The Empire of Japan 1919-1946 GB: Hasegawa 1/72 Kawasaki Ki61(Tony)
This is my Hasegawa 1/72 Ki-61 and it is a very nice kit that was first released in 1973. It is also one of the first kits that Hasegawa made with complete recessed panel lines in which as we closed in to the 80's Hasegawa, Tamiya, Otaki, Fujimi and other Japanese brands pushed our hobby away from kits with raised lines and rivets.
Some scratch building was done to spiff up the cockpit sidewalls. The original decal sheet looked okay but when I used the instrument panel decal it all fell apart. So not wanting to take a chance I ordered a set. I applied the decals that belong to Chuichi Ichikawa's plane. The green three leaf clover looks pretty attractive to my eyes.
All and all I enjoyed this build very much, a nice kit that needed a little work but nothing really bad. And it looks happy hanging out with my other builds.
The complete build can be read by clicking on this link below, thank you.
https://imodeler.com/groups/the-empire-of-japan-1919-1946/forum/topic/hasegawa-1-72-kawasaki-ki61tony/
12 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Jaime Carreon said on January 24, 2022
Great work, Bob! Nice to see the airplane in a different scheme from the usual splotched bare metal.
I did this one a long time ago, as it's my favorite Japanese aircraft.
Bob Torres said on January 25, 2022
Jaime, thank you. And nice build on your Tony...from reading your Tony article, I was also at Boeing Seatle close to the time you was receiving your training. I was in the first class for Cal mx training starting around the end of September, 1993.
Jaime Carreon said on January 25, 2022
Talk about a small world, Bob! I was with Continental as well. I was in maintenance control then gearing up for the delivery of our new 757's. Got to see the prototype 777 there and it flew the week after I left, June 1994.
Bob Torres said on January 25, 2022
A small world indeed, I worked the line then, and in 95 I was in the RAM team. Later on I was in Boeing for 777 and 767 training too. I bet you and I have talked on the phone back then. My hours were like 24/7 back then, not a good environment to have a hobby with model kits LOL.
David Garcia said on January 24, 2022
This is one of those kits I have multiple copies in my collection but have never built one. The only one I ever built is the 1/72 Revell version. Nice model Bob.
Bob Torres said on January 25, 2022
Thank you David. It's a nice kit, You will like it.
Jay Mitchell said on January 25, 2022
This turned out very nice, the extra detailing really adds realism to the aircraft , A+ , Bob @v1pro !
Bob Torres said on January 25, 2022
Thank you Jay, I like the way it came out too. And again thanks for the kit.
Robert Royes said on January 25, 2022
Looks great!
Bob Torres said on January 25, 2022
Thank you Robert.
Spiros Pendedekas said on January 25, 2022
Amazing job on this classic kit, Bob!
Congratulations!
Bob Torres said on January 25, 2022
Thank you Spiros.
John vd Biggelaar said on January 25, 2022
Excellent build, Bob @v1pro
It was a pleasure to follow your building thread.
Well done.
Bob Torres said on January 25, 2022
Thank you John, it was my pleasure to share my build with everyone.
John Healy said on January 25, 2022
Turned out great, Bob. I never realized that kit was that old. I built one in the mid 80s and thought it was new then.
Bob Torres said on January 25, 2022
Thank you John, this kit was ahead of its time. Back in the 70's I built the old Fujimi 1/72 Ki-61. All of the flight controls can be made to move, not very accurate. This Hasegawa kit blows it out of the water.
Lis said on January 25, 2022
very good job!
Bob Torres said on January 26, 2022
Thank you Lis.
Greg Kittinger said on January 25, 2022
Good looking Tony - well done!
Bob Torres said on January 26, 2022
Thank you Greg.
Louis Gardner said on January 25, 2022
Bob, @v1pro
It was a pleasure watching you build this Tony. It is my favorite Japanese fighter. I often call it the Japanese Spitfire ... 🙂
You did a wonderful job with it, and I checked the "like" button. Thanks for participating in our Empire of Japan group build. Should you so desire, you're always welcome to start another Japanese build. Thanks again.
Bob Torres said on January 26, 2022
Louis, thank you. Later on I am thinking of building another Japanese build. I have a few that needs to be made. And thank you again.