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Description
Backround: One of the in my opinion most interesting aircraft projects of the japanese was the mansyu ki 98. Not much is known about this aircraft and few have ever heard of it. it was a project for a new ground attack aircraft that could also be used as a heavy fighter. it was a direct competitor to the kawasaki ki 102. While the latter was a conventional twinengined heavy fighter/ground attacker, the ki 98 looked more like a p 38 lightning with it twin boom layout. The ki 98 was however far better armed, sporting a 37mm ho 204 cannon as well as 2 ho 5 20mm cannons all concentrated in the nose. This heavy armament would have enabled the aircraft to successfully deal with heavy bombers as well as having enough firepower to conduct ground support operations. Top speeed was quite impressive, it was estimated that the machine could reach a top speed of 730 kph.Only one prototype was constructed and it was still not completely finished when the production plant in manchuria was overrun and the prototype deliberately destroyed before it could fall into enemy hands.
The model: I was quite surprised when I learned that a model kit of this elusive machine exists!. its from meng models, a compan that doesnt have released that many models yet but the ones they release have very very good reputations. This kit is in 1/72 and belongs to mengs dimorphodon series. It costs arounf 26 bucks

Detail: Well detail is acceptable but nowehere impressive. I think its due to the fact that very few documents about this aircraft have survived and tehre is generally not much information about it. The cockpit is good, the wheels wells however are poorly detailed in my opinion. The 3 cannons look also good.
***and a half

Quality: Quality was excellent, no flash, no sinkmarks, perfect.
*****

Fitting: I had absolutely no problems with the fitting of the kit
*****

Decals: Oh boy, the decals are bad, very bad. I find it interesting that meng includes decals for 3 versions, a japanese one, a thai one and I think a chinese variant. However not only are the decals relatively sparse(only hinomarus and squad signs) but the are fragie as shit. They have th consistenc of glass, just as stiff and just as easy to brake!. And tehy just wont hold on n the finished kit, they constantly come off. What I also dislike is that the white bands have to be painted. In for example hasegawa kits the white bands come as decals as well!
*

Extrapoints: The aircraft is an absolute beauty, I really like the look of the machine I never thought i could build one as a model as this machine is so poorly known even in WWII enthusiasts. The kit certainly does look very nice when finished . The box art is also very appealing to the eye . The instructions were straight forward and easy to follow. However I hated the decals and the price is also quite high for a kit that is about the size of a p 47 of the same scale!
***
Result: well well, it seems we got ourself a mixed bag with this kit, the detail is ok, quality and fitting are excellent but declas are horrible. I have to say i enjoyed the built, the kit was finished in basically a day as it really isnt that difficult to assemble. I really really liek the machine, I am so glad I have this curiosity in my collection! However just liking the aircraft doesnt make a good kit. The detail is acceptable for 1/72, fitting and quality are excellent but the decals let the kit down. As far as I know this is one of the earlier meng model kit and I know that their latest ones(like the me 410 which i am DEFINTELY going to buy at some point) are absolutely fantastic model kits. This one here isnt up there but it certainly is a decent little kit and if youre a fan of japanese aircraft, this kit will certainly add a very cool and interesting plane to your collection. The kit is also well suited for beginners! I would recommend buying it if you have teh chance
***and a half

Description
Backround: One of the in my opinion most interesting aircraft projects of the japanese was the mansyu ki 98. Not much is known about this aircraft and few have ever heard of it. it was a project for a new ground attack aircraft that could also be used as a heavy fighter. it was a direct competitor to the kawasaki ki 102. While the latter was a conventional twinengined heavy fighter/ground attacker, the ki 98 looked more like a p 38 lightning with it twin boom layout. The ki 98 was however far better armed, sporting a 37mm ho 204 cannon as well as 2 ho 5 20mm cannons all concentrated in the nose. This heavy armament would have enabled the aircraft to successfully deal with heavy bombers as well as having enough firepower to conduct ground support operations. Top speeed was quite impressive, it was estimated that the machine could reach a top speed of 730 kph.Only one prototype was constructed and it was still not completely finished when the production plant in manchuria was overrun and the prototype deliberately destroyed before it could fall into enemy hands.
The model: I was quite surprised when I learned that a model kit of this elusive machine exists!. its from meng models, a compan that doesnt have released that many models yet but the ones they release have very very good reputations. This kit is in 1/72 and belongs to mengs dimorphodon series. It costs arounf 26 bucks

Detail: Well detail is acceptable but nowehere impressive. I think its due to the fact that very few documents about this aircraft have survived and tehre is generally not much information about it. The cockpit is good, the wheels wells however are poorly detailed in my opinion. The 3 cannons look also good.
***and a half

Quality: Quality was excellent, no flash, no sinkmarks, perfect.
*****

Fitting: I had absolutely no problems with the fitting of the kit
*****

Decals: Oh boy, the decals are bad, very bad. I find it interesting that meng includes decals for 3 versions, a japanese one, a thai one and I think a chinese variant. However not only are the decals relatively sparse(only hinomarus and squad signs) but the are fragie as shit. They have th consistenc of glass, just as stiff and just as easy to brake!. And tehy just wont hold on n the finished kit, they constantly come off. What I also dislike is that the white bands have to be painted. In for example hasegawa kits the white bands come as decals as well!
*

Extrapoints: The aircraft is an absolute beauty, I really like the look of the machine I never thought i could build one as a model as this machine is so poorly known even in WWII enthusiasts. The kit certainly does look very nice when finished . The box art is also very appealing to the eye . The instructions were straight forward and easy to follow. However I hated the decals and the price is also quite high for a kit that is about the size of a p 47 of the same scale!
***
Result: well well, it seems we got ourself a mixed bag with this kit, the detail is ok, quality and fitting are excellent but declas are horrible. I have to say i enjoyed the built, the kit was finished in basically a day as it really isnt that difficult to assemble. I really really liek the machine, I am so glad I have this curiosity in my collection! However just liking the aircraft doesnt make a good kit. The detail is acceptable for 1/72, fitting and quality are excellent but the decals let the kit down. As far as I know this is one of the earlier meng model kit and I know that their latest ones(like the me 410 which i am DEFINTELY going to buy at some point) are absolutely fantastic model kits. This one here isnt up there but it certainly is a decent little kit and if youre a fan of japanese aircraft, this kit will certainly add a very cool and interesting plane to your collection. The kit is also well suited for beginners! I would recommend buying it if you have teh chance
***and a half