Tamiya 60789 - 1:72 Kawasaki Ki-61-Id Hien Tony

Plastic model kit of the Kawasaki Ki-61-Id Hien (Tony) fighter in 1:72 scale

Tamiya 60789 depicts the Kawasaki Ki-61-Id Hien – an Imperial Japanese Army fighter that stood out among other Japanese aircraft with its inline, liquid-cooled Ha-40 engine, slim fuselage and long, elegant wing. The Allies, surprised by its unusual shape, gave it the codename 'Tony'. The Ki-61-Id version is distinguished by a nose lengthened by about 20 cm to house 20 mm cannon.

The kit is from new Tamiya tooling, with a detailed cockpit interior and wheel wells. The complex underbelly air intake is reproduced using a single, carefully designed part. The decals finish the aircraft in one of three schemes, among them an aircraft of the 244th Sentai.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with fuselage, wing and tail parts
• Elongated nose representing the Ki-61-Id version
• Complex underbelly air intake made as a single part
• Detailed cockpit interior and wheel wells
• Waterslide decal sheet for 3 marking options (Imperial Japanese Army, incl. 244th Sentai)
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Item number: 60789
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: 125 mm, wingspan: 167 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate

Note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

As a new Tamiya tooling it features good parts fit and approachable assembly. Paint the cockpit interior before closing the fuselage and fit the canopy last, after painting.

Ki-61s wore various schemes, from natural metal to dark green mottling on the upper surfaces. Lay the decals over a gloss coat to avoid silvering, then finish with a satin varnish. The instructions provide paint references for all three schemes.

Tools you'll need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for cleaning up sprue-gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Brushes of various sizes and modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Panel-line wash to emphasise detail and recesses
• Gloss varnish for the decals and a satin coat to finish
• Optional: self-adhesive canopy masks

About the aircraft – Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien:

The Hien ('swallow') stood out among Japanese fighters of the Second World War for its inline, liquid-cooled Ha-40 engine, which gave the aircraft a slim shape unusual among Japanese designs. Officially adopted in 1943, it combined good high-altitude performance with solid armour protection.

The Ki-61-Id version, with its elongated nose housing 20 mm cannon and machine guns in the wings, was the most prolifically produced Hien variant. Thanks to its good high-altitude performance, it was often assigned to intercept American B-29 bombers.

Original aircraft specifications (Ki-61-Id Hien):

• Length: approx. 8.9 m
• Wingspan: approx. 12.0 m
• Max take-off weight: approx. 3,470 kg
• Powerplant: Kawasaki Ha-40 inline engine (V12, liquid-cooled), approx. 1,175 hp
• Max speed: approx. 590 km/h
• Armament: two 20 mm cannon (nose) and two 12.7 mm machine guns (wings)
• Crew: 1
• Feature: inline, liquid-cooled engine – a rarity among Japanese fighters

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 in Shizuoka, regarded as the heart of Japan's model-making industry. It launched its first injection-moulded plastic kit in 1960 and soon set a global benchmark for quality thanks to precise tooling and excellent parts fit. Tamiya's own-tooled kits are popular with beginners and experienced modellers alike, combining accurate detail with thoughtfully engineered, enjoyable assembly. Beyond plastic kits in many scales, the company offers a full range of accessories: paints, glues, tools and brushes. Tamiya operates in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable brands in the hobby.