The
Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (Allied code name 'Frank') was one of Japan's finest
fighters of WW II. It was fast, highly manoeuvrable and well-armed so it was a
match for all Allied fighters it faced. It also had the high-altitude
performance required to intercept B-29 bombers. Designed in 1942, it entered
service in April 1943 but late war shortages of fuel, skilled pilots and
technicians etc meant that it never realised its full potential. Over 3500 were
built.
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The
Hasegawa 1:72 kit is a one of their last raised line models and has a
combination of raised and recessed panel lines, mostly raised. Typical of
Hasegawa, the cockpit is pretty bland but since the kit has only a one-piece
closed canopy, it's adequate. The sprues are flash-free, and the construction is
simple, conventional and poses no problems.