De Agostini WWII Fighters DAWF08
Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien/Tony Diecast Model
IJAAF 244th Sentai, Teruhiko Kobayashi, Chofu AB, Japan, 1945 |
| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien/Tony | | 4.75" | | 6.5" |
The Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien is a Japanese World War II fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service. Allied pilots initially believed Ki-61s were Messerschmitt Bf 109s and later an Italian aircraft, which led to the Allied reporting name of "Tony", assigned by the United States War Department. It was the only mass-produced Japanese fighter of the war to use a liquid-cooled inline V engine. Over 3,000 Ki-61s were produced. Initial prototypes saw action over Yokohama during the Doolittle Raid on 18 April 1942, and continued to fly combat missions throughout the war.
Designed in response to an Imperial Army tender for a general-purpose, air superiority fighter, the Kawasaki Ki-61 first flew in December of 1941. This new fighter entered combat in New Guinea during the spring of 1943, where its unusual appearance earned it the code name "Tony" (Allieds mistakenly identified its origins as Italian). The new aircraft quickly earned the respect of Allied pilots, whose P-40 Warhawks were unable to dive to safety as they could when facing earlier Japanese fighters. Ki-61s were later used in ramming attacks, and several Ki-61 pilots in these "special attack units" earned the Japanese Bukosho for ramming B-29s and surviving. © Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The De Agostini "WWII Fighters" range presents affordable, ready made diecast models of World War II military aircraft in 1:72 scale. To help keep the price down, these items arrive in low-cost, discardable blister type packaging.
De Agostini "WWII Fighters" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal and plastic construction.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear.
- Presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
