Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa...

The Ki-43 was the aircraft selected by the Imperial Japanese Army for fighting and attack duties instead of the Kawasaki Zero selected by the Navy at the beginning of forties. This was an extraordinary plane, dependable and maneuverable as the Zero was. The only criticism was about its light armament and the lack of protection for pilot and fuel. But, at the beginning of the Pacific War this did not seem to be a problem in attention to capabilities of allied fighters and bomber at that time. Moreover, the training of the pilots was superb and unrivaled.

But, the concept of agility as the overall point of view became obsolete in just a couple of years. This, and the inability of Japanese industry to produce machines in big quantities as the pilots schools to supply the increasingly level of experienced pilots loses, seal the fate of Japan in the war.

This is the old Fujimi 1/48 scale kit of Ki-43II. Good level of details, perhaps a little exaggerated in the rivets representation, by means of little holes in fuselage and wings, but the effect is superb in the shelf.