Otaki Co.

otaki?? that is a very strange name an i have never heard of it but if you dont want some of your model you can send me a couple!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Otaki which is also reboxed as ARII were kits from Japan which weren't bad for their age. Most of the Japanese,Luftwaffe and US fighters that they had released at the time had engraved panel lines. This is before the leading edge kits by Hasegawa and Tamiya were released. We are talking mid 70's technology.
The decals were a little thick but not bad for being stock. Interesting Japanese subjects like the Oscar you mentioned. Open the box and compare it to the much newer tooling of the Hasegawa Oscar you may be surprised. As being a collectible well what isn't these days.!

Fly Navy!

here is some info on Otaki, they had some really goods kit in the late 70's early 80's then were bought out by a company called Arii who currently sells the same kits from the Otaki molds, the Otaki kits are some what a collectors but if you want to build the kit it's no fowl and no outs, also the model company AMT ran some of the old Otaki kits under its banner back in the late 80's and were a few dollar less then the Arii's releases, but the was for about 1 or 2 years, if you go to www.greatmodels.com and look out Otaki they will have the kits but show the out of production then look up Arii they will be in production also check out their catalog numbers their the same too just to make it interesting

A lot of Otaki/Arii kits have re-surfaced as part of the new Airfix 1/48 scale line

If you want more informations about this particular model (Otaki Ki-43 Hayabusa), I will try to find something for tomorrow - as I remember, in one of my Ki-43 monography's I have this model quite good described. Regards ! Aleksander

Thanks, everyone, for your replies. Aleksander, if you do have any additional information on that specific model, I would appreciate anything you can tell me. My father (who used to be quite a modeler himself before he found gardening and beer-making), is sending me another boxful of old kits. Perhaps this shipment will contain some more gems.

DT

You are lucky DocTG - sometimes you can find real treasures (or at least very rare objects) among old models ! Unfortunately my father has built only paper models, so I can't have this opportunity ;o)). OK - I will find that information for you tomorrow (now I'm working on 24 hours duty) ! Aleksander

Hallo DocTG - I'm so sorry, but I was wrong - this description is about Arii model not Otaki - but - if it is true what the others mentiond above, I will write some words about the Arii 1/48 kit hoping that this is the same: in general - dimensions are correct, but shape of delicate engraved panel lines on wings and fuselage is wrong. Cockpit doesn't represent the original one, is simple, and the pilot seat is the worst element - looks odd, and doesn't remind the real seat. Lack of details in cockpit. Canopy is thick, matt and has the incorrect shape. Wheel wells are too shallow and gear struts and wheels are simplified. The engine is much better - it has double star, and looks quite good. This is all I could find about the Arii model (from my ACE Publication monography). After reading all I wrote above I wish you have the completly other model ! Anyhow - it is still some challenge to build a good model starting with something simple like this one (and bigger satisfaction then after buliding "all correct tamigawa"). Happy modeling ! Aleksander

The Otaki kits were ok for what they were supposed to be: a reasonably accurate representation of a real aircraft. The folks that like to run all over a kit with a pair of calipers to determine where the company went wrong won't be satisfied with the kits, but they were reasonably easy to build, look pretty good on a shelf, and they were affordable.

Of course I agree with you - Keyworth. The opinion I wrote above is not mine - I just found it in a book. Aleksander

ARII/Otaki kits can nowadays best be described as a decent bang for a buck. They're usually less expensive than today's kits, and are still fairly nice builds. If you're a casual modeler and don't care too much about absolute accuracy, these are fine.

Stuff like cockpits and engines are kinda 'eh', but the surface detail is usually very nice with only a few problems here and there.

Fit, however, is another matter. Having built or started several of these over the years, I can recommend that you break out the putty.

And another drawback is that most, if not all, of these kits have closed canopies. Some of which are not so clear!! But with the generally bad cockpit detail, this ain't no big thang...


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