Zoukei-Mura 1/32 Ki-45 Nick
By Charles Norton
Last year, I set a goal for myself to finish eight kits throughout the course of the year. In mid-December, I was wrapping up build 7, so I decided to join the Turning Japanese Group Build and try to sneak this in before the end of the year to make this #8. Happily, through some holiday time off, I was able to do a few marathon sessions to make it a reality and with a few hours to spare, I met my 2022 goal!
Generally speaking, the detail is excellent. The interior fit is wonderful, the exterior fit is okay, and the cowling fit is very, very challenging. The instructions are a work of art on their own, however, and if you're at all interested in this subject, I would highly recommend one of the kits in this line.
The kit is painted with a mix of Tamiya and MRP. Chipping was done via chipping medium for the large areas and by hand for the smaller bits. The only part not "out of the box" is the radio antenna wire which is EZ-Line.
Markings were painted via masks except the tail insignia and small stencils. Weathering was done with a mix of oils, enamels, and airbrushing.
For more information, check out my build thread in the Turning Japanese Group Build. Though it's somewhat brief, it does go through my impressions of the kit and has better detail shots of the interior before it was closed up.
Enjoy!
© Charles Norton 2023
This article was published on Thursday, March 16 2023; Last modified on Sunday, March 19 2023