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Imperial Japanese Army Air Force · Late-War Fighter · Philippines · Okinawa · Home Defence

Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate / Frank

Ki-84-I Ko / Otsu / Hei · IJAAF Sentai · 1944–1945
IJN / IJAAF route with Kokutai, Sentai and Pacific theatre context

The Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate, known to the Allies as “Frank”, was one of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force’s best late-war fighters. Fast, heavily armed and dangerous at low to medium altitude, it fought over the Philippines, Okinawa and the Japanese home islands despite fuel, maintenance and production problems. For modellers it means a muscular late-war IJAAF fighter with Ha-45 radial, 20 mm cannon, late Sentai markings, dark green over grey or natural metal routes, heavy fading, chipping, exhaust staining and field-maintenance wear.

1
Pilot
Ha-45
Radial
20 mm
Cannon route
IJAAF
Late fighter

What paints do I need?

Generate a practical starter paint list for this Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate / Frank build, with common brand equivalents.

Scheme basis: IJN / IJAAF. Treat these as modelling equivalents rather than laboratory-perfect matches; always check your chosen aircraft, theatre and date.
ColourUseTamiyaVallejoAKMr Hobby
IJN Grey / Ame-iroEarly Zero and IJN undersidesXF-7671.311AK RC303H61/H336 mix
IJN Green / IJAAF GreenUpper camouflage green by serviceXF-11 / XF-1371.322 / 71.285AK RC330 / RC332H59 / H60
Nakajima / Mitsubishi interior greenCockpit, gear bays by makerXF-71 / XF-5 mix71.010 / 71.126AK RC334H58/H312
Aotake translucent blue-greenInterior metallic protective finish where visibleX-13 over aluminiumMetallic Blue Green mixAK RC316 style mixH63 clear mix
Prop brown / blackProps, tyres and anti-glare panelsXF-10 / XF-6971.041 / 71.057AK RC035 / RC022H17 / H12
AluminiumChipping, exposed metal and landing gearLP-1177.701AK Xtreme Metal AluminiumSM201
Exhaust/rubber/weatheringHeat staining, tyres, salt fading and oil dirtXF-1/XF-64/XF-85Black/Brown/RubberAK weathering coloursH12/H47

Ki-84 operations · 1944–1945

The Ki-84 Hayate was a major step beyond earlier IJAAF fighters: faster, stronger and better armed, but introduced when Japanese fuel, training and manufacturing quality were declining. It served in the Philippines, China, Okinawa and homeland defence, often showing hard use, rough field maintenance and late-war paint breakdown. A good Ki-84 model starts with the exact Sentai, theatre and finish: factory dark green over grey, natural metal, field-applied camouflage, late-war replacement panels or survivor/reference route.

1Pilot
Ha-45Radial
Ki-84-ICore route
20 mmCannon
Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate real reference
Real Ki-84 photo route: check Ko/Otsu/Hei fit, cannon, exhausts, Sentai markings, spinner, camouflage, Hinomaru and late-war weathering before paint.

Role & strengths

  • Imperial Japanese Army Air Force late-war fighter and interceptor
  • Philippines, China, Okinawa, Kyushu/home defence and late-war Sentai routes
  • Ha-45 radial, compact muscular airframe, 20 mm cannon and late IJAAF markings
  • Dark green over grey, natural metal, field-applied camouflage and replacement-panel routes
  • Late-war fading, chipped paint, exhaust staining, dusty gear, oil leaks and rough field repairs

Key theatres

  • Philippines fighter/interceptor route
  • China and Manchuria Sentai routes
  • Okinawa/Kyushu late-war defence routes
  • Survivor and restored-reference route

Specification Ki-84-I

Crew1Length32 ft 6 inWingspan36 ft 10 inMax speedc.392 mphPowerplant1× Nakajima Ha-45 radialArmament20 mm cannon, machine guns, bombs or drop tanks by variant

Survivor/reference today

Ki-84 Hayate survivor/reference image

Ki-84 references use survivors, restorations and period photos. Use them for shape, cockpit and landing gear, but verify wartime paint and Sentai markings separately.

View references

Timeline highlights

Build this Ki-84 as…

Pick the Sentai and theatre first. A Philippines fighter, China route, Okinawa/Kyushu defence subject, natural-metal test/early aircraft or survivor route all need different finishes.

Aircraft identity

●Hinomaru
IJAAFArmy
84Hayate
20Cannon
STSentai
LATE1944–45
Variant warning

Ki-84 Ko, Otsu and Hei armament/detail fits vary. Check gun layout, exhausts, prop/spinner and markings before committing.

Paint warning

Late-war Japanese Army finishes vary heavily. Do not apply random all-over silver chipping without photos or a clear weathering logic.

Paint scheme cards

LateDark green over grey

Core Ki-84 route with late-war fading, exhaust and tactical markings.

FieldReplacement panels and worn paint

Late-war operational route with uneven paint, repairs and chipped access zones.

Early/refNatural metal / test route

Natural metal subjects need panel variation and subtler weathering.

CombatDust, chipping and exhaust

Weather cowling, exhausts, wing roots, cannon ports, tyres and access panels logically.

Campaign cards

Philippines

Late-war fighter route with strong combat context and worn green finish.

China / Manchuria

Sentai route with theatre-specific markings and field/weathering variation.

Okinawa / Kyushu

Home defence route with rough late-war finish, fading and field repairs.

Survivor/reference

Restored/survivor route for detail checks, with paint accuracy caution.

Build difficulty and related guides

Overall difficulty

Medium-high. Airframe is manageable, but late-war finish and markings need discipline.

Variant difficulty

Medium-high. Ko/Otsu/Hei armament and detail differences matter.

Weathering difficulty

High. Late-war chipping, fading and repairs can look brilliant or quickly overdone.

Paint codesIJAAF dark green, grey undersides, natural metal and Sentai markingsTechniqueLate-war Japanese chipping, exhaust, replacement panels and field wearArticleKi-84 Hayate kits, Sentai markings and weathering guide

Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate Sentai and IJAAF units

Sortable Ki-84 cards covering Philippines, China, Okinawa, Kyushu, late-war and survivor/reference routes.

Route:Sort:

Ki-84 Hayate operating map

Variant selector

Airfield info

Click a marker to show linked Ki-84 unit cards and modelling notes.

Campaign timeline

Survivors

Books and reference sources

Ki-84 Hayate build guide

Kit choice wizard

Ki-84 Hayate videos, photos and archive material

Media replaces the old separate walkaround tab: cockpit, exhaust, undercarriage, markings, survivor references, archive imagery and video cards are grouped here.