Nichimo, 1:48 scale Nakajima Ki-43-Ic, "Hayabusa", (Peragrine Falcon) Allied Reporting Name: 'Oscar'

August 31, 2023 · in Aviation · · 17 · 355

Kit is built mostly Out Of Box except for the True Details weighted tires. EZ line was used for the aerial and paper strips for seat harness. Paint is a combination of acrylic for upper surfaces, over Alclad II for the lower. Flory washes, AK Weathering pencils and pastel chalk round out the weathering.

Not terribly happy with the way she came out as I've done better. I thought it a beautifully colorful aircraft with the IJAAF Dk Green, white stripes and rudder, yellow ID bands, blue spinner and lightning bolt, plus the red from the Hinomaru. Lot of things going on here color wise.

Once again, one of my favorite models to build, and I have a couple more in the research planning stages.

Markings are those of Major Ishikawa Tadashi, 50th Hiko Sentai, in Burma, January 1943.

Reader reactions:
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7 additional images. Click to enlarge.


17 responses

  1. Congratulations Frederick!
    Indeed, a very colorful bird, with a nice combination of colors.
    To my eyes, your job is excellent, the result very realistic.

  2. To me she looks really good, Frederick @fjs3
    Like you mentioned, a colorful combination for a Japanese fighter, and you applied them very nicely.
    Well done.

  3. @jfs3
    Very nice rendition of the Hayabusa Frederick., even more so considering it’s the old Nichimo plastic.

  4. The colour combination works very well.

  5. Thought You would be busy with Hurricanes down there. Can't let a 'lil thang like that get in the way of modeling, eh?
    That Old Nichimo is a thing of beauty, the shapes are perfect and the riveting way before trumpeter. That's a nice colorful one. Still waiting for a Zoukie Mura Hayabusa in 1/32.

  6. The overall finish of this build is very nice!

  7. Looks good, Frederick! That kit still stands up well.

  8. Good looking Hayabusa, those Nichimo kits are pretty good for their age. I've got a few.

  9. Frederick J Seitz III (@fjs3)
    Your Oscar looks really nice. I have a few of these Nichimo kits in the stash too. How are they as far as fit / finish etc. ? I have been thinking about building up some for our Empire of Japan group.

    I'm also glad to hear you did OK through the hurricane. We did too. It hit on the other side of the State from us, almost directly due West. Not everyone was as fortunate as we were.

    • That Nichimo Oscar is about 50 years ahead of itself (the one really good kit they ever did on their own, that stands the test of time). As I recall fit is exemplary for a kit from that period. It's like the Otaki kits.

    • I'm going to, "Ditto" what Tom has said. Great kit, fit is pretty darn nice, surface detail is gorgeous. Too bad they didn't do more 'Oscars'. Mounting the engine can be a little tricky, (Don't paint anything in there you won't see a darn thing and that will make it easier to put together).

  10. Freddie - that kit sure stands the test of time and your model looks excellent. So much better than the Hasegawa version.

  11. In leaps and bounds, Tom, leaps and bounds. I wish they would have done other versions.

    I have a couple Finemolds kits for the rest of the ‘Oscar’ family.

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