#103 Nakajima Ki-27

Building the ICM Nakajima Ki-27a kit in 1:72 scale (no electronics in this one).

Build

Notes

The Nakajima Ki-27 (九七式戦闘機 Type 97 Fighter) was the main fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service from 1937 to 1940. Its Allied nickname was “Nate”.

Ki-27a had excellent maneuverability and was serious enemy for Soviet-built I-15bis and I-16 fighters in air battles over China and Mongolia in 1938-1939.

Some Resources

Nakajima Ki-27

The Nimble “Nate” [Aircraft Overview #14] - Rex’s Hangar

Ki-27 - Japan’s Ultra Agile Fighter - AllthingsWW2

build by まり模型

Scheme A (selected scheme)

Кi-27а, 1. Sentai Commander Toshio Kato, Nomonhan, June 1939.

Feature	Color	Recommended	Paint Used
A	flat black	Model Master 1749	H12
B fuselage	IJA light gray	Model Master 2115	H61
C engine cowling	Insignia Red	Model Master 1705	H13
D engine ring	Insignia Yellow	Model Master 1708	H4
E tail	Bright Blue	Model Master 2032	H25
F prop	Military Brown	Model Master 1701	H17
G interior	Pale Green	Model Master 1716	C127
H	Steel	Model Master 1780
J	Aluminium	Model Master 1781
K	Gun Metal	Model Master 1795
L	Rust	Model Master 1785
M	Bright Brass	Model Master 1782
tires	Tire Black		H77

Scheme B

Кi-27а, 84. Dokuritsu Tutai, China, 1939.

Feature	Color	Recommended
A	flat black	Model Master 1749
B fuselage	IJA light gray	Model Master 2115
C engine cowling	Insignia Red	Model Master 1705
D	Insignia Yellow	Model Master 1708
E	Bright Blue	Model Master 2032
F prop rear	Military Brown	Model Master 1701
G interior	Pale Green	Model Master 1716
H	Steel	Model Master 1780
J prop front	Aluminium	Model Master 1781
K	Gun Metal	Model Master 1795
L	Rust	Model Master 1785
M	Bright Brass	Model Master 1782

Scheme C

Кi-27а, 10.Tutai, China, April 1940.

Feature	Color	Recommended
A tail	flat black	Model Master 1749
B fuselage	IJA light gray	Model Master 2115
C engine cowling	Insignia Red	Model Master 1705
D	Insignia Yellow	Model Master 1708
E	Bright Blue	Model Master 2032
F prop	Military Brown	Model Master 1701
G interior	Pale Green	Model Master 1716
H	Steel	Model Master 1780
J prop hub	Aluminium	Model Master 1781
K	Gun Metal	Model Master 1795
L	Rust	Model Master 1785
M	Bright Brass	Model Master 1782

Scheme D

Ki-27a, 59. Sentai, 2. Tutai, Nomonhan, June 1939.

Feature	Color	Recommended
A	flat black	Model Master 1749
B fuselage	IJA light gray	Model Master 2115
C	Insignia Red	Model Master 1705
D	Insignia Yellow	Model Master 1708
E	Bright Blue	Model Master 2032
F prop	Military Brown	Model Master 1701
G interior	Pale Green	Model Master 1716
H	Steel	Model Master 1780
J prop hub	Aluminium	Model Master 1781
K	Gun Metal	Model Master 1795
L	Rust	Model Master 1785
M	Bright Brass	Model Master 1782

Build Log

build01a build01b

build02a build02b

build03a build03b

build04a build04b build04c build04d

The Nakajima Ki-27 九七式戦闘機 was the main IJA fighter from 1937 to 1940, quite evenly matched with Soviet-built I-15bis and I-16 fighters in air battles over China and Mongolia in 1938-1939.

This is the ICM kit of the Ki-27a in 1:72 (ICM 72201). This is one of ICM’s earlier releases, but the kit is still a pleasure to build - fits reasonably well, and details are good for the scale. It was a great kit to squeeze in as a refresher between more challenging/involved builds.

ICM is one of the leading kit companies from Ukraine. Valeriia Buzina from ICM told their story in Episode 13 of the Models From Ukraine podcast hosted by @chris.meddings, and their diverse catalog is well represented in Models for Ukraine Vol 1 and 2: including my favourite build by Matt McDougal of the ICM OV-10A Bronco (check the grungy rocket pods!)

build05a build05b build05c build05d build05e build05f build05g