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James C
Finally got around to making a start on the paint work.
Taking a little longer to dry due to the cooler temperatures at present, so hope to spray the dark green on the upper surfaces tomorrow.

Mark Sherwood
Built this, nice kit. I'm in.

James C
Thanks Mark 🙂

I have since sprayed the green onto the upper surfaces, installed the landing gear and sealed the paintwork under a coat of Tamiya X-22 clear gloss.
Once it has properly cured, I will make a start on the decals.

Guillaume Blanchet
Looking great! Does this kits have raise or recess panels lines?

Guy Rump
Looking good James. 👍

James C
Thanks guys 🙂

@ Guillaume - The wings, engine cowling and forward fuselage are all engraved, but it has raised panel lines on the rear fuselage.
Decals are very old and thick which chipped laying down over the aileron hinges.

Guillaume Blanchet
Tkanks for the informations. I migth get myself one of these cheap kit one day.

John
@ Guillaume I second James' recommendation. The detail in the cockpit is...minimal shall we say, but if you build it with closed canopy, it won't make much difference unless you are one of the "at least I know it is there" detailers. 😉

It's a good, cheap kit that is fun to practice techniques on but it could use some better decals like James says, or you can just paint the markings and use the smaller kit decals.

Guillaume Blanchet
Nice to know. I did build the cheap Tamiya Zero kit a while a goes. I used the raised panels line to guide me wile I engraved them with my tool. It was a long process and the result was ok. I'm looking of a new challenge, I'll know where to look 😉 .

James C
The Ki-84, also known as the "Hayate" (Gale) in Japanese (Allied codename "Frank") was a formidable World War II fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF). It is regarded as one of Japan's best fighters of the war, renowned for its speed, agility, and firepower.

The Ki-84 was developed by Kawasaki Aircraft Industries during the latter stages of World War II in response to the increasing Allied air superiority in the Pacific theater.
Its development began in 1942 as the Japanese Imperial Army Air Force (IJAAF) sought a successor to the Ki-61 Hien, which was plagued by structural weaknesses and engine reliability issues. It first flew in March of 1943.

The need for a new fighter arose from the shortcomings of the Ki-61 and the threat posed by advanced Allied fighters like the P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang as well as to counter American bombers like the B-29 Superfortress.
The IJAAF issued a specification calling for a fast, maneuverable fighter capable of competing with Allied designs.

Kawasaki's design team, led by Takeo Doi, aimed to create a robust and agile aircraft.
The Ki-84 was designed around the Ha-45 engine, a powerful Japanese radial engine known for its reliability and performance.
It incorporated several advanced features for its time, including a bubble canopy for improved visibility, a streamlined fuselage for reduced drag, and an advanced armament layout.
Initial production was delayed due to difficulties in engine production and shortages of strategic materials (common issues faced by Japanese aircraft manufacturers during the latter stages of the war)

The Ki-84 was first introduced in 1944 and quickly gained a reputation as one of the fastest and most maneuverable fighters in the Japanese arsenal.
It was deployed in defense of the Japanese home islands and saw action in the Philippines, Okinawa, and other Pacific battlegrounds.

Its sleek design, powered by the powerful Nakajima Ha-45 engine, allowed it to reach speeds of up to 600 km/h, making it one of the fastest aircraft of its time.
The aircraft was also known for its impressive climbing ability, reaching altitudes of over 11,000 meters in just a matter of minutes.

In combat, the Ki-84 proved to be a capable dogfighter, able to outmaneuver and outgun its American and Allied counterparts.
Pilots praised its handling characteristics and its ability to absorb punishment in the heat of battle.

Several variants of the Ki-84 were developed, including specialized versions for ground attack and reconnaissance missions.
These variants reflected the adaptability of the basic airframe and the changing needs of the IJAAF as the war progressed.

