Hasegawa 1/32 KI-43-II Hayabusa (Oscar)

In December 1937, the same month that the Nakajima Ki-27 fighter was officially adopted,
the Army instructed Nakajima alone to prototype the next-generation fighter aircraft (Ki-43).

The first prototype was completed in December of the following year.
Test flights revealed that while its maximum speed was about 30 km/h faster than the Type 97 fighter, its maneuverability was inferior, making it unsuitable as the next-generation fighter aircraft.

Subsequently, various modifications were made , including changes to the wing area and engine replacements, and by September 1940, 13 aircraft (3 prototypes and 10 additional prototypes) were completed. However, they could not convince the military, which was obsessed with dogfighting.

However, at that time, the General Staff believed that a long-range fighter aircraft was necessary to support the convoys in the invasion of Singapore . The Ki-43, which was on the verge of being deemed unsuitable, found a way to serve as a long-range fighter.

Specifications

• Number of Parts: 94
• Model Length: 299mm
• Model Width: 328mm