Nice work on that camo paint scheme...I like it.
Yes nice scheme on one of my favourite Empire aircraft. One qibble - the leading edge recognition bands look too yellow to me. I prefer the colour that has a duller, slightly orange cast, but that's just me.
Thanks, Rob. I wasn't sure. Next time I have a batch mixed, I'll give it a quick swipe.
Another fine build, Joe 🙂
Nice build Joe, old decals then..., like us all nowadays.
I/we are still to build an axis plane but we will do.
Some when .
Nice old kit-Arii Otaki build.
in 1/48 scale is the only alternative Hasegawa state art kit.
Nice build, Joe, and as others have said, I like the color scheme. I had several Arii kits when I built 1/48 (in a former life), and remember them being nice representations. I don't know that I have any Arii kits in my 1/72 stash - maybe they didn't do that scale...
Looks good, Joe, I like that "streamlined" canopy, in fact, the whole thing looks very aerodynamic.
I don't know very well Japanese fighters, no more than i know Tojo models. Good job here, even if , as Rob says, yellow wing edges seems very bright. Beautiful built anyway, compliments Joe.
Nice job on an old kit. About to do one myself soon. Great job. 🙂
Very nice job. I've always liked the subject's wing shape and tail placement. I built a natural finish version earlier this year.