Hasegawa 1/72 Kawasaki Ki-48-II Type 99 Lily Banda Unit

This Hasegawa 1/72 Kawasaki Ki-48-II Type 99 Light Bomber Lily kit represents a special attack aircraft of the Banda Unit, the first special attack air squadron formed in the Imperial Japanese Army. The aircraft represented by this release was specially configured for attacks against enemy ships, with significant changes from the standard aircraft.

Three long, slender spear-like detonators projected from the nose canopy and were connected to an 800kg bomb carried in the bomb bay. The bomb release mechanism was removed, along with the swivel machine guns normally fitted at the nose and rear. Hasegawa includes brass wire for reproducing the distinctive detonators on the model.

Banda Unit Special Attack Configuration

The unusual nose arrangement is the defining feature of this 1/72 aircraft kit. The supplied markings provide two Banda Unit configurations, allowing the aircraft to be completed with either three detonator fuses or a single detonator fuse.

• Imperial Japanese Army Banda Unit aircraft
• Choice of three-detonator or single-detonator configuration
• Brass wire included for recreating the detonators
• 800kg bomb associated with the special attack configuration
• Bomb release mechanism removed on the represented aircraft
• Nose and rear swivel machine guns removed on the represented aircraft

Two Banda Unit Marking Options

Both supplied marking choices represent Type 99 Twin-Engine Light Special Equipment aircraft belonging to the Imperial Japanese Army’s Banda Unit. One option depicts an aircraft equipped with three detonator fuses, while the second represents an aircraft carrying a single detonator fuse.

This gives the modeller a clear choice between two versions of the specialised nose arrangement while retaining the specific Banda Unit subject of the kit.

Kit Details

The Hasegawa kit contains 86 parts. When completed, the 1/72 scale Kawasaki Ki-48-II measures 206mm in length and 244mm in width.

• Aircraft: Kawasaki Ki-48-II Type 99 Light Bomber Lily
• Scale: 1/72
• Parts: 86
• Model length: 206mm
• Model width: 244mm
• Brass wire included
• Two Banda Unit configurations

The specialised nose detonators, modified armament arrangement and choice of one or three detonator fuses distinguish this Banda Unit aircraft from a standard Ki-48-II configuration.