#060 Tachikawa KKY-1
Building the rare Tachikawa KKY1 from Ukrainian model company Amodel.
Notes
The Tachikawa KKY was designed as a light ambulance aircraft. Only 21 were produced, and it was used in the Second Sino-Japanese War between 1936 and 1940.
The initial prototype and production machines as depicted in this kit were designated KKY or KKY-1. They are distinguished by the four cylinder air-cooled, inverted inline Cirrus Hermes IV engine. The British Cirrus-Hermes Engineering Company was formed in 1931, but taken over by Blackburn Aeroplane & Motor Company in 1934.
The later KKY-2 variant switched to the 150 hp Gasuden Jimpu seven cylinder radial engine.
The Kit
According to scalemates, Amodel is the only manufacturer to have produced a model of the KKY.
Amodel is a Ukrainian model company. Their kits are distributed by IBG of Poland and available direct from IBG.
Paint Scheme
| Feature | Color | Recommended | Paint Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| A fuselage | Light Grey | humbrol 147 | 70.951 white with pre-shading 70.843 Cork Brown |
| B | Black | humbrol 33 | |
| C exhaust | Rust | humbrol 113 | Humbrol 56 + AK Light Rust wash |
| D | Wood | humbrol 110 | |
| E | Interior Green | humbrol 158 | 70.893 US Dark Green |
| F | Brown | humbrol 186 | |
| engine block | - | Humbrol 53 |
Build Log
I initially primed in black and then sprayed white. The result was coming up too “cold”, so I subsequently gave it a light undercoat of cork brown before finishing in white.
The cockpit and canopy needed a lot of fettling to get a good fit. With this kit it is well worth taking the time before paint and glue to make sure the fit is true. Luckily I was warned of this by @tochi.nocchi.
As I was going to display the model in-flight, I needed at least a pilot. there are no figures in the kit, so I grabbed one from my misc spares box - I think an Airfix pilot.
The prop was an experiment using some 1:32 plywood texture decals from proper.plane to imitate a wood finish. I like the “impression” and it was easy, but perhaps doesn’t have the detail I’ve seen some get with good old brush and paints
Whipping up a quick based with some scrap board and a rough surface sculpted from papier-mâché.
And we have take-off! The pose is inspired by the box art.
With some prop blur;-)
Found a space on the bookshelf pending a proper home..
Credits and References
- this project on scalemates
- Tachikawa KKY-1 Amodel No. 72243 1:72
- proper.plane decals
Research References
- Tachikawa KKY - wikipedia