I have built this kit twice now. I agree with you, the exterior detail is very nice but the interior dies need AM parts and some scratch building. You may want to add a rear gun in the rear cockpit as many Toryu were fitted with a defensive MG in there. I also have several of the Hasegawa kits, which differ from this in some subtle ways as well as one, the Tei version which is the same as this kit. This and the J1N-1 are my favorite Japanese heavy fighters.
Nichimo's box art was always so dynamic.... Great look at this kit. Have you tried coating the old decals with a clear coat? You need to test sometimes the clear can mess with the inks. But if a decal might shatter, a clear coat can save em. I do a lot of old models for folks... mostly sci fi..but old decals are old decals.
I have saved many old decals with a clear coat. But, I will replace decals if they are yellowed or the color is not right. You reminded me that this kit is waiting for me to finish it 😉. Cheers!
Hello from George down under. I won this kit on a bid. Nichimo is a brand I missed in the past. It seems to be a good kit for its time. I do have the Hasegawa version also but still confused with the cockpit colour. I keep seeing with Hasegawa instructions paint cockpit colour or Nakajima I know that's the company. There's many interpretations of different chosen colours cockpit green similar to US or British or what's called bamboo green, green brown or metallic blue green. I've looked at real pictures of Japanese Aircraft cockpits and seem to be green and a mustard green brown. I think I've also seen grey green mostly kind of a bue green grey. I'm thinking of mixing khaki and cockpit green RAF. Talk about confusion. I've looked at model cockpits and that helps as much as try making your own choice. I think it's best to research real Japanese museum aircraft. I can't remember if I seen this Aircraft. I hope I didn't frustrate with this comment. Goodluck on that build. At least it's a Japanese plane made in it's origin country Japan. It's very nice. I don't read Japanese either.🤫🤔👍🇭🇲🦘🐨✌️
Great questions, George. I feel your pain! I haven't gotten into the research on the Ki-45 yet, but it can make one crazy to try and "get it right." Museums run into the same issues and often get things wrong. Kit instructions are notoriously inaccurate on colors as well. Kawasaki interior color on the Ki-61 and Ki-100 was a tan color, similar to British Deck Tan. I was thinking of using that color for the Nick or an interior green similar to US interior green. I'll try to post my color choice on a video when I get to that build. Whatever your choice, you can take comfort in the fact that you'll probably be the only one who knows. Do your research and keep it fun. Cheers!
@@jonsmodelkitreview4624Pardon late response.Thanks. I'll probably choose green with a hint of tan. I once painted the cockpit of a Tamiya 1/48 scale Mitsubishi zero silver and then a very watered down wash of metallic blue green as used for the wheel wells. I regret that. That model remains unfinished from about 19 years plus.Not easy with Japanese Aircraft cockpit colours. Good luck with that. All the best to you.👍🇭🇲🦘🐨✌️
I am interested in the old Nichimo Jake floatplane. Historical one, has someone experience ? It is the only one made made in 1/48 scale and hard to find
I would like to take a look at that kit as well. I've never seen one in-person. I have the 1/72 Hasegawa Jake that comes with a catapult launcher. I haven't really looked at it closely since I usually only build 1/48 scale. I think there are some toy-like features on the Nichimo Jake like moveable control surfaces and foldable wings which detract a little from the realism. Cheers!
@@jonsmodelkitreview4624 I saw that hasegawa one. the Nichimo is 1/48 scale. I have one, even with a motor and aditional resin parts and canopies. There is also an UPC one 1/50 scale, both very old kits.
Just a friendly FYI..... Japanese Army Air Service aircraft were designated "Ki", pronounced "key". "Ki" was/is an abbreviation of the Japanese word "kitai" (key-tie), which means in a general way, "craft" or "machine". Japanese Naval Air Service aircraft had a completely different designation and much more complicated! がんばって ! 👍
Thanks GSR, I'm aware of the Ki pronunciation and wondered if I should say it that way in the video or not - went with "K" "I" out of habit . Why did the navy (US and Japanese) make their aircraft designations so confusing?!
@@jonsmodelkitreview4624 Hahaha, I think because Navies always feel they are superior to land based air forces! LoL But nobody was more complicated than the Japanese Navy's aircraft designations of WW2.
I can't speak to the Japanese nomenclature, but the U. S. Navy used a system partly based on the type and manufacturer, each manufacturer being assigned a letter designation by the Bureau of Aircraft. SBD = Scout Bomber, Douglas. SB2C = Scout Bomber, 2nd design accepted from Curtis. F4U = Fighter, 4th design accepted from Vought. F6F = Fighter, 6th design accepted from Grumman. In 1947, the services all began using the common system that is still in use today.@@jonsmodelkitreview4624
That is why the Avenger had two names. The first batches were built by Grumman (F designation = TBF = Torpedo Bomber, Grumman) and the rest were built by Goodyear (M designation =TBM Torpedo Bomber, Goodyear)
I have built this kit twice now. I agree with you, the exterior detail is very nice but the interior dies need AM parts and some scratch building. You may want to add a rear gun in the rear cockpit as many Toryu were fitted with a defensive MG in there. I also have several of the Hasegawa kits, which differ from this in some subtle ways as well as one, the Tei version which is the same as this kit. This and the J1N-1 are my favorite Japanese heavy fighters.
Nice, thanks for posting Brett! I have the Tamiya J1N-1 on the shelf as well - looking forward to that build also.
Nice-looking kit of a handsome heavy fighter. Thanks for sharing.
