In Box Review of Nichimo 1/48th Scale
Japanese Army Tachikawa Ki-9 "Spruce" Training Biplane
Kit no. S-4814
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1973
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1973
HISTORY:
The Tachikawa Ki-9 Kyūgo-shiki ichigata renshuki) was an intermediate training aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force built by Tachikawa Aircraft Company Ltd in the 1930s. It was known to the Allies under the nickname of "Spruce" during World War II.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: two
Length: 7.9 m (25 ft 11 in)
Wingspan: 10.32 m (33 ft 10 in)
Height: 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
Wing area: 24.5 m² (264 ft²)
Empty weight: 1,120 kg (2,468 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 1,580 kg (3,482 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Hitachi Ha-13a radial engine, 261 kW (350 hp)
Maximum speed: 240 km/h (130 kn, 149 mph)
Cruise speed: 150 km/h (93 mph)
Service ceiling: 5,800 m (19,030 ft)
Wing loading: 58.2 kg/m² (11.9 lb/ft²)
Endurance: 3.5 hours
The Tachikawa Ki-9 Kyūgo-shiki ichigata renshuki) was an intermediate training aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force built by Tachikawa Aircraft Company Ltd in the 1930s. It was known to the Allies under the nickname of "Spruce" during World War II.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: two
Length: 7.9 m (25 ft 11 in)
Wingspan: 10.32 m (33 ft 10 in)
Height: 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
Wing area: 24.5 m² (264 ft²)
Empty weight: 1,120 kg (2,468 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 1,580 kg (3,482 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Hitachi Ha-13a radial engine, 261 kW (350 hp)
Maximum speed: 240 km/h (130 kn, 149 mph)
Cruise speed: 150 km/h (93 mph)
Service ceiling: 5,800 m (19,030 ft)
Wing loading: 58.2 kg/m² (11.9 lb/ft²)
Endurance: 3.5 hours
THE KIT:
Nichimo is a model company based in Sano City, Japan. I believe that they went out of business.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows 2 "Spruces" taking off with a man saluting them. Both are overall bright-orange, with black cowlings and white fuselage bands.
The one in the foreground has a white 6 on the side of the cowling and a black circle with a horizontal bar across it's center and outlined in white. Above this is a horizontal white stripe with a black 6 on it.
The second "Spruce" is identical, except it has a black 12 on a white horizontal rudder stripe.
One side panel has a small color repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the "Spruce, in Japanese and English.
Nichimo is a model company based in Sano City, Japan. I believe that they went out of business.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows 2 "Spruces" taking off with a man saluting them. Both are overall bright-orange, with black cowlings and white fuselage bands.
The one in the foreground has a white 6 on the side of the cowling and a black circle with a horizontal bar across it's center and outlined in white. Above this is a horizontal white stripe with a black 6 on it.
The second "Spruce" is identical, except it has a black 12 on a white horizontal rudder stripe.
One side panel has a small color repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the "Spruce, in Japanese and English.
The other side panel has a color 3-view of the box art subject (tail no. 6), followed by 3 illustrations of tails of "Spruces".
Tail no. 6 was with the Japanese Army Kumagaya Flying School.
The first tail illustration shows a white circle with a black symbol that looks like an aircraft from above and a small black area on the rudder tip.
It was with the Japanese Army Air Academy.
The second tail illustration shows a black T-like symbol, over an illustration of a chrysanthimum flower,.
It was with the Japanese Army Mito Flying School.
The third tail illustration shows a red symbol, that looks like a stick figure, outlined in white, under white and red horizontal bars.
It was with the Japanese Army Tachiarai Flying School.
Tail no. 6 was with the Japanese Army Kumagaya Flying School.
The first tail illustration shows a white circle with a black symbol that looks like an aircraft from above and a small black area on the rudder tip.
It was with the Japanese Army Air Academy.
The second tail illustration shows a black T-like symbol, over an illustration of a chrysanthimum flower,.
It was with the Japanese Army Mito Flying School.
The third tail illustration shows a red symbol, that looks like a stick figure, outlined in white, under white and red horizontal bars.
It was with the Japanese Army Tachiarai Flying School.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 2 bright-orange trees, fuselage halves, clear windshields, a length of steel rod and the decal sheet in 2 sealed clear cello bags and the instructions.
The decal sheet is in its own stapled-shut clear cello bag.
One tree is in a cello with a black card with white line drawings of the "Spruce" on it.
The kit holds 2 bright-orange trees, fuselage halves, clear windshields, a length of steel rod and the decal sheet in 2 sealed clear cello bags and the instructions.
The decal sheet is in its own stapled-shut clear cello bag.
One tree is in a cello with a black card with white line drawings of the "Spruce" on it.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 5 1/4" x 10" page format.
The instructions is all in Japanese.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over what I believe is the history of the "Spruce".
Page 2 through 8 gives many assembly steps.
Nichimo starts numbering them, then stops, and starts over again, 3 or 4 times..sigh!
Bad move Nichimo!
Trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions. They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees.
Another bad move Nichimo!
Bright-orange letter A tree holds: seats, cowling, engine parts, main wheels, elevators, fenders, wing halves etc. (22 parts)
The instructions is all in Japanese.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over what I believe is the history of the "Spruce".
Page 2 through 8 gives many assembly steps.
Nichimo starts numbering them, then stops, and starts over again, 3 or 4 times..sigh!
Bad move Nichimo!
Trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions. They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees.
Another bad move Nichimo!
Bright-orange letter A tree holds: seats, cowling, engine parts, main wheels, elevators, fenders, wing halves etc. (22 parts)
Bright-orange letter B tree holds: standing and seated crew figures, wing halves, struts, braces, propeller etc. (55 parts)
The clear parts are the windshields (2 parts)
The decal and length of steel rod (for rigging) complete the kits' contents. Detail is both raised and engraved. Flaps are molded solid.
Highly recommended.