This week features a great 1/72 kit, the Hasegawa K161-I Tei HIEN Tony
The Kawasaki Ki-61 Tei Hein name roughly translates into flying swallow, but the Allies used Tony as its code name. Used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II, this single-engine, land-based tactical fighter carried the army designation Army Type 3 Fighter. The prototype of the San-shiki-Sentohki ichi gata (Type 3 Fighter, Model 1, the official IJAAF designation) first flew in December 1941. Over 2,500 Ki-61s were produced. Its combat initiation came in 1943 around New Guinea, and missions continued throughout the war ? in Southeast Asia, Okinawa, China, and as a U.S. bomber interceptor over the Japanese home islands. This was the only mass-produced Japanese WWII fighter to use a liquid-cooled inline V engine.
This highly detailed model kit includes waterslide decals and illustrated instructions. Decal options included: 244th Sentai (Fighter Group) Major Kobayashi Chofu 1945; and 17th Sentai (Fighter Group) Layte 1944. Paint colors needed: White, Black, Silver, Flat Black, Steel, Orange Yellow, Flesh, Red Brown, IJA Green, IJA Gray, Burnt Iron, Tire Black, Sandy Yellow, Khaki Green, Khaki, Clear Red, and Clear Blue.
