Nakajima
Ki-84 "Hayate" Decals

Sky Models Decals

Reviewed by Brett Green

I have built a few Japanese aircraft over my modelling lifetime, but they are not my main area of interest. However, when I saw the colourful new sheet of markings for the 1/48 scale Ki-84 "Hayate" from Sky Decals, Japanese aircraft suddenly grabbed my attention!

There are three choices for building a Ki-84 in 1/48 scale. Two of them are older kits from Tamiya and ARII/Otaki, and both have their share of problems. The recent Hasegawa Ki-84 has received rave reviews on HyperScale, so I decided that it would be no less than my duty to go out and buy this kit in the interests of conducting a thorough review of the new decals. At least that is what I will tell my wife if she asks why I have brought more plastic home to add to the pile.

My first glance at the Hasegawa Hayate confirmed the impressions of other reviewers - this is a simply superb kit. The cockpit detail is truly outstanding. The seat even has a very nice looking moulded on harness. This might just be Hasegawa's finest recent release, and one that does not need any after-market detail sets.

Decals, however, will never go astray to add individuality to a high-quality model.

Sky Decals' Ki-84 Hayate decals delivers individuality with a capital "I". Markings for twenty different arcraft are packed onto the single decal sheet. Although the camouflage colours may appear reasonably standard greens and browns, the wild tail markings in orange, red, yellow and white; combined with fuselage flashes and widely varying numbering; will really customise your Hasegawa kit.

Ten Hinomorus are included, as are wing walk markings with options for red and yellow. You'll have to paint the yellow wing leading edge markings yourself.

The decals are printed by Cartograf of Italy. As with other decal sets in this series, the printing is luxurious. The decals are high gloss with negligible carrier film. Saturation is excellent despite the admirable thinness of the decals

Instructions have not been the high point of Sky Models releases to date, but these are better than most of their earlier efforts. They are printed on both sides of two sheets and folded into an eight page booklet. We only get one side view of each aircraft in black and white, but this is sufficient in most cases as we can assume that the markings are mirrored on the opposite side of the aircraft. Generic colours are called out in the booklet, and a cross-reference table is included on the last page with paint colours for FS 595B, Humbrol, Molak ( a new one for me), Tamiya, Gunze and Model Master.

Sky Models Decals' 1/48 scale Nakajima Ki-84 "Hayate" release is an impressive new decal sheet for an excellent model.

With markings for 20 aircraft, it is also outstanding value.

Recommended.

Thanks to Pacific Coast Models for the review sample.

Sky Models Decals are available from Pacific Coast Models Website

Review Copyright © 2002 by Brett Green
This Page Created on 27 December, 2002
Last updated 14 August, 2003

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