Build Review of Nichimo 1/48th Scale
Kawasaki Ki-43 Kai Toryu “Nick”
Kit no. S-4819
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1979
Out of production
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1979
Out of production
HISTORY:
The Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu ("Dragon-slayer") was a two-seat, twin-engine heavy fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. The army gave it the designation "Type 2 Two-Seat Fighter"; the Allied reporting name was "Nick".
Originally serving as a long-range escort-fighter, the design — as with most heavy fighters of the period — fell prey to smaller, lighter, more agile single-engine fighters. As such, the Ki-45 instead served as a day & nighttime interceptor and strike-fighter.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Heavy fighter, Interceptor, Night fighter, Escort fighter, Fighter-bomber/Strike-fighter
Manufacturer: Kawasaki Kōkūki Kōgyō K.K.
Designer: Takeo Doi
First flight: January 1939
Introduction to service: October 1941
Retired: 1945
Primary users: Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, People's Liberation Army Air Force
Number built: 1,701
The Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu ("Dragon-slayer") was a two-seat, twin-engine heavy fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. The army gave it the designation "Type 2 Two-Seat Fighter"; the Allied reporting name was "Nick".
Originally serving as a long-range escort-fighter, the design — as with most heavy fighters of the period — fell prey to smaller, lighter, more agile single-engine fighters. As such, the Ki-45 instead served as a day & nighttime interceptor and strike-fighter.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Heavy fighter, Interceptor, Night fighter, Escort fighter, Fighter-bomber/Strike-fighter
Manufacturer: Kawasaki Kōkūki Kōgyō K.K.
Designer: Takeo Doi
First flight: January 1939
Introduction to service: October 1941
Retired: 1945
Primary users: Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, People's Liberation Army Air Force
Number built: 1,701
THE KIT:
Nichimo is a model company based in Sano City, Japan.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a Nick attacking a B-29 from below.
It is in a base of light-grey with green spots camouflage. It has a diagonal red fuselage band that is edged in yellow, a wide white fuselage band with the Japanese red circle insignia on it and another narrower white fuselage band on the fuselage sides. The red circle insignias on white squares are above both wings and the wings have yellow leading edges. The propeller spinners have red and white stripes on them. The rudder has an insignia that is yellow and looks like a hook, with a white no, 25 on the rudder flap.
This Nick was with the 4th Air Group of the District Air Defense Force. It attacked 4 B-29’s and is credited with knocking down one of them.
The B-29 is overall bare-metal. It has a white comet on the side of its nose with “POSTVILLE EXPRESS” on it.
One side panel of the box has a small color repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the Nick in fractured English. Not very readable to make sense out of. MADE IN JAPAN.
Nichimo is a model company based in Sano City, Japan.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a Nick attacking a B-29 from below.
It is in a base of light-grey with green spots camouflage. It has a diagonal red fuselage band that is edged in yellow, a wide white fuselage band with the Japanese red circle insignia on it and another narrower white fuselage band on the fuselage sides. The red circle insignias on white squares are above both wings and the wings have yellow leading edges. The propeller spinners have red and white stripes on them. The rudder has an insignia that is yellow and looks like a hook, with a white no, 25 on the rudder flap.
This Nick was with the 4th Air Group of the District Air Defense Force. It attacked 4 B-29’s and is credited with knocking down one of them.
The B-29 is overall bare-metal. It has a white comet on the side of its nose with “POSTVILLE EXPRESS” on it.
One side panel of the box has a small color repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the Nick in fractured English. Not very readable to make sense out of. MADE IN JAPAN.
The other side panel says Nichimo is in Sano City, Japan, followed by a color illustration of a Nick in the box art scheme, but missing the red diagonal fuselage band and has no.65 on its rudder.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit contained off-white parts trees. I don’t remember any more how many trees were in the box. I think it was 4 or 5. A clear tree and the decal sheet in sealed clear cello bags,
The instruction consists of a long single-sheet that is printed on both sides in 10” x 20 ¾” format. It is folded three times to fit the box.
It is all in Japanese and has 3 very-busy assembly steps on it and a black and white side view of the Nick with the no, 65 tail number and a repeat of the cover art.
The decal includes some long arrows that should probably go on the fuselage sides, but they are not shown anywhere on the box or instructions.
This kit contained off-white parts trees. I don’t remember any more how many trees were in the box. I think it was 4 or 5. A clear tree and the decal sheet in sealed clear cello bags,
The instruction consists of a long single-sheet that is printed on both sides in 10” x 20 ¾” format. It is folded three times to fit the box.
It is all in Japanese and has 3 very-busy assembly steps on it and a black and white side view of the Nick with the no, 65 tail number and a repeat of the cover art.
The decal includes some long arrows that should probably go on the fuselage sides, but they are not shown anywhere on the box or instructions.
The parts trees were not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions. However, they do have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees.
The clear canopy tree holds two parts.
The clear canopy tree holds two parts.
I have assembled both halves of this aircraft, including wings, elevators. cockpit interior, landing gear legs and engine.
Loose and off the trees are: the cowlings, main and tail wheels, cockpit roof, pilot figure, propellers, dash etc.
This aircraft will be very colorful if modelers use the cover art scheme. It will really stand out on a display shelf.
Detail is extensively engraved and excellent.
Detail is extensively engraved and excellent.
Highly recommended.