Enter the Dragon (Slayer) - FlyModel Ki-45 Toryu - Page 2

**Don Boose** · #11 03-22-2009, 08:37 PM

So. Already we have learned something important from your build, Mike!

Don

**Lex** · #12 03-23-2009, 02:49 PM

Fly Model Nr.40 Ki 45 ÍÀýˆ - º½¿ÕÄ£ÐÍÖÆ×÷½øÐÐÇø(Contruction Reports) - cardmodel.cn Ö½Ä£ÐÍ¡¢Papermodel¡¢Cardmodel¡¢3Dcard¡¢3DÖ½Ä£ - Powered by Discuz!
One of our fellows have also built this kit, good luck with your build Mike!

**Sakrison** · #13 03-23-2009, 06:43 PM

Here's the kit review I posted on Zealot.com back in July '06. The model is still one of my favorites. It is on display at the EAA Museum. I'll take some pix this weekend.

Gomix-Fly Model Ki-45 Toryu is excellent

I built the Gomix-Fly Model Ki-45 Toryu ("Dragon Slayer") in 1/33 scale (G/FM #40) more than a year ago, so I don't have a lot of details to offer, except to say that this was one of the most enjoyable kits I've done. The instructions, artwork, and fit are all excellent and the finished model is one my favorites.

First developed in 1937 as a long-range escort fighter, the Ki-45 (Allied code name "Nick") looks a lot like a Japanese Bf-110. The Ki-45 suffered from teething problems with handling and engines, that kept it out of the escort role. Used in every theater with limited success, it first caused major damage in May 1944 when four Nicks made a successful Kamikaze attack on the coast of New Guinea. The Ki-45 was also used as a night fighter (the version modeled by Gomix) against B-29s. Nose-mounted radar planned for the Nick was never fitted for lack of units, and there were never enough Nicks (only 1,698 produced) to pose a serious threat to the SuperForts.

If you're looking for a not terribly challenging intermediate level model that looks great when it's finished, I can certainly recommend this one. Construction is typical Fly-Model (cylinder-former-joiner strip), and, like a lot of recent Gomix kits, the cover art is a nice bonus that would look good in a frame.

I built this kit "straight out of the box" but there are several places where an enterprising modeler could add extra detail--notably the air intakes in the front of the nacelles, and the cockpit. I haven't scaled it out precisely but the finished model looks right compared to available 3-views and photos. And it has attracted lots of oohs and aahs at IPMS meetings and other exhibits.

No worries,
--David

**GreMir** · #14 03-23-2009, 08:12 PM

Lex,
Thanks. I also found one build report on kartonbau.de Kartonbau.de - Alles rund um's Kartonmodell... | abgeschlossene Bauberichte | [FERTIG] Kawasaki Ki-45 Toryu, Fly Model Nr. 40, 1:33

David,
We are either talking about two different kits or the kits themselves vary greatly between editions as the fit is far from even acceptable.
Model is certainly buildable and with a little care (and lot of love to the subject) can become a very good model.
So far none of the formers fit into the skins, but there is nothing sand paper cannot fix, but for the part C1 (that's the one where cannons will be mounted) you actually have to add to the sides to match the bulkheads. Floor in the cockpit requires shortening to allow the bulkehad to slide in - not sure about the width of it. For now I just dryfitted it in place to ilustrate the problem and will work on it tomorrow.
I will also try to cover tops of the bulkheads with some of the interior color from the spare kit, but I will wait untill I'm sure I don't need the spares for anything else..

**GreMir** · #15 03-23-2009, 08:16 PM

One more comment to all future builders - it is crucial to fit the formers exactly as they are intended for in the kit as they are not exactly symmetrical. Close, but the difference is noticeable.

**member_3** · #16 03-23-2009, 08:46 PM

There is at least one, possibly two, earlier printing(s) of this model but from the photo it looks like you have the latest one, Mike.

**rmks2000** · #17 03-24-2009, 07:23 AM

I've found that perhaps the discrepancy between builders is how one cuts the parts. Do you cut outside, in the middle, or inside the border of the parts? I tend to cut outside the border but I'm not sure it is the right thing to do.

Also, perhaps one builder is building from a scan, which may affect the part dimensions. I've thrown out many original kits in the past due to mistakes I've made in the build. Now I build from scans, but that may explain why I have sometimes have fit problems.

**GreMir** · #18 03-24-2009, 10:20 AM

So far all bulkheads had to be cut out on the inside of the line and then sanded down even more to let them fit the skins. Shelf behind the cockpit was cut on the inside of the line (Lengthwise) and widened to match the formers.
Cockpit floor has to be shortened by at least 1mm. Not sure about the width yet.
Instructions in the kit suggest using the card backing of the booklet to laminate the formers to, but first try doing just that was a disaster and I restrated the build laminating formers to 0.5mm card.
Every former has to be dryfitted and adjusted, but there is no uniform way for all of them.
I think I got spoiled on the modern kits I kept building recently

**GreMir** · #19 03-24-2009, 07:42 PM

First a disclaimer (just in case)
My goal is to build every model to the best of my ability. I do not try to discredit the publisher, author or anybody else involved with the creation of this kit. I only report the issues as I find them and try to give my solutions to overcome them, so the next person trying to build this, or any other kit, has an easier way of dealing with the problems encountered during the build.

Back to the build...
There are two panels that go onto the cockpit walls. Problem is that if they are intended to be paralel to the centerline of the plane, then their sides are reversed. Wider one is up front where the fuselage actually narrows and the narrow one is where the fuselage is the widest. Another issue is that the locations marked for them on the walls are way oversized. Good thing is that the color fills almost entire space there so no white will show up. None of it really matters since all that will be covered by the canopy.
Pilot's seat is straigthforward and problem free. Same goes for the gun housing. Gun barell is printed in white so it will need to be painted.
First two segments are mounted together and the next step will be to assemble gunner's cockpit.

**Golden Bear** · #20 03-24-2009, 08:05 PM

Well, you are doing a good job of hiding the issues. It looks just as a normal, clean and neat build.

I sort of remember comments similar to this from another build of the model. Maybe that's why I haven't done it. Hmm.

Carl