Bunrindo's latest release in their FAOW series is Special #7 on the Kawasaki Ki-45 "Toryu" (Nick) or as they have entitled it in English "Army Type 2 Two-Seat Fighter "Toryu"".
This new publication is of the typical FAOW size with 176 pages and 300 photos, four of them in-color. Artwork is by Watanabe Rikyu, Saito Masumi and Ninomiya Shigeki. It is all written by Watanabe Yoji based on his previously published "Shohatsu Sentoki 「Toryu」 - Ichigeki Hisatsu Jubaku Kira" (Twin Engine Fighter "Toryu" - The heavy bomber killer with the deadly strike). In fact this new FAOW, coming out 28 years after FAOW#21, is more of an in-action publication than a presentation of the type. Extremely interesting to those who can read Japanese, the rest of the world will have to just look at the photos. In comparison, the older FAOW#21 had 167 b/w photos, 75 of them are not in the new Special, while 50 are featured in both publications; in the Special are of better or equal quality. The #21 has a lot less photos of the prototypes and detailing the interior of the aircraft, the Special has more in-action photos.
I have strong suspicions that:
1) this one came out due to the very much anticipated forthcoming release of the Zoukei Mura "Toryu" in 1/32 (details here)
2) a Model Art is coming out any time around the release of the Zoukei Mura kit with the manual of the plane (not included in the Special), many many detailed photos, color artwork by Sato Kunihiko and marking and paint schemes by Nohara. It remains to be seen if it will be followed by a new "Aero-Detail"; doubtful but you never know. It is amazing that the ancient Maru Mechanic has not been replaced by anything new.
So, in conclusion, this is a very very good publication if you need source material photos for your model and absolutely necessary if you are a big fan of Japanese aviation. There is no urgent reason for those with only a passing interest in the "Toryu" to grab this one, though.
Highly Recommended (but be warned).
Naturally available from our on-line store, HERE, for $US24 (postage not included).
This new publication is of the typical FAOW size with 176 pages and 300 photos, four of them in-color. Artwork is by Watanabe Rikyu, Saito Masumi and Ninomiya Shigeki. It is all written by Watanabe Yoji based on his previously published "Shohatsu Sentoki 「Toryu」 - Ichigeki Hisatsu Jubaku Kira" (Twin Engine Fighter "Toryu" - The heavy bomber killer with the deadly strike). In fact this new FAOW, coming out 28 years after FAOW#21, is more of an in-action publication than a presentation of the type. Extremely interesting to those who can read Japanese, the rest of the world will have to just look at the photos. In comparison, the older FAOW#21 had 167 b/w photos, 75 of them are not in the new Special, while 50 are featured in both publications; in the Special are of better or equal quality. The #21 has a lot less photos of the prototypes and detailing the interior of the aircraft, the Special has more in-action photos.
I have strong suspicions that:
1) this one came out due to the very much anticipated forthcoming release of the Zoukei Mura "Toryu" in 1/32 (details here)
2) a Model Art is coming out any time around the release of the Zoukei Mura kit with the manual of the plane (not included in the Special), many many detailed photos, color artwork by Sato Kunihiko and marking and paint schemes by Nohara. It remains to be seen if it will be followed by a new "Aero-Detail"; doubtful but you never know. It is amazing that the ancient Maru Mechanic has not been replaced by anything new.
So, in conclusion, this is a very very good publication if you need source material photos for your model and absolutely necessary if you are a big fan of Japanese aviation. There is no urgent reason for those with only a passing interest in the "Toryu" to grab this one, though.
Highly Recommended (but be warned).
Naturally available from our on-line store, HERE, for $US24 (postage not included).
1 comment:
This looks very interesting!....
And so does the thought of the Model art publication. The 1/32nd Toryu looks amazing!
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