The First Bird That Revolutionized Japanese Aviation Technology. Its Name Is "Hayabusa"

In my last post, I touched on the topic of airplane plastic models, and while I'm still in that mood, I'd like to introduce some in a retrospective mode. That said, the actual models are dusty and in a sorry state, so I'll be using photos I took in the past, processed to look a bit more artistic. This time, it's the variations of the Type 1 Fighter "Hayabusa" (Peregrine Falcon), which was the flagship of the Imperial Japanese Army during the Pacific War.

◉ The Arii version I picked up first

This is the kit that invited me into the world of airplane plastic models, which I introduced in my last post. It's Arii's 1/72 Nakajima Ki-43-I Type 1 Fighter "Hayabusa" Type Ko. As mentioned before, it's a kit that's meant to be "played with" by moving parts, and I imagine the flaps and rudders eventually became loose and started dangling (not to mention that various other parts were likely to snap or fall off). I built mine with the moving parts fixed in place for display. The line stretched from the front strut to the tail is the antenna wire for communication, which I made myself using special fishing line. That's about the only modification I made using parts not included in the kit.

The markings are for the aircraft of Lieutenant Colonel Takeo Kato, commander of the 64th Flight Regiment, which became famous as the "Kato Hayabusa Fighter Wing." The Kato unit was one of the first to be equipped with the "Hayabusa," and it was through them that the potential of the "Hayabusa" was drawn out. At first, the "Hayabusa" was terribly underestimated.

One of the reasons I like Army aircraft is that each pilot and unit has unique, personality-filled markings. It reminds me of how the skilled pilots of the Zeon forces, starting with Char, each had their own dedicated colors and marks on their machines. On the other hand, the Navy didn't seem to allow such playfulness, so they were incredibly plain. I learned that even in the military of the same country, such differences reveal the variations in the philosophy and ideals of the units. Like with Commander Kato's plane, I have the impression that many people liked to use sharp arrows. The kit also includes decals for a 2nd Squadron plane of the same 64th Flight Regiment, and that one has red arrows with white outlines on the tail. As I wrote last time, my chipping (a technique to express paint peeling) was too poor because I wasn't used to it, which only increased the toy-like appearance.

◉ Thinking I would just master the "Hayabusa"...

Actually, this is where I entered a whirlwind "Hayabusa" production campaign. I wanted to understand the general parts composition and assembly procedure of airplane kits, so I thought I would repeat it many times to learn. Fortunately, the "Hayabusa" has variations of different types that sell well, and multiple manufacturers sell them, so it was perfect.

The 1/72 Nakajima Ki-43-II Type 1 Fighter "Hayabusa" Type Otsu sold by the same Arii has about 200 more horsepower in its engine compared to the aforementioned <Type Ko>. Along with that, the propeller blades have increased from two to three, and the length of the main wings has been slightly extended. The armament was also powered up, and as a result, this type was produced the most. It's a machine that protected the skies of Japan during the Great War. If the Zero was an offender heading toward enemy lines, the Hayabusa felt like a reliable defender intercepting enemy attacks.

The markings are for the aircraft of Major Toshio Sakagawa of the 25th Flight Regiment. The manual stated, "The stripes (of the decals) can be confirmed in photos, etc., but since there are many unknown points such as color, we have done it this way for now." At the time, battlefield photos were basically black and white, so it's hard to find definitive materials. I also like the sentence that follows the previous text: "If anyone knows about these stripes, we would appreciate it if you could let our company know." It has a laid-back Showa-era feel to it (laughs). Regardless of the truth about the stripes, the "00" on the tail looks cool, like that guy from a certain anime who says, "I am Gundam!"

◉ Hasegawa's "Hayabusa," the leader of Japanese airplane plastic models

For my third "Hayabusa," I chose a kit from Hasegawa, which boasts an overwhelming history and lineup in Japanese airplane plastic models. The Nakajima Ki-43 Type 1 Fighter "Hayabusa" Type II is an old-timer that went on sale in 1982 (Showa 57), but the quality is what you'd expect, and it's a very easy-to-build kit. I'd recommend it to anyone who thinks, "I'd like to try airplane plastic models from now on." I think you can properly learn both the fun and the difficulty of airplanes.

