FEResin 1/144 Ki-27 (Nate) Kit First Look
By Michael Benolkin
| Date of Review | June 2007 | Manufacturer | FEResin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | Ki-27 (Nate) | Scale | 1/144 |
| Kit Number | 144030 | Primary Media | Resin, Vac |
| Pros | Excellent casting and details! | Cons | |
| Skill Level | Intermediate | MSRP (USD) | $17.68 |
First Look
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The Nakajima Ki-27 was the Imperial Japanese Army's first monoplane fighter and designed with simplicity in mind. The aircraft was a fixed gear aircraft that was powered by a 650 horsepower radial engine and armed with a pair of 7.7mm machine guns. Entering service in 1937, the aircraft was action against the I-15 and I-16 in the brief war with the Soviets in 1939.
Despite the aircraft's excellent maneuverability and low wing loading, the aircraft lacked armor protection and self-sealing fuel tanks. The aircraft was also not designed for high speeds, so Soviet pilots could simple dive clear of the Ki-27 and re-engage on their terms.
The Ki-27 was phased out of Army service by the Nakajima Ki-43 (Oscar) starting in 1941 and would countinue to serve as a training aircraft at Japanese flying schools and as a fighter with the Thai and Manchukuo air forces.
FEResin has released the Ki-27 in 1/144 scale - in resin! This kit is molded in tan resin and consists of 25 parts, plus two vacuformed canopies. The casting quality is exquisite.
The fuselage is hollow-cast and the kit provides an interior. The interior consists of a cockpit floor, rear bulkhead w/pilot's seat, control yoke, and instrument panel.
The wings and tail surfaces are molded separately so some care will be required to get the wing dihedral right and to get the tail squared up properly.
The radial engine is cast separately and the propeller is cast as one unit.
Two sets of main landing gear struts are provided, the open type used on the Ko and the enclosed spats used on the Otsu.
Like most of the better resin kits out there, this one has two vacuformed canopies - one to mess up and one for the finished model.
Markings are provided for two aircraft:
- Ki-27a Ko, 1 Sentai/2 Chutai, Nomonchan, 1939
- Ki-27b Ostu, 24 Sentai/2 Chutai, Luzon, Philippines, 1941
This is an impressive little kit that will go together quickly, though it should be attempted by modelers with some skills working with small resin parts and cyanoacrylate adhesives.
My sincere thanks to Hobbyshop.cz for this review sample!