Special Hobby 1/72 Nakajima Ki-43-II Ko Hajabusa/Oscar

The Imperial Japanese Air Force issued the Nakajima Company, without common competition, in December 1937 with the development of new fighter aircraft. This new fighter should in the future replace the recently assigned Ki-27. The development was complicated and somewhat prolonged due to modifications. Thirteen prototypes were built, and then the new fighter, designated Ki-43-I Ko and with the combat name Hayabusa, was accepted by the IJAF on January 1, 1941, although serial production began in September 1940. The new fighters took part in battles over Malaya and Singapore. The Hayabusa was characterized by excellent maneuverability and outperformed all Allied types and was able to sweep the sky over any opponent. Combat experience showed that the wings had little strength and tended to fall apart.

The prototype of the new Ki-43-II version with a more powerful Ha-115 engine, a shortened and reinforced wing first flew in February 1942. This new version soon replaced the older one on the production lines. Part of the production was transferred to other companies such as Tachikawa and Rikugun. Development continued from the Ki-43-II Otsu to the Ki-43-III. The individual versions had different shapes of cowlings, oil coolers, and then changed to heavier armament. The Hayabusa soon became the most widely used fighter by the IJAF. It fought from the beginning of the war until its bitter end. Hayabusas were assigned to forty regular Sentai and twelve independent Hiko Sentai. In addition to the latter, the Hayabusas were used by the puppet state of Manchukuo in Thailand, and after the war by Indonesia, communist China, and French colonial forces in Indochina. The Hayabusa was considered a very dangerous opponent early in the war. This suspicion was confirmed when a captured Ki-43 was examined. Allied pilots were then warned not to attempt air combat with Hayabusas and instead to use hit-and-run tactics. In the CBI area on the continent, Allied intelligence codenamed the Ki-43 Jim. In the Southeast Pacific, it was given the Oscar designation and this name was officially adopted for the Nakajima Ki-43 of all versions.

Specification

• Number: SH72170
• Scale: 1:72
• Type: Full kit