The big difference in parts composition is, of course, that the flaps, rudders, and canopy are fixed. Also, although simple, there are cockpit interior parts, and the control stick and instrument panel are reproduced. In the Arii version, the seat is molded together with the pilot, but here it is a separate part. However, the Hasegawa version does not include a pilot figure. Likes and dislikes seem to be divided around here. Also, since the main landing gear struts and covers are separate parts, Hasegawa seems to win in terms of ease of painting, while Arii wins in terms of ease of assembly.

The painting plan is different from the Arii version, with two patterns prepared: the aircraft of Sergeant Satoshi Anabuki, who called himself "White Lightning Fighter Anabuki", of the 3rd Squadron, 50th Flight Regiment, and the aircraft of Sergeant Major Tomio Hirohata of the 3rd Squadron, 59th Flight Regiment. I simply chose the Anabuki plane that was introduced first. What was difficult was the mottled camouflage painting applied to the entire upper surface. Since it was a machine used on the New Guinea front, such camouflage must have been effective when flying over the jungle or when parked. I don't have expensive equipment like an airbrush, so I painted it by tapping with the tip of a brush. I remember being quite nervous about the amount of paint and how hard I tapped the brush. The markings on the Anabuki plane are cool, with the white lightning bolt that the Sergeant himself thought of and drew, fully asserting itself in line with his nickname (laughs). Under the tail, it says "Fubuki" (Blizzard), which is the name Sergeant Anabuki gave to his beloved machine. Later, he named the machine he switched to "Kimikaze" after his wife, Kimiko, so Sergeant Anabuki is really like the protagonist of a hero manga. It's interesting how even the same model number gives off a completely different charm just by changing the paint and markings.

◉ A crystallization of new technology that is sadly beautiful, that is a fighter plane

The last "Hayabusa" is a kit from Fujimi Mokei. Fujimi is also a manufacturer that works hard on airplane plastic models. This is the same Nakajima Ki-43-I Type 1 Fighter "Hayabusa" as Arii. It's the one before the power-up.

The parts composition is almost the same as Hasegawa's, but the machine gun port on the top of the cowling and the exhaust pipe are separate parts, which further improves the three-dimensional effect.

Perhaps the biggest selling point of the Fujimi version, as you can see in the photos, is that it comes with decals for the red lightning markings that stand out against the shiny silver body (Alclad finish: duralumin coated with aluminum foil). This represents the 1st Company of the 59th Flight Regiment in China. It is said to be the very early visual appearance from when they first received the "Hayabusa," around the same time as the Kato Squadron. Am I the only one who thinks the sharp lightning line exudes a dignified strength with no wasted effort? Personally, it is my favorite coloring among the four aircraft. For the paint job, rather than just painting it a flat, single shade of silver, I painted it using three or four different shades of silver for each panel mold, and the flaps and rudder sections were painted in a canvas-like color.

So, there you have it—four different "Hayabusa" aircraft. Although the box art and assembly instructions for all of them state they are 1/72 scale, it is actually known that only the Arii version was originally manufactured and sold as 1/75 scale. That said, at this size, it is within the margin of error, so they don't look out of place when lined up together.

I will likely throw away the finished models I have on hand now, but it is a beautiful aircraft that makes me think, "I wouldn't mind buying and building these again." However, the engineer who designed it, Yasushi Koyama, never designed another aircraft, or even an automobile, after the war. Despite being a person who led the pre-war Japanese aircraft industry, unlike Jiro Horikoshi, who designed the Zero, he reportedly never appeared on the public stage.

After the war, he left behind these words:

From those words, I feel his regret that such excellent aircraft were used as weapons. Sometimes, when I praise the design or technology of these fighters, some people accuse me of being a war apologist, but I personally think that one thing is one thing, and another is another...

It seems the kit I introduced is still in the Hasegawa lineup, but it is highly likely that the others are discontinued. I think you could still find them if you look for dead stock.