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Manshu (Nakajima) Ki-79a Japanese WW II Army Trainer

 

RS Models, 1/72 scale

S u m m a r y
Catalogue Number: RS Models No. 92035  Ki-79a Trainer
Scale: 1/72
Contents and Media: 45 tan coloured plastic parts on two sprues, 2 clear plastic parts on one sprue, 33 PE parts on one fret, decals for three aircraft plus an A5 sized 4 page instruction booklet with history, parts plan, 18 build drawings and a decal placement diagram. Painting instructions are on the box rear.
Price: From £12.34 available online from Hannants and specialist hobby retailers worldwide.
Review Type: FirstLook
Advantages: Interesting subject, highly detailed inside and out, finely engraved surface detail, no flash or sink marks.
Disadvantages: Instructions basic and somewhat vague in places.
Recommendation: Highly Recommended to experienced modellers


Reviewed by Glen Porter


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Background

 


While producing the Nakagima Ki-27 under license, the Manshu Company of  Manchuria fitted a 510 hp Hitachi Ha-13a engine and developed it into an advanced trainer. By 1943 they were becoming available in numbers and were supplied to most Army Flying schools including in Singapore, Java and the lower Philippines.

After the defeat of Japan, some were used by the local Indonesian forces in their fight for independence and the fledgling Communist Chinese Air Force.

 

 

FirstLook


This kit is a modification of the RS Models Ki-27 (Kit No. 92034), reviewed a few days ago. The fuselage has a different engine cowling so a different small sprue has been supplied. This sprue is actually from the two seat trainer (Kit No. 92037) which has not been reviewed by HyperScale. The other, larger sprue is common to all three kits and both have parts that are for the two seat trainer only. The parts not for use here are not shown on the parts plan even though they are on the sprue.

 

  • RS Models 1/72 scale Ki-79a Review by Glen Porter: Image
  • RS Models 1/72 scale Ki-79a Review by Glen Porter: Image
  • RS Models 1/72 scale Ki-79a Review by Glen Porter: Image
  • RS Models 1/72 scale Ki-79a Review by Glen Porter: Image
  • RS Models 1/72 scale Ki-79a Review by Glen Porter: Image
  • RS Models 1/72 scale Ki-79a Review by Glen Porter: Image
  • RS Models 1/72 scale Ki-79a Review by Glen Porter: Image
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This aircraft had an open cockpit so only a windscreen is given. However, it's clear and reasonably thin and should be quite useful.

The PE fret by Eduard is the same as in the Ki-27 kit because the cockpit was essentially the same.

The decals, designed by Rising Decals and printed by Aviprint in the Czech Republic, are very good with perfect register, good colour density and minimum carrier film. The three schemes supplied are:

  • Ki-79a of the 113th Shimbu-tai unit, Okinawa 1945. It is in overall Japanese Army Grey with a loose over-spray of Medium Green on the top surfaces.

  • Ki-79a from the 1st Yasen Hojya Hikotai, Sembawang, Singapore, in August 1945. Japanese Army Grey on the lower surfaces and rough coating of Medium Green and Olive Green on the uppers.

  • Last is a Ki-79a of the Indonesian Air Force, 1945 in overall Japanese Army Grey with early Indonesian National Insignia in six positions and a red rudder.

 

 

The small sprue has a bomb and rack I think because some of these were used as Kamikaze towards the end of the war.


 

Conclusion


Like the Ki-27 kit and others from RS Models, this is easy to like and shouldn't be hard to build but because of the multi-media nature and those pesky instructions it is not for absolute beginners.

Highly Recommended for those with some experience.

Thanks to RS Models for the sample

Review Text Copyright © 2008 by Glen Porter
Page Created 23 March, 2008
Last updated 24 March, 2008

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