In Box Review of Nichimo 1/48th Scale
Japanese Nakajima Ki-43-1 "Oscar" Fighter
Kit no. S-4820
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Kit has copyright date of 1977. It is listed at 7 places on E-bay for prices ranging from $20.00 up to $37.32.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Kit has copyright date of 1977. It is listed at 7 places on E-bay for prices ranging from $20.00 up to $37.32.
HISTORY:
The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa "Peregrine Falcon", "Army Type 1 Fighter" was a single-engine land-based tactical fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II.
The Allied reporting name was "Oscar", but it was often called the "Army Zero" by American pilots because it bore a certain resemblance to the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, the Imperial Japanese Navy's counterpart to the Ki-43. Both aircraft had generally similar layout and lines, and also used essentially the same Nakajima Sakae radial engine, with similar round cowlings and bubble-type canopies (the Oscar's being distinctly smaller and having much less framing than the A6M.
While relatively easy for a trained eye to tell apart with the "finer" lines of the Ki-43's fuselage — especially towards the tail — and more tapered wing planform; in the heat of battle, given the brief glimpses and distraction of combat, Allied aviators frequently made mistakes in enemy aircraft identification in the heat of a dogfight, reportedly having fought "Zeros" in areas where there were no Navy fighters.
Like the Mitsubishi-produced A6M Zero, the radial-engined Ki-43 was light and easy to fly and became legendary for its combat performance in East Asia in the early years of the war. It could outmaneuver any opponent, but did not have armor or self-sealing tanks, and its armament was poor until its final version, which was produced as late as 1945.
Allied pilots often reported that the nimble Ki-43s were difficult targets but burned easily or broke apart with few hits. In spite of its drawbacks, the Ki-43 shot down more Allied aircraft than any other Japanese fighter and almost all the JAAF's aces achieved most of their kills in it.
Total production amounted to 5,919 aircraft. Many of these were used during the last months of the war for kamikaze missions against the American fleet.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter aircraft
Manufacturer: Nakajima Aircraft Company
Designer: Hideo Itokawa
First flight: Early January 1939
Introduction to service: October 1941
Retired: 1945 (Japan), 1952 (China)
Primary users: Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, Royal Thai Air Force, Manchukuo Air Force
Produced: 1939–1945
Number built: 5,919
Developed from: Nakajima Ki-27
The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa "Peregrine Falcon", "Army Type 1 Fighter" was a single-engine land-based tactical fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II.
The Allied reporting name was "Oscar", but it was often called the "Army Zero" by American pilots because it bore a certain resemblance to the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, the Imperial Japanese Navy's counterpart to the Ki-43. Both aircraft had generally similar layout and lines, and also used essentially the same Nakajima Sakae radial engine, with similar round cowlings and bubble-type canopies (the Oscar's being distinctly smaller and having much less framing than the A6M.
While relatively easy for a trained eye to tell apart with the "finer" lines of the Ki-43's fuselage — especially towards the tail — and more tapered wing planform; in the heat of battle, given the brief glimpses and distraction of combat, Allied aviators frequently made mistakes in enemy aircraft identification in the heat of a dogfight, reportedly having fought "Zeros" in areas where there were no Navy fighters.
Like the Mitsubishi-produced A6M Zero, the radial-engined Ki-43 was light and easy to fly and became legendary for its combat performance in East Asia in the early years of the war. It could outmaneuver any opponent, but did not have armor or self-sealing tanks, and its armament was poor until its final version, which was produced as late as 1945.
Allied pilots often reported that the nimble Ki-43s were difficult targets but burned easily or broke apart with few hits. In spite of its drawbacks, the Ki-43 shot down more Allied aircraft than any other Japanese fighter and almost all the JAAF's aces achieved most of their kills in it.
Total production amounted to 5,919 aircraft. Many of these were used during the last months of the war for kamikaze missions against the American fleet.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Fighter aircraft
Manufacturer: Nakajima Aircraft Company
Designer: Hideo Itokawa
First flight: Early January 1939
Introduction to service: October 1941
Retired: 1945 (Japan), 1952 (China)
Primary users: Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, Royal Thai Air Force, Manchukuo Air Force
Produced: 1939–1945
Number built: 5,919
Developed from: Nakajima Ki-27
THE KIT:
Nichimo is a model company based in Sano City, Japan.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Oscar escorting 2 Japanese 2-engined bombers.
The Oscar is dark-green over light-gray undercarraige, with a yellow spinner and yellow lightning flash on the rudder. It has a narrow white fuselage band. There is a dark column of smoke in the background.
One side panel has 4 color box arts of other 1/48th scale aircraft kits that Nichimo manufactures: a Japanese Navy Type 97 Attack Bomber, kit no. 13, a Japanese Army Type 95-1 Otsu Trainer, kit no. 14, a Japanese Light Plane Fuji FA200 Aerosubaru, kit no. 15 and a Cessna Skyhawk Seaplane, kit no. 17.
Nichimo is a model company based in Sano City, Japan.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Oscar escorting 2 Japanese 2-engined bombers.
The Oscar is dark-green over light-gray undercarraige, with a yellow spinner and yellow lightning flash on the rudder. It has a narrow white fuselage band. There is a dark column of smoke in the background.
One side panel has 4 color box arts of other 1/48th scale aircraft kits that Nichimo manufactures: a Japanese Navy Type 97 Attack Bomber, kit no. 13, a Japanese Army Type 95-1 Otsu Trainer, kit no. 14, a Japanese Light Plane Fuji FA200 Aerosubaru, kit no. 15 and a Cessna Skyhawk Seaplane, kit no. 17.
The other side panel has a color box art for another Oscar kit and this kit with Japanese text between them.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 3 light-tan trees in 3 stapled-shut clear cello bags, a clear tree, the decal sheet also in a stapled-shut clear cello bag, the instructions and a metal tube of cement.
This kit contains 3 light-tan trees in 3 stapled-shut clear cello bags, a clear tree, the decal sheet also in a stapled-shut clear cello bag, the instructions and a metal tube of cement.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that is 10" x 20 3/4" format, folded 4 times to fit the box. It is printed on both sides, all in Japanese only.
The face side begins with markings for 7 Oscars. Six are Japanese and one is Manchurian with a white elephant on a black rectangle for markings.
The face side begins with markings for 7 Oscars. Six are Japanese and one is Manchurian with a white elephant on a black rectangle for markings.
To the right of these is a listing of the names of the kit parts. There are 77 listed.
Below these is 8 assembly steps.
The reverse side of the instructions has 3 more assembly steps for a total of 11.
The bottom has 5 Japanese schemes.
Light-tan letter A tree holds wing and fuselage halves (6 parts)
Below these is 8 assembly steps.
The reverse side of the instructions has 3 more assembly steps for a total of 11.
The bottom has 5 Japanese schemes.
Light-tan letter A tree holds wing and fuselage halves (6 parts)
Light tan letter B tree holds: the seat, backrest, cockpit floor, tail wheel, elevators, gun sight, cowling, air scoop, landing gear legs and pants, a standing and seated pilot figure, main wheels, antenna, propeller, pitot tube, head rest, spinner etc. (20 parts)
The assembled cockpit.
Light tan letter C tree holds: engine parts, exhaust pipes, fire wall, engine bearers, joy stick and shift levers, foot pedals, drop tanks, fire extinguisher, dashboard, small instruments etc. (36 parts)
I have assembled most of these parts already.
I have assembled most of these parts already.
Letter D is the clear parts tree. It holds canopy windows and wing light lens (3 parts)
The decal sheet and tube of glue complete the kit's contents.
Very nice detail.
Recommended.