Author: Tets

In the last year, Japan Aeronautic Association has published an outstanding book “Kawasaki Ki-61ii HIEN 6117 uncovered”, providing detailed explanations with over 300 pages of overwhelming information and accuracy. It’s also epoch making to include the world most precise and detailed drawings by Mr.Joe Picarella, a renowned technical illustrator for aircraft and the restoration supervisor for the Ki-100 in the UK as well. Any publication will never surpass this book even in the future. My build of Ki-61ii is as another variation with teardrop canopy, though it owes much to the various research and findings documented in this book. By chance I had been involved in this project for just …

Let me call it done.  Eight years ago when I started this project, I recklessly but seriously decided to build the “world best Ki-61 model” which was quite an impossible dream to be realized. I don’t know whether it  has been attained or not, but now I realize that when someone would make up his mind to do something seriously, no matter how difficult the thing would be, other people surely appear and help him. For this eight years, I’ve obtained wonderful connections with world expert researchers on aviation and skillful modelers whom I never thought to become my friends before. Appreciate them so much for their many great helps …

The next photo was taken about one year ago, with no surface treatment on it. During the past one year, I’ve been working for the rivets on the entire body of my Ki-61ii. Rivet work is a painstaking and boring task just like ascetic practices, ( and I’m not a buddhist monk at all) so I sometimes needed to insert some gimmick works for breathers. This time, I’d like to introduce the gimmicks as well for your reference. Enjoy !   (i)  Rear access door arm (Folding stay) The rear access door works with a folding stay. Represented it out of tiny bolts, brass wire and nickel silver sheets. Of course, …

I’m afraid that I might not report about the WIP but about the “WIR(Work in Regression)” this time ! I had been working on rivets and almost done for the main wing, so that the goal of this project seemed not to be so far, however…   The issue of the KHI’s great reference books “Restoration Records of Ki-61ii” has affected my project severely, because those show a lot to learn for me !   I decided to improve the nose cannon area about that I didn’t have enough information before seeing the KHI’s books. Firstly, I got rid of all the parts from the cannon section !   (i) …

When looking back, it’s five years ago when I started to build this Ki-61ii model. Now someone calls this project a “Never-ending-building”. I’m not sure, but… it might not necessarily be so ?         Started the work for the landing light. The hole for it looks “Bean”-shaped.   A bit hard to see, but you can see the bulb and the shade. The shade was made with heat-press, and the bulb was scratched out of a clear plastic rod.   The bulb and the shade of Ki-61ii #17 at Kakamigahara Aerospace Museum.   The rear view of the light. You can confirm how the hole shape looks and …

Since I fortunately happened to get some awesome connections with world experts in Ki61 and Japan Aeronautic Association in this one year, I could access precious information about Ki61 ii kai #17 of Kakamigahara Aero-space Museum, and also I’ve even joined the research activity for #17 as well ! My build was going on the main wing work, so I’ve reflected the research result onto my build as possible I could.   Aielron  work   Ki61 has some access panels on the main wing and you can see the aileron rod through the panels.         This is the aileron rod for the center part of the fuselage. …