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World War II: Japan
Aircraft of Japan in WWII.
Hosted by Rowan Baylis
Ki 43-II Hayabusa | Hasegawa 1:32 & 1:48
Kendzior
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Krakow, Poland
Joined: January 29, 2016
KitMaker: 96 posts
AeroScale: 91 posts
Posted: Monday, January 02, 2017 - 02:58 AM UTC
Hi, All

I'm going to build simultaneously Ki-43-II in 1:32nd and 1:48th scale.
Both kits from Hasegawa.

Those raised panel lines in large scale Oscar... will remain. I'm going to try to recreate the way the panels were installed, each one overlapping the edge of the next.
In general, I will be focused on that point and weathering, with the cockpit closed.

















In case of 1:48th scale Oscar a slightly different approach, as I'm going to use a resin cockpit from SBS (just amazing), photo-etched parts and some other upgrades - so that the level of detail will not be less than in 1:32nd - if not better.







Feel free to comment

Best regards
Hubert
rdt1953
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: February 06, 2015
KitMaker: 1,098 posts
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Posted: Monday, January 02, 2017 - 04:11 AM UTC
Hubert -
I'm on board for certain . Loving every minute of it !

Cheers ! Richard
Lakota
#123
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New Mexico, United States
Joined: November 17, 2008
KitMaker: 1,202 posts
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Posted: Monday, January 02, 2017 - 06:23 AM UTC
Hubert:
I have both kits, I'll be watching with interest. Looks like a great project.
Take care,
Don "Lakota"
c4willy
#305
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Christchurch, New Zealand
Joined: February 01, 2006
KitMaker: 1,673 posts
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Posted: Monday, January 02, 2017 - 07:36 AM UTC
Awesome idea Hubert I'm definitely along for the ride!!
Kendzior
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Krakow, Poland
Joined: January 29, 2016
KitMaker: 96 posts
AeroScale: 91 posts
Posted: Friday, February 24, 2017 - 11:09 PM UTC
Hi, Mates

I think it's time to come back to my Ki-43s.

Took the large scale one on the bench and started with the cockpit - few pieces from the old Eduard's photo etched set are a nice addition.

Decided not to use the photo etched pilot's seat, OOB with some enhancements will work well enough for me.
That's how it looks like now, sprayed with Tamiya's primer. More details to be added, of course.











Best regards
Hubert
rdt1953
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: February 06, 2015
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Posted: Friday, February 24, 2017 - 11:16 PM UTC
Hubert -

Keep it coming - this is what I've been waiting for !

Cheers - Richard
chrism
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United States
Joined: January 05, 2012
KitMaker: 160 posts
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Posted: Saturday, February 25, 2017 - 03:01 AM UTC
That 32nd scale kit is exactly like the one I have only in 72nd scale. Same box art.
Kendzior
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Krakow, Poland
Joined: January 29, 2016
KitMaker: 96 posts
AeroScale: 91 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 19, 2017 - 01:09 PM UTC
Hi, All

Slooooowly going forward with the bigger one.
Some more work in the cockpit still to be done, but I think it is going to be acceptable, taking into account that not much of it will be visible after the fuselage is closed.





Best regards
Hubert
rdt1953
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: February 06, 2015
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Posted: Sunday, March 19, 2017 - 03:32 PM UTC
Hubert -
Looking Good ! Cockpit paint looks very nice indeed - can't wait to see more.

Cheers ! Richard
mrockhill
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Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: June 17, 2009
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Posted: Sunday, March 19, 2017 - 09:28 PM UTC
Beautiful work so far Hubert! By the looks of things it will be raining Hayabusa's around here in a couple months!
Kendzior
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Krakow, Poland
Joined: January 29, 2016
KitMaker: 96 posts
AeroScale: 91 posts
Posted: Monday, March 20, 2017 - 01:10 PM UTC
Thanks, Mates
That was a beautiful machine, however not a very good fighter, at least according to some Japanese pilots' opinions. Would be great to have a new kit (especially Ki-43-I) in a large scale. Tamiya, are you listening?

OK, let's come back to plastic.
At last, I found some time for the smaller Oscar too.
Before I assemble and paint the beautiful resin interior, it was necessary to cut off the part of the fuselage behind the pilot's seat, - I'm going to put a much better resin element from SBS into this place.





Best regards
Hubert
Kendzior
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Krakow, Poland
Joined: January 29, 2016
KitMaker: 96 posts
AeroScale: 91 posts
Posted: Friday, March 24, 2017 - 12:25 PM UTC
Hi, All

Added the guns to the instrument panel, it is Eduard's PE part. I think now it looks busy enough.



Best regards
Hubert
Kendzior
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Krakow, Poland
Joined: January 29, 2016
KitMaker: 96 posts
AeroScale: 91 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 22, 2017 - 12:55 AM UTC
Quick update.
The fit is excellent, for such an old kit. Just Hasegawa .









The next step are the overlapping panels on the fuselage.

Best regards
Hubert
rdt1953
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New Jersey, United States
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Posted: Saturday, April 22, 2017 - 02:28 AM UTC
Hubert -
All looks good on both - glad to see you back on this project . I'm anxious to see how the SBS cockpit works out as I have a pair of these waiting for my next Oscar build . Keep up the nice work ! Richard
c4willy
#305
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Christchurch, New Zealand
Joined: February 01, 2006
KitMaker: 1,673 posts
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Posted: Saturday, April 22, 2017 - 03:16 AM UTC
Niceeeeeeee Hubert! The old Hasegawa 1/32 scale kits still have a lot going for them.
Kendzior
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Krakow, Poland
Joined: January 29, 2016
KitMaker: 96 posts
AeroScale: 91 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 30, 2017 - 01:40 PM UTC
Thanks, Mates

Hayabusa stalled again for a moment, but surely deserves to make some progress with her.

