1:32 Ki-84 Hayate

The Hayate in the defense of the Japanese islands

In the autumn of 1944 the focus of the type shifted from supporting ground fighting to the defense of home territory. Sentai equipped with this machine climbed against formations of four-engine bombers, and for that role both the armament and the equipment changed: lightened examples with some of the armor removed, different propellers, and above all conspicuous identification markings so that the anti-aircraft crews would recognize their own fighter before opening fire.

That is where the richer markings of the late aircraft come from. Besides the discs on the wings and fuselage, white surrounds were added around them, and units defending the homeland added bands around the rear fuselage. The higher number of insignia masks in this set matches exactly such a richly marked subject; the more modest sheets for this type carry three. The camouflage stayed dark green, and on aircraft from the end of the war it was often only carelessly sprayed over bare metal.

Overview of the parts

• Five masks for the national insignia, including the wing positions
• Two films for the canopy glazing, outside and inside
• A format cut for the large 1:32 scale
• Without paints and without plastic components

With a richly marked subject it pays to spray the insignia only once the camouflage has dried and the surface has been lightly polished, so that the film does not adhere imperfectly to a grainy finish. A white surround can be made by spraying the whole disc in the light shade first and then adding a smaller circle in the mask for the red.