Specifications:

Crew: 1 (pilot)
Length: 9.92 meters (32 ft 6 in)
Wingspan: 11.22 meters (36 ft 10 in)
Height: 3.38 meters (11 ft 1 in)
Empty weight: Around 2,900 kg (6,393 lbs)
Max takeoff weight: Approximately 4,100 kg (9,039 lbs)

Powerplant:

Engine: Nakajima Ha-45 radial engine
Power: Typically 1,900 to 2,000 hp depending on the variant

Performance:

Maximum speed: Approximately 624 km/h (387 mph) at altitude
Range: About 1,700 km (1,056 miles)
Service ceiling: Around 11,000 meters (36,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 19 meters per second (3,740 ft/min)

Armament:

Guns: Usually armed with two 20 mm Ho-5 cannons and two 12.7 mm Ho-103 machine guns (later models could have variations in armament configurations).

Optional Armament: Some variants could carry additional armament such as bombs or rockets for ground attack missions, showcasing its versatility.

The Ki-84 earned a reputation for its exceptional performance in aerial combat, often outperforming contemporary Allied fighters in terms of speed, agility, and firepower.
Japanese and Allied pilots alike respected the Ki-84 for its robust design and formidable combat capabilities. Its excellent handling characteristics made it a favorite among its pilots.

Despite its late introduction and limited production numbers compared to Allied counterparts, the Ki-84 remains a symbol of Japanese engineering prowess and determination during the later stages of World War II.

However, the Ki-84 was not without its flaws.
Its high-performance engine was prone to overheating, leading to frequent maintenance issues and a high attrition rate among aircraft.
Additionally, the aircraft's fuel consumption was high, limiting its operational range and endurance.

The Ki-84 Hayate, or "Frank," stands as a testament to Japanese innovation in fighter aircraft design during World War II. Developed to counter Allied air superiority in the Pacific, it combined speed, agility, and firepower in a formidable package.

Although production challenges and material shortages limited its impact compared to Allied fighters, the Ki-84 left a lasting legacy in the annals of aviation history as one of Japan's finest fighters. Its performance data and historical context illustrate its pivotal role in the war effort and its enduring significance in the study of military aviation.

This model depicts a Ki-84 Hayate as flown by:
Staff Sgt. Joten Naito
Kurai Unit, 502 Temporary Interception Corps 24
Nakatsu Airfield, Fukuoka Japan
March 1945

The large white backgrounds beneath the roundels were commonly used on Japanese aircraft when flying in defense of the home Islands.
Their primary purpose was for ease of identification for anti-aircraft gunners to reduce the chances of friendly fire incidents.

Thanks for following 🙂

Neuling
Thanks for showing/telling! 👍👍

Mark Sherwood
I agree with Neuling nice rendition of the Hayate. 🤟🥸🤘

James C
Thanks guys. 🙂

The chipping didn't pan out as I had wanted, so next time will use a silver base coat with chipping fluid instead.

Juskifo
nice work

Doubtingmango
Beautiful job!

Maciej Bellos
Watching!

Giorgos
Also watching!

I am curious to see your choice for the level of weathering 🙂 So far all the photos of the HAF Rafales show them rather clean 🙂

Patrick Hagelstein
Following too! 🇬🇷

Jos Jansen
Iam in...!

tyu
Looking forward seeing this build as I have several of your project aftermarket bits too. It seems a lot of blending of the BAM parts is required, correct?

Patrick Hagelstein
Nice color! 👍 Is it correct that Greece opted for a darker shade of grey than the original French color?

Pantelis Antonoglou
Thank you gentlemen for your kind words. For a HAF Rafale you need almost all the BAM resins like the vents on the vertical fin, new wingtip mica launchers, new HUD, some extra RAM panels, replace the engine intakes etc. The grey camo is really confusing due to dramatic changes according the lighting. So in order to be "correct" i did my own mix of XF-54 Dark Sea Grey with H-308 in 70:30 respectively. You can use also MRP-279 (FS36293)

Mark de Boer
Wow, you went all out on the extra's. Gonna be a looker. Following.

S B
Very beautiful!!!!

Giorgos
Very nice!!! Congrats!!!

Pantelis Antonoglou
Thank you very much!!

Juskifo
nice hellenic fighter