This is my 1:48 scale Hasegawa Ki-48. I built the model when it was first released. I think it is one of Hasegawa’s best kits. The fit and engineering are fantastic. Detail is very well done, especially the engine and cockpit. Because the kit looked so good in the box, I decided to build it OOB. The only thing I used NOT from the box were the decals and they were Aeromaster.
The model is painted in Floquil Military Enamels. The under surfaces are painted IJA Light Grey and the upper surfaces black. Info has come to light that the actual colors of this aircraft were either a dark brown, or more probably a dark olive green. Oh well, I put too much faith in the decal profiles. When I build the 1:32 version, I’ll try again. Anyway, I painted the whole model aluminium before I painted the outer colors. I drilled out the wing MG’s and used stretchd sprue for the antenna.
Weathering was done with thinned oils and chalk pastels. Chipping was a #11 blade scrapped along selected panel lines to reveal the aluminium paint underneath the top coat.
Thanks for looking and as always, comments welcome, have a great day!
Didn’t the French use these in Indochina? Or was it the Ki-43? I cant remember. Great job on the build. Never could get the hang of chipped paint. I keep trying though.
Very nice work. When it comes to IJN/IJA a/c, I don’t care what anyone says, there is no other company like Hasegawa for the subject matter. I try to make sure just about every one of my Japanese planes are from them. Any Tamiya IJN/IJA a/c are in my stash, purely because I got them cheap off eBay.
Yes the French did use the Ki-84 in Viet Nam. They also used the Ki-43 Oscar as well. At least until they were able to get better and newer aircraft from the americans. Not that those Japanese types were junk mind you, spare parts and trained tech were people more the problem. Some of them were actually flown in combat by Japanese Merc pilots.
The Chinese used them also, both sides, in their war in 1949.
For the paint chips, the whole model is sprayed in aluminium first. Then the outer colors were added. After that dried, I used a #11 blade and just danced around the model willie-nillie, staying on panel lines, and what you see is what happened. I also used a really pointy tiny small brush and chrome or steel paint. Either way seems to work.
Hi Freddie. I dont think ive seen any of your stuff before but this is an absolute cracker. Your tutorial on the paint chipping tecnique is very interesting. I really fancy doin a beat up Jap plane and if i could get the weathering looking anything like yours, i would be well chuffed.
Very nicely done Freddie. I did the 1/32 kit in the same scheme & it does look pretty neat. Like you, I couldn’t resist showing the flaps extended, although they would not be in that configuration on a parked aircraft.
