Otaki 1/48 Ki-43-II 'Oscar'

Nakajima's Ki-43 Hayabusa was a turning point aircraft for the JAAF. Prior to this aircraft, the thinking of the time was for a lightweight aircraft that was capable of being superior in a dogfight. The mount of the time was the Ki-27, a very small, low-winged monoplane with fixed landing gear. The Ki-27 was very maneuverable and able to dogfight successfully with biplane fighters.

Most pilots disliked the Hayabusa upon first meeting. Here was a (relatively) large aircraft, that was a bit heavy and had retractable landing gear. Sure, it was faster than the Ki-27 by quite a bit, but it could not out-dogfight it. Reluctantly, pilots had no choice but to start flying their new mount. As they flew it, they began to appreciate the qualities of the aircraft and the extra speed that it provided. All they had to do was to take advantage of the pluses of the aircraft and develop new tactics. 

The Ki-43 quickly entered service and by late 1942/early 1943 had completely replaced the older Ki-27 in all theaters of operation. Where it was mostly seen was in the CBI (China/Burma/India) operating area and in New Guinea and the Philippines, areas where the Army had jurisdiction. 

The Oscar, as the Allies code named it, was operational throughout the war, being used as training and suicide aircraft late in the war. After the way, those aircraft still remaining were used by the countries in which they were left. Both the French and Indonesians used the Ki-43 for a few years. Those in Indonesia were often pieced together from planes found on the scrap pile. This model was painted to represent one of those planes from a photograph in an old Aircam book.

The Otaki kit is one of the oldest 1/48 kits of this plane around, and still can be built into a nice model. However, its accuracy must be questioned. Though it doesn't say, it is probably supposed to be a late Ki-43-II. However it has some shape problems, particularly the wings. These seem to be too broad and of not quite the proper shape for a Ki-43. The exhaust are also incorrectly shaped and the underfuselage fuel cooler wasn't used until the Ki-43-III. If you are not concerned about such things, it will still build into an aircraft that cannot be mistaken for anything other than an Oscar.

What you get in the box is several sprues of medium grey plastic, a small sprue of clear and a nice decal sheet. The kit has a full cockpit with some detail on the side walls and floor. It includes an instrument panel, control stick, seat, rear bulkhead and a pilot for the seat. Considering the age of the kit, the detailing and amount of 'stuff' in the cockpit is quite remarkable. These kits were among the best on the market when they initially appeared and stayed that way for many years.

The wheel wells are very shallow with no detail. Your choice of underwing stores is limited to a pair of generic drop tanks. Frankly, the Oscar looks terrible with things under its wings! The engine is comprised of two banks of cylinders along with separate pushrods. 

The markings are for three aircraft; one from the Akeno fighter training school in overall natural metal with white bands behind the Hinomarus, one from the 63rd Sentai with dark green upper surfaces and another in natural metal with green mottling from the 25th Sentai. 

There really are not many parts to the plane at all and it is a quick build.