Arma Hobby 1/72 scale Nakajima Ki-43 II Hayabusa plastic model kit review

The new Arma Hobby 1/72 scale Nakajima Ki-43 II Hayabusa plastic model kit features a total of 77 parts molded in gray and clear plastic with crisp recessed panel lines and surface details. There is a QR code in the instructions for access to a 3D-printing file for alternate parts. Die-cut masks and a decal sheet with three marking options are also supplied.

First taking to the air in 1939, the Ki-43 Hayabusa was a mainstay of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service. Referred to as the “Oscar” by the U.S., it was quick and nimble but at the cost of light armament and almost no armor. The Ki-43 II added armor for the pilot, strengthened the wings, and upgraded to a more powerful engine with a two-stage supercharger.

Because of slight differences between the three variants in the kit, scan the instructions first to decide which you wish to build. Next, add the appropriate holes in the lower wing if you want to include drop tanks. Then, attach the upper wing, which consists of the cockpit floor and several details not to be missed. Decals for the instrument panel and several placards for the cockpit sides spruce up the balance of the parts. Some of the parts are delicate and require care to remove them from the sprues without damage.

In its attempt at getting the tail as thin as possible, the kit had a good amount of flash around the rudder that needed to be removed. After some minor filling and cleanup, the fuselage mated to the wing assembly. There was a minor spot at the front of the wing root where a tiny bit of filler was needed. Other than that, the fit was excellent. At the front, there are two different cowl panels and exhaust manifolds and maybe a little carving, depending on which version you choose.

Each row of the Nakajima radial engine is molded separately and has exquisite detail. The push rod tubes are split into upper and lower pieces, and unfortunately, one of mine was broken off. Instead of replacing it, I hid it behind the propeller. The only place I deviated from the instructions was assembling the four-part cowl. I attached the lower and side pieces to the cowl flaps before installing the engine and finished with the upper cowl piece. That seemed easier than mounting the engine and building the cowl around it.

The white band decals went over Tamiya Silver (No. LP-11) without issue. The yellow for the leading edges worked well, and the canopy masks fit perfectly.

The main landing gear fit snugly into their recesses for a solid join. The drop-tank pylons were slightly disconcerting: You must twist the stabilizing yolks 90 degrees from their molded positions. It worked, but I wouldn't want to press my luck with much tweaking.

I probably spent a little less time than normal completing the Arma Hobby 1/72 scale Nakajima Ki-43 II Hayabusa plastic model kit. The single color scheme and few markings helped, but the overall kit quality sped the process along. Everything went together exactly as expected. I would reserve recommending it to intermediate modelers because of the delicate molding of some of the parts. But if you’ve got a few model kits under your belt, definitely give this one a go.