Post by Ian H. on Feb 7, 2021 20:08:22 GMT
I have decided to do another single engine prop project to keep on the path of simpler builds for a bit. I am going with the Hasegawa Ki-100 in 1/48th, which I scarfed up recently off Amazon. This kit version is the low-back version and came into service at the very end of the war, for about the last seven weeks or so. The Ki-100 is essentially a Ki-61 Hien with a massive 1500 hp Ha-112 Kinsei "Venus" double row radial replacing the Hien's inline. Whereas the Ki-61 had some problems during it's service, the Ki-100 turned into the fighter the Ki-61 was meant to be and was probably one of the finest fighters of the war. The Ki-100 came in two versions; fast-back and low-back canopy set-ups. I will be adding a Squadron vacuform canopy as Hasegawa only provides a one piece canopy in the kit. The Osprey Ki-61/Ki-100 book has provided me with alot of great information.
However, there are also alot of questions about the Ki-100 colors both inside and out. It appears alot of the info on the web is not correct and even some of the color callouts by Hasegawa were not right. I found an excellent article below about the exterior color of late war Japanese aircraft and this provides some really great information. Long and the short of it, the Ki-100s were believed to be Olive Drab in color and the article below recommends US Army Olive Drab FS 33070 which is a tad greener than the standard Army Olive Drab. As a result I will be using Mission Models FS33070 which looks pretty close to the paint chips. Next question was the interior color. It was originally believed they had the "sand color" cockpit which is believed to have been the Ki-61 interior color and that was close to RLM 79. However, I found several articles that advised the Ki-100 cockpit and interior color were actually just the Olive Drab color as well so that simplifies the painting. The undersides will be silver which makes sense as the Ki-61 airframes were silver as well and the top camo was just applied over that. So having gotten all that sorted out lets build a Ki-100.
www.aviationofjapan.com/2011/03/more-about-jaaf-7-ohryoku-nana-go-shoku.html
However, there are also alot of questions about the Ki-100 colors both inside and out. It appears alot of the info on the web is not correct and even some of the color callouts by Hasegawa were not right. I found an excellent article below about the exterior color of late war Japanese aircraft and this provides some really great information. Long and the short of it, the Ki-100s were believed to be Olive Drab in color and the article below recommends US Army Olive Drab FS 33070 which is a tad greener than the standard Army Olive Drab. As a result I will be using Mission Models FS33070 which looks pretty close to the paint chips. Next question was the interior color. It was originally believed they had the "sand color" cockpit which is believed to have been the Ki-61 interior color and that was close to RLM 79. However, I found several articles that advised the Ki-100 cockpit and interior color were actually just the Olive Drab color as well so that simplifies the painting. The undersides will be silver which makes sense as the Ki-61 airframes were silver as well and the top camo was just applied over that. So having gotten all that sorted out lets build a Ki-100.
www.aviationofjapan.com/2011/03/more-about-jaaf-7-ohryoku-nana-go-shoku.html