You're welcome Darrel!
You're welcome Darrel!
Nichimo's box art was always so dynamic....
Great look at this kit.
Have you tried coating the old decals with a clear coat?
You need to test sometimes the clear can mess with the inks. But if a decal might shatter, a clear coat can save em. I do a lot of old models for folks... mostly sci fi..but old decals are old decals.
I have saved many old decals with a clear coat. But, I will replace decals if they are yellowed or the color is not right. You reminded me that this kit is waiting for me to finish it 😉. Cheers!
@@jonsmodelkitreview4624 I tried to whiten yellowed decals....nope....lol
@@stevecausey545 That's been my experience as well. Even if they whiten in the sun, they yellow immediately once on the kit. Cheers!
Hello from George down under. I won this kit on a bid. Nichimo is a brand I missed in the past. It seems to be a good kit for its time. I do have the Hasegawa version also but still confused with the cockpit colour. I keep seeing with Hasegawa instructions paint cockpit colour or Nakajima I know that's the company. There's many interpretations of different chosen colours cockpit green similar to US or British or what's called bamboo green, green brown or metallic blue green. I've looked at real pictures of Japanese Aircraft cockpits and seem to be green and a mustard green brown. I think I've also seen grey green mostly kind of a bue green grey. I'm thinking of mixing khaki and cockpit green RAF. Talk about confusion. I've looked at model cockpits and that helps as much as try making your own choice. I think it's best to research real Japanese museum aircraft. I can't remember if I seen this Aircraft. I hope I didn't frustrate with this comment. Goodluck on that build. At least it's a Japanese plane made in it's origin country Japan. It's very nice. I don't read Japanese either.🤫🤔👍🇭🇲🦘🐨✌️
Great questions, George. I feel your pain! I haven't gotten into the research on the Ki-45 yet, but it can make one crazy to try and "get it right." Museums run into the same issues and often get things wrong. Kit instructions are notoriously inaccurate on colors as well. Kawasaki interior color on the Ki-61 and Ki-100 was a tan color, similar to British Deck Tan. I was thinking of using that color for the Nick or an interior green similar to US interior green. I'll try to post my color choice on a video when I get to that build. Whatever your choice, you can take comfort in the fact that you'll probably be the only one who knows. Do your research and keep it fun. Cheers!
@@jonsmodelkitreview4624Pardon late response.Thanks. I'll probably choose green with a hint of tan. I once painted the cockpit of a Tamiya 1/48 scale Mitsubishi zero silver and then a very watered down wash of metallic blue green as used for the wheel wells. I regret that. That model remains unfinished from about 19 years plus.Not easy with Japanese Aircraft cockpit colours. Good luck with that. All the best to you.👍🇭🇲🦘🐨✌️
@@George-pp2hr Right on! Let me know how it turns out. Cheers!
@@jonsmodelkitreview4624 shall do what I can with this kit. I'm not a professional modeller just average. I hope I see your build some time.👍🇭🇲🦘🐨✌️
@George-pp2hr Sounds good!
Nice kit for some of us on a budget...
I agree Clemente!
I am interested in the old Nichimo Jake floatplane. Historical one, has someone experience ? It is the only one made made in 1/48 scale and hard to find
I would like to take a look at that kit as well. I've never seen one in-person. I have the 1/72 Hasegawa Jake that comes with a catapult launcher. I haven't really looked at it closely since I usually only build 1/48 scale. I think there are some toy-like features on the Nichimo Jake like moveable control surfaces and foldable wings which detract a little from the realism. Cheers!
@@jonsmodelkitreview4624 I saw that hasegawa one. the Nichimo is 1/48 scale. I have one, even with a motor and aditional resin parts and canopies. There is also an UPC one 1/50 scale, both very old kits.
@roelmas695 Very cool 😎! Do you plan on building it?
Another oldie but goodie..
Yeah, I can't wait to get started on this one.
thank you....great
You're welcome!
Just a friendly FYI..... Japanese Army Air Service aircraft were designated "Ki", pronounced "key". "Ki" was/is an abbreviation of the Japanese word "kitai" (key-tie), which means in a general way, "craft" or "machine". Japanese Naval Air Service aircraft had a completely different designation and much more complicated! がんばって ! 👍
Thanks GSR, I'm aware of the Ki pronunciation and wondered if I should say it that way in the video or not - went with "K" "I" out of habit . Why did the navy (US and Japanese) make their aircraft designations so confusing?!
@@jonsmodelkitreview4624 Hahaha, I think because Navies always feel they are superior to land based air forces! LoL But nobody was more complicated than the Japanese Navy's aircraft designations of WW2.
I can't speak to the Japanese nomenclature, but the U. S. Navy used a system partly based on the type and manufacturer, each manufacturer being assigned a letter designation by the Bureau of Aircraft. SBD = Scout Bomber, Douglas. SB2C = Scout Bomber, 2nd design accepted from Curtis. F4U = Fighter, 4th design accepted from Vought. F6F = Fighter, 6th design accepted from Grumman. In 1947, the services all began using the common system that is still in use today.@@jonsmodelkitreview4624
That is why the Avenger had two names. The first batches were built by Grumman (F designation = TBF = Torpedo Bomber, Grumman) and the rest were built by Goodyear (M designation =TBM Torpedo Bomber, Goodyear)
Looks like it has two upward pointing cannons like some German night fighters.
Good catch Michael. Yes, it has the dual upward-firing cannon behind the pilot for bomber interception.