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Ki-45 Nick

by Randy Colvin

 

Ki-45 Nick

 

 

Introduction

 

I have been in love with airplanes since I can remember. It is probably because I was raised as an Air Force "Brat". Don't ask me why I joined the Army!

My first memory is seeing a Catalina PBY at Clark AB in the Philippines in 1967 when I was two years old. I clearly remember seeing the left rear side of the plane and my Dad lifting me up to look inside the left side bubble window. I think that's where it all started. From there, my love for WW II aircraft (especially seaplanes) has grown to be just as much a part of my life as eating and breathing is. I have been building for over 25 years and currently work for "Kit" magazine in Germany as well as being a Sergeant in the U.S. Army.

This is my first contribution to HyperScale and I hope you enjoy it.

 

 

Nichomo's "Nick"

 

The 1/48 scale Ki-45 Nick from Nichimo should not be ignored because of its age. The recessed lines are very crisp and fine. The cockpit interior is a little sparse so there's lots of room to add detail there. Except for some after market decals, True Details wheels and some photo-etch seat belts the rest is straight out of the box.

The only modifications I made was splitting the canopies in the open position, adding the section of air intake tubing that goes through the main gear doors, brake lines, push rods and a few other odds and ends that were either out of scale or just not there.

 

 

Painting and Decals

 

The chipped paint effect was mainly achieved by spraying the entire aircraft silver and then over spraying everything with Future and letting it dry overnight. The next day I sprayed the entire aircraft with IJA Gray. Tape was immediately applied to leading edges and then quickly pulled off revealing the silver underneath in a realistic chipped paint effect.

The IJA Green was applied next. It was sprayed over the gray to camouflage the aircraft on the ground once US aircraft were regularly seen over the Japanese home islands beginning in 1944. Other chipped paint was simply done using an old ragged out ¼ in flat brush.

The decals came from AeroMaster sheet 48-171 "Empire Defenders Pt. II" and they represent a Ki-45 Kai Special version (white 98) from the 53rd Sentai, 3rd Shinten-Seikentai during 1945 while stationed at Matsudo Air Base located in the Chiba Prefecture, Japan

The lines were done using an artist oil based wash and wiping off the excess.

 

 

A d d i t i o n a l   I m a g e s

 

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Model, Text and Photographs Copyright © 2000 by Randy Colvin
Page Created 14 February, 2000
Last Updated 26 July, 2007

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