Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien

The Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien ("Flying Swallow") was one of the most unusual Japanese fighter planes of World War II. As the only mass-produced Japanese army fighter with a liquid-cooled V-engine, it clearly differed from the light, radial-engined designs of the Land of the Rising Sun.
The prototype was first flown in early 1942, and by August of the same year, the first production models had entered service with the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. When the Americans first encountered the Ki-61 in combat, they initially mistook it for a German Messerschmitt Bf 109, and then for an Italian design. Hence the Allied code name "Tony". From 1943, Hien fighters fought over New Guinea, New Britain, the Philippines and later defended the Japanese islands themselves against raids by B-29 Superfortress bombers. The new Hien proved to be the only Japanese fighter capable of effectively operating at high altitudes against B-29 Superfortress bombers. In the final stages of the war, some of the aircraft were even used in kamikaze units.

• 141 high-quality elements
• Manufactured in the EU by a company with over 35 years of tradition
• Meets safety standards for children's products
• Fully compatible with other brands of building blocks
• Clear and intuitive instructions based on illustrations and step-by-step directions
• Scale 1:48

Model dimensions (L x W x H): 190 mm x 250 mm x 90 mm

warning: not suitable for children under 36 months. Contains small parts which may cause choking hazard if swallowed. We recommend keeping the packaging for reference. Colours and styles may vary.