Carl_Brisgamer
01-03-2013, 05:48
My first WGS project for 2013 is a flight of three Nakajima Ki-27b 'Nate' fighters of the 3rd Chutai, 4th Sentai Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF). The Ki-27 was an extremely manouverable aircraft that entered service with the JAAF in 1937, ruling the skies over China until confronted with the more powerful later model Soviet Polikarpov I-16's in 1939. The Ki-27 was still in front line service at the start of the Pacific War in December 1941, seeing combat in Burma, Malaya, Dutch East Indies and the Phillippines. Flown by experienced combat pilots, the Ki-27 codenamed 'Nate' by the Allies, was initially an effective fighter but soon found itself outclassed by more advanced Allied aircraft. By early 1942 the 'Nate' was withdrawn from the front for training units and defence of the Japanese home islands. Like many older types the Ki-27 was also later used by 'kamikaze' units.
70151
These Ki-27b's have unit applied brown/green camouflage over the standard grey factory finish, the result of attacks on their airfields by Allied aircraft, something that was not regularly encountered in the early years of the China campaign. The decals were supplied by AIM, except the home made yellow and white fuselage stripes representing the Chutai commander's aircraft.
70150
The Nakajima Ki-27b 'Nate' was a manouverable aircraft with a top speed of 470kmh ('J' deck), ceiling of 12,250m (top altitude 13), and a fantastic climb rate of 15 m/s (climb 3). It was armed with two synchronised 7.7mm machine guns (firepower short/long A/A). It was a lightly built aircraft with no pilot armour or self sealing tanks, similar to the first generation of I-16's (damage 14).
70148
70149
Back to work on the next project - a flight of Nakajima Ki-43 'Oscars' - sneak peak below:
70152
70151
These Ki-27b's have unit applied brown/green camouflage over the standard grey factory finish, the result of attacks on their airfields by Allied aircraft, something that was not regularly encountered in the early years of the China campaign. The decals were supplied by AIM, except the home made yellow and white fuselage stripes representing the Chutai commander's aircraft.
70150
The Nakajima Ki-27b 'Nate' was a manouverable aircraft with a top speed of 470kmh ('J' deck), ceiling of 12,250m (top altitude 13), and a fantastic climb rate of 15 m/s (climb 3). It was armed with two synchronised 7.7mm machine guns (firepower short/long A/A). It was a lightly built aircraft with no pilot armour or self sealing tanks, similar to the first generation of I-16's (damage 14).
70148
70149
Back to work on the next project - a flight of Nakajima Ki-43 'Oscars' - sneak peak below:
70152