1/72 Special Hobby Nakajima Ki-43-III French Air Force in Indochina

[VG 33]

Hello

 

Here is my new finished kit with this 1/72 Special Hobby Nakajima Ki-43-III when used by the Armée de l'air (French Air Force) in Indochina between December 1945 and February 1946. The GC I/7 Provence stationed at Po Chen Tong near Phnom Penh when they used less than a dozen former Japanese Army Air Force Nakajima fighters. There were many accidents and after a couple of months they were replaced by Supermarine Spitfire Mk IX, and this is another story.

 

The kit is easy to assemble. For the very worn effect I painted first the kit with Alclad Duralumin. Next I applied with a piece of sponge some masking fluid before airbrushing the dark green. After one hour I peeled off the paint with the finger. I made the same for the yellow identification markings. I saw on the pictures that the metal blades of the propeller were in perfect conditions. 

 

The transfers came from two sheets on the subject by Printscale. I say two because the transfers are too thin and after the first I could see the mottle effect through the white and red transfers. Then I bought another sheet to put exactly a second layer of the same transfers.

 

Patrick

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 27, 2017 by VG 33

[JWM]

Patric, fantastic result  of this worn paint !

Regards

J-W

 

[Antoine]

Very nice, Patrick.

[pizzapaolo]

Great model, I had no idea that KI-43's were used after the war.

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Very good looking Ki-43 👍 ... i forgot about the French using the left over Japanese planes.

[Val_Ukraine]

WOW! Very nice effort on the worn surface of that Ki-43!  I have the Special Hobby Ki-43 kit on my shelf of Doom and you've inspired me to start its assembly. 

[russ c]

Really nice French Oscar there Patrick, beautiful job

[Spitfire31]

Very convincing finish! And I like the point about the prop being in 'as new' condition.

 

Slick modelling!

 

Kind regards,

 

Joachim

[RidgeRunner]

18 hours ago, VG 33 said:

I say two because the transfers are too thin and after the first I could see the mottle effetc through the white and red transfers.

 

Oh dear, Printscale strikes again!

 

A very nice model, by the way.

 

Martin

 

[John Masters]

Very cool!

[fernandocouto]

Excellent painting work!

[Dazey]

On 9/25/2017 at 3:58 AM, VG 33 said:

The transfers came from two sheets on the subject by Printscale. I say two because the transfers are too thin and after the first I could see the mottle effetc through the white and red transfers. Then I bought anpther sheet to put exactly another layer of the same transfers.

 

Patrick

Hi Patrick,

 

Your Oscar looks fantastic! It also looks better with the second set of decals put on... 

 

The Special Hobby kit looks better than the old Fujimi ones (and you've done it justice). I wonder if SH do an early Oscar.

 

Regards,

David

[RidgeRunner]

On ‎24‎/‎09‎/‎2017 at 6:58 PM, VG 33 said:

Next I applied with a piece of sponge some masking fluid before airbrushing the dark green. After one hour I peeled off the paint withy the finger.

a nice technique

 

martin

[JWM]

On 24.09.2017 at 7:58 PM, VG 33 said:

I saw on the pictures that the metal blades of the propeller were in perfect conditions. 

I just realized, that after V-J day all props were removed from Japan planes, perhaps later, when incorporated to FAF the new prop was mounted on, not the original one. BTW - should't be prop red-brown as in many Japan a/c?

Cheers

J-W

[Vultures1]

Fantastic worn paint effect and a great result all round

[VG 33]

1 hour ago, JWM said:

I just realized, that after V-J day all props were removed from Japan planes, perhaps later, when incorporated to FAF the new prop was mounted on, not the original one. BTW - should't be prop red-brown as in many Japan a/c?

Cheers

J-W

 

Actually I do not know and some could have been dark green so...

On the picture we cannot see the propeller anyway.

 

Patrick

[Marc06320]

Great job! Well done Patrick!