Hasegawa 19180 1/48 Nakajima Ki43I Hayabusa 'Oscar' Japanese Army Fighter

Model Kit

The Nakajima Ki-43-I Hayabusa “Oscar” was a primary fighter of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force during the early years of World War II. Known to Allied forces by the reporting name “Oscar”, the Ki-43-I was highly maneuverable, lightweight, and optimized for dogfighting, though it lacked heavy armor and self-sealing fuel tanks. Powered by a Nakajima Ha-25 radial engine and armed with two 12.7 mm machine guns, it excelled in agility-based combat over the Pacific and China fronts. Its slim profile, long wingspan, and nimble handling made it a formidable adversary in the skies, representing Japan’s focus on speed and maneuverability in fighter design.

Hasegawa is well known for producing high-quality, highly detailed model kits across a wide range of subjects. They’ve been in the hobby industry since the early 1960s and have a reputation for sharp mold quality, accurate scaling, and interesting kit subjects.