#064 Mitsubishi Ki-46 Trainer
Building a SG$5 bargain ARII 1:72 kit of the Mitsubishi Ki-46-II Dinah Trainer (no electronics)
Notes
The Mitsubishi Ki-46 was a twin-engine reconnaissance aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army.
Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Aircraft (一〇〇式司令部偵察機)
The trainer variant of the Ki-46 II had a re-designed cabin with the extra bubble top over the already impressive greenhouse-like canopy.
The Kit
I picked up the ARII kit #53016 for SG$5 at a charity sale. Not a bad deal!
I subsequently discovered that the kit is available in new boxing off the shelf in Japan for I think around ¥1400.
The decals were a write-off however, but I managed to find a few replacements in my spares. Only require decals 1 + 3 (hinomaru in two sizes)
| Decal | Qty | inner dia | outer dia |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 18mm | 19.5mm |
| 3 | 2 | 8mm | 10mm |
I selected a couple of figures from the Hasegawa Japanese Navy Airmen Set No. X72-16 1:72 to replace the very poorly molded figures that are included in the ARII kit. Navy not army, but after all the careful painting, not really visible through the canopy anyway!
Paint Scheme
| Feature | Color | Recommended | Paint Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| interior | 70.924 Russian Uniform WWII | ||
| exterior | H-14 with matt yellow undercoat over Aqueous White Surfacer 1000 |
Paint Scheme - Figures
Japanese Navy Airmen Set Hasegawa No. X72-16 1:72
| Feature | Color | Recommended | Paint Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| goggle frames | Silver | C8/H8 | |
| goggle frames (alt) | Copper | C10/H10 | |
| goggle straps | Sandy Brown | C19/H66 | |
| webbing/life jacket | Dark Earth | C22/H72 | 70.921 English Uniform |
| Flat Base | C30/H40 | ||
| helmet | Red Brown | C41/H47 | |
| Mahogany | C42/H84 | 70.846 Mahogany Brown | |
| helmet inner | Tan | C44/H27 | |
| Flesh | C51/H44 | ||
| scarf | Flat White | C62/H11 | |
| boots | Semi gloss black | C92 | |
| Mitsubishi Cockpit Color | C126 | ||
| flight suit and gloves | C22/H72 (70%) + C42/H84 (30%) |
Build Log
I selected a couple of figures from the Hasegawa Japanese Navy Airmen Set to replace the very poorly molded figures that are included in the ARII kit
Navy not army, but after all the careful painting, not really visible through the canopy anyway!
One of the problems with the kit is for the trainer variant they have re-molded to canopy, but the cockpit interior does not provide a proper seat of detail for the dorsal position. I presume this would have been an instructor seat?
I’d never paid much attention to the Ki46, but the more I worked on it, the more I realised it has really beautiful lines - up in the same class as the Mosquito IMHO
Test fitting the canopy
The bird-cage canopy of the trainer version is just wild! And a bit of a masking job..
I primed with Mr Hobby Aqueous Surfacer 1000 white.
I used a light matt yellow undercoat with the idea this would give a bit or warmth to the orange. Not sure if this was a good idea in the end - made the orange too bright I think?
This time, I decided to try @propblurmodels for in-flight effect, and I really like it. I think I could push the fade of the painting even further for more realism.
The figures were navy not army, but after all the careful painting, not really visible through the canopy anyway!
A quick base to simulate a dusty runway. Just some scrap styrofoam, plaster and some paint.
The full effect of the propblur thundering along a dusty runway!