Prepared the fuselage and upper halves of the wings for making the "overlapping panels" effect. At the same time decided to glue the upper halves of the wings in place, so that the wings/fuselage joint is just perfect, without use of filler.






Have also begun to work on the engine, assembly was fairly quick and easy, but taking into account, that I'm making a late Ki-43 II, without the cooler behind the propeller, OOB would look not well. Therefore some cables will be added.



Best regards
Hubert
rdt1953
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: February 06, 2015
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Posted: Tuesday, May 30, 2017 - 03:36 PM UTC
Hubert - nice to see an update. I'll be watching your panel technique with interest .

Cheers - Richard
Kendzior
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Krakow, Poland
Joined: January 29, 2016
KitMaker: 96 posts
AeroScale: 91 posts
Posted: Sunday, August 06, 2017 - 07:29 PM UTC
More than two months since my last update here - and the progress is really rather slow. Hard to explain, why...
Anyway, at last I have fitted the engine and its cowling in place - now one can really see, that Hayabusa is a beautiful fighter airplane, with its clean and delicate lines. Lovely.











The next thing to be decided (and the factor that slows me down) is the painting scheme... can't find any good photo or drawing with the "Racoon special" inscription for the captured machine I was going to build... there are some decals in 1:48th, but no way to get a high resolution photo of the sheet in the net.



Any help would be highly appreciated

Best regards
Hubert
GastonMarty
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Quebec, Canada
Joined: April 19, 2008
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Posted: Wednesday, August 09, 2017 - 12:28 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Thanks, Mates
That was a beautiful machine, however not a very good fighter, at least according to some Japanese pilots' opinions.




The Ki-43-1 had structural problems in the wings and could not do harsh high speed maneuvers (they put a spring the control cables to alleviate this). The Ki-43-II solved these problems and had more kills than all other Japanese Army aircrafts combined.

I even heard this included the Navy aircrafts, but I find this hard to believe... There are many Ki-43 aces, and the II and III were kept in production to 1945...

The twin 12.7 mm nose machineguns had explosive rounds that were very effective, making much larger holes, but the Browning system did not like synchronizing with props, so the rate of fire could have been 900 rpm in the wings, but was only 500 rpm in the nose...

The Ki-61 is likely the next highest scoring Army fighter, as the Ki-83 was so hampered by reliability it was called "the pilot killer"... That is, killer of its own pilot... Its legs would break on landing and many other problems...

Gaston

Kendzior
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Krakow, Poland
Joined: January 29, 2016
KitMaker: 96 posts
AeroScale: 91 posts
Posted: Sunday, November 05, 2017 - 04:09 AM UTC
Well, it's been a while, time for an update.
Duraluminium is from Vallejo, Gunze's glossy clear followed, but first I sprayed the wheel wells and internal part of the canopy frames with the Tamiya's aotake.













The decals will follow soon.
Hope you like it

Best regards
Hubert
Merlin
Staff MemberSenior Editor
AEROSCALE
#017
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United Kingdom
Joined: June 11, 2003
KitMaker: 17,582 posts
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Posted: Sunday, November 05, 2017 - 03:48 PM UTC
Hi Hubert

That's a beautiful metal finish. I've never used Vallejo's metallics but, seeing this, I may well give them a try.

All the best

Rowan
Joel_W
Staff MemberAssociate Editor
AUTOMODELER
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New York, United States
Joined: December 04, 2010
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Posted: Wednesday, November 08, 2017 - 08:28 AM UTC
Hubert,
Now that's one really impressive NMF.

Joel
JPTRR
Staff MemberManaging Editor
RAILROAD MODELING
#051
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Tennessee, United States
Joined: December 21, 2002
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Posted: Wednesday, November 08, 2017 - 08:54 AM UTC
Hi Hubert

Quoted Text

That's a beautiful metal finish. I've never used Vallejo's metallics but, seeing this, I may well give them a try.



Me too!

I've been lurking thsi blog and love to see these Hayabusha. I built the 1/32 long ago - it was my first attempt at spray painting camo - painted green, then attached cotton balls, then rattle can of silver. Learned that in a Revell modeling magazine! Anyone remember that Airfix put them out, too?

I am amazed at the level of detail and the fit. Didn't recall that. Is the instrument dial faces the kit or aftermarket faces?

Post more, please!
rdt1953
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: February 06, 2015
KitMaker: 1,098 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, November 08, 2017 - 04:34 PM UTC
Hubert - Nice to see you back at it ! Love the finish!

Richard
Kendzior
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Krakow, Poland
Joined: January 29, 2016
KitMaker: 96 posts
AeroScale: 91 posts
Posted: Sunday, November 12, 2017 - 02:21 PM UTC
Thanks, Mates .
The instrument panel is from old Eduard's etched brass.

The fit is surprisingly good, provided that one tries three times before the glue. And it was also a good idea to install the upper parts of the wings to the fuselage and then the lower part.

The little Hayabusa also has received some attention, mainly working on the cockpit. Hope in the end it will look busy enough to leave the canopy open.













Stay tuned

Best regards
Hubert
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