Mitsubishi Ki-51 Sonia

Wingsy Kits, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

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The Mitsubishi Ki-51 (Army designation "Type 99 Assault Plane". Allied nickname "Sonia") was a light bomber/dive bomber in service with the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. It first flew in mid-1939.

Initially deployed against Chinese forces, it proved to be too slow to hold up against the fighter aircraft of the other Allied powers. However, it performed a useful ground-attack role in the China-Burma-India theater, notably from airfields too rough for many other aircraft.

As the war drew to a close, the Japanese began using them in kamikaze attacks.

Total production was around 2,385 units. On the day Hiroshima was destroyed by an atomic bomb, two Ki-51s were responsible for the last Japanese sinking of a US warship, sinking USS Bullhead (SS-332) with all hands.

Charles Lindbergh, flying a P-38 Lightning, shot down a Ki-51.*

Wingsy Kits is a Ukranian model company and a relative newcomer to the market, with their first releases being the 1/48 scale A5M Claude family in 2018.

Today I am examining Wingsy Kits' 1/48 scale kit no. D5-04 - IJA Type 99 Army Assault Plane Ki-51 Sonia.

Ki-51 fans have had limited choices over the years, with the only option in 1/48 scale being the 1975-vintage Nichimo kit.

Wingsy's brand new 1/48 scale Ki-51 Sonia comprises 167 parts in grey injection moulded plastic, 17 clear parts, 59 photo-etched metal parts, one die-cut self-adhesive canopy masking sheet and markings for four aircraft..

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Thumbnail panels:

The first thing you'll notice when you examine the contents of the stout cardboard box is the fine and intricate surface textures. Panel lines are finely recessed, and complimentary rows and columns of rivets are subtly done.

I cannot find any sink marks or ejector pin circles on any visible surfaces.

The parts are attached to the sprues with reasonably fine attachment points.

Detail parts are equally impressive, with a complete cockpit supplemented with photo-etched harness straps, instrument panel and more. A decal overlay is supplied for the instrument panel.

The engine is also highly detailed, with push rods on two hemispherical parts, exhaust and manifolds on a third part and a two rows of cylinders.

The clear parts include different parts for open or closed configuration.

The white self-adhesive canopy masks are a nice touch on this intricate glasshouse.

Options include three different styles of underwing bombs and racks. Three alternative spinners are supplied too.

Assembly looks pretty straightforward although some of the fine photo-etched parts will require care when handling and gluing. The instructions are well illustrated.

Markings

Markings are supplied for four aircraft. Two are finished in overall IJA Grey Green, one in IJA Grey Green with Green mottling, and an Italian-looking scheme of red brown and green mottles over IJA Green.

The decal sheet does not indicate who printed them (they are simply labelled Wingsy Kits) but they are in register with thin surrounding film and satin in finish.

Wingsy's 1/48 scale IJA Type 99 Army Assault Plane Ki-51 Sonia is a quality kit with impressive surface textures, a high level of detail and useful options.

Even if you are not a fan of early-war IJA light bombers, this is definitely worth a look. It might just turn your head!

* Historical summary adapted from Wikipedia

Thanks to Wingsy Kits for the samples

Review Text and Images Copyright © 2019 by Brett Green
Page Created 3 September, 2018
Last updated 4 September, 2019

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