Introduction

Ki-67 Peggy Photo etched parts from Platz is a 1/72 set, item M72X-03. It is intended for the Hasegawa Ki-67 Hiryu ("Flying Dragon"). It can even be used to enhance another, venerable "Peggy." About 50 years before Hasegawa kitted a Ki-67, the now-defunct company LS released one in 1/72. (They also released a Ki-109 heavy fighter.) LS went out of business and Arii acquired the molds.

Mitsubishi's Ki-67 Hiryu (Allied codename "Peggy") was an excellent high-performance medium bomber of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF). IJAAF considered it a heavy bomber and accepted it as the Army Type 4 Heavy Bomber (四式重爆撃機. So renowned was its capability that the Japanese Navy Air Force swallowed its pride and accepted the type as the P2M and Q2M. Graceful "Peggy" was fast and with a wing loading rivaling some fighters, very maneuverable. (It was even reported able to loop.) Ki-67 was equipped with armor and self-sealing fuel tanks and considered difficult to shoot down.

"Peggy" is a popular subject and this photo-etch set will enhance any Ki-67 model.

The Set

Packed in a small plastic bag with a stiff card backing, Ki-67 Peggy consists of a thin metal photo-etched (P/E) fret and instructions. The P/E is etched by Eduard. The metal is not brass or copper. Perhaps aluminum or a steel?

The parts are sharply and cleanly etched. Detail is crisp.

There are 46 parts including a 2-piece instrument panel, radio facings, instrument consoles, seat belts, and various knobs, cranks, instruments and other apparatus.

Detail

Raised and recessed detail is etched into the metal. Lightening holes and stitching are etched into the seat belts and buckles. The powerplant control levers are individually etched in pairs.

Perhaps the most interesting detail are the instrument dial faces. Please examine the photographs. I loaded two close-ups of the panels with different exposures to show different detail.

Instructions and Painting

A small yet professionally printed instruction sheet guides the modeler in using these parts. It is illustrated with four-color line art with some shading. A key to symbols is included although it is printed only in Japanese.

Many of the parts are pre-painted. The paint does not obscure any detail and the fidelity of the colors of separate items on various parts is precise. The overall effect is excellent.

Not all parts are painted. I can not state whether they are intended for the modeler to paint or if they represent components left unpainted in the prototype. Regardless, the pre-coloring is excellent.

Conclusion

Modelers with a Hasegawa or LS/Arii Ki-67 should be excited that Platz offers this excellent set for super-detailing. Etching is crisp and sharp, very detailed, with some pre-colored parts.

Overall this is an excellent set. I look forward to using it to adorn my Peggy. Recommended.

Thanks to Platz for providing this set. Please remember to mention to Platz and retailers that you saw this item here - on Aeroscale.