Ki-49 Helen

Kit: 1/72 Scale From Hasegawa

Construction: This kit was built straight out of the box. Hasegawa did a nice job with this kit. All the parts fit together really well, and the instructions were clear and easy to read. All of the transparencies were in excellent shape and easy to work w/. Prior to painting I used regular masking tape to mask off all of the canopy and other transparencies included in the kit. This took several hours but was worth the time.

Painting: With very little source material I chose to use the paint scheme provided in the instructions. I did not want this bird to look like it just left the factory so I used pictures in my reference materials as well as my imagination to get that in the field weathered look. I wanted the viewer to imagine this aircraft on an airfield in the hot jungles of the South Pacific or even Indo-China. The paint job has taken a beating from exposure to the harsh environments.

After completing the interior and gluing the transparencies into place I gave the entire model a coat of Testor’s Aluminum buffing metalizer. I allowed this to dry for several days. (I was in the process of moving). Next I used acrylic paints provided by Model Masters for the camo and identification lines on the leading edge of the wings. The Hinomarus are done using an Olfa compass and masking tape, then sprayed w/ insignia red mixed w/ a touch of burnt umber. I found that by using the Acrylic paints over the lacquer-based metalizer I would be better able to accomplish the weathered effect I wanted. To accomplish the weathering I simply placed masking tape to the areas that I wanted to lift the paint and ripped it off. I worked like a champ. I was a little worried that this process might make the weathering look out- of –scale, but I feel that I was able to accomplish this task quite well. (You be the judge).

While putting this kit together I had lots of fun trying new techniques that I have researched. I enjoyed trying out some of these new tricks, and in the end was happy with the final project. The only decals I used were the two for the Tail marking and the white fuselage band. Other than these I painted on all other insignia.

In order to bring out the panel lines on this aircraft I used a very sharp pencil. I believe that I need a little more practice w/ this particular technique. I did manage to make a few little errors, but nothing an eraser will not take care of.

References: Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. Rene Francillion

In conclusion this was a fun kit to build and it does lend itself to the scratch-builder, for those of you who like to do up the interiors!!! I had a good time with this kit and I hope you enjoyed the work. Happy Modeling.

Bobby McElroy