Michael Alwes
Yokota Air Base, Japan
Michael had admired Hasegawa’s 1/48 scale Ki-61-I Hien “Tony” for years, but picking up a little local history while stationed in Japan inspired him to build it. He says, “I was intrigued when I learned that this particular aircraft, with its colorful markings, actually flew out of Chofu Air Base, intercepting B-29 raids. Its pilot was Capt. Teruhiko Kobayashi, the most prolific ace of the 244th Sentai. Chofu is only a few miles east of Yokota Air Base, and I have passed by it many times while driving to and from Tokyo.” Michael added Eduard cockpit photo-etch and True Details resin wheels, and gave the model a base coat of Mr. Surfacer 1000 primer and Alclad II aluminum. Then he airbrushed mottled camouflage with a lightened shade of Mr. Hobby IJA green and picked out the ailerons with Mr. Hobby IJA gray. The spinner and prop are painted with a lightened Tamiya red brown. He opened the kit’s one-piece canopy to show off the cockpit. The model was given as a gift to the Yokota command’s translator.