Designed as an interceptor for frontline service, the Kawasaki Ki61 Hien was a workhorse for the IJAAF (Imperial Japanese Army Air Force). The only inline engine fighter to see service for the Japanese, it was often mistaken for German BF-109s by the first American pilots to encounter it. Later on, it was similarly misidentified as an Itallian Macchi C. 202, thus earning the Allied reporting name "Tony".
The Tony proved to be an adequate dogfighter and was a challenging opponent for those who fought it early in the war. As time went on though, American aircraft became more advanced and their pilots better trained, therefore leading the Tony to lose its place as top dog of the skies in the South Pacific.
Later in the war, as American B-29s began carpet bombing Japanese cities, the need for a hight altitude interceptor became even more evident. The Tony would prove to be perfectly suited 2024 for this role, where it became the bane of many B-29 crew's existence. Perhaps the most famed bomber ace was Teruhiko Kobayashi, credited with at least a dozen B-29 kills.
Our Ki61 is painted to represent a Ki61-I Hien "Tony" as flown by Major Teruhiko Kobayashi, 244th Sentai (Fighter Group), Chofu, 1945
Product code: Kawasaki Ki61-I 2024 Hien "Tony" Built Plastic Model 1/72 Scale