Special Hobby – 72485 – Tachikawa Ki-54 Hickory “Captured and Post War Service”

Description:

Unassembled plastic model kit in 1/72 scale of a Japanese WWII transport aircraft and trainer Tachikawa Ki-54.

The Ki-54 was developed to fulfill a requirement from the Imperial Japanese Army for a twin-engine advanced trainer, primarily intended for crew training purposes. Its prototype took to the skies for the first time in the summer of 1940, and following successful trials, production commenced in 1941 under the designation Army Type 1 Advanced Trainer Model A (Ki-54a).

Subsequent variants included the Ki-54b, designated as the Army Type 1 Operations Trainer Model B, and the Ki-54c, designated as the Army Type 1 Transport Model C. Both the Ki-54b and Ki-54c enjoyed productive service throughout the duration of the war. Following the war’s conclusion, a small number of captured Ki-54 aircraft were utilized by various operators.

Variant of kit Special Hobby – 72270 – Tachikawa Ki-54 Hei/Hickory with a new decal sheet including 3 post war markings, one U.S., one French and one North Korean marking.