Nakajima Ki-27 Nate (new project) - February 1st, 2025
Hello everyone. It's me Antony, back with another Blog here to start 2025.
I know. New year, new big surprises, new big changes and new updates related to my 3D projects.
Now that I'm working on the new role as health community agent, my colleagues and I are visiting the families as part of our job to improve the health quality in our community and town. Things are looking good and we're enjoying in our new role.
And, again, new Nightwave chapter is complete and the 1999 quest is complete. Yet, DE is planning to bring the next Nora Mix after this week. (NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!)
Note: I don't share too often my gaming content in my Blogs. I don't like the idea of mixing gaming content with other artistic contents there or to relate anything in kind.
But that story will be for another time. For this Blog, I'm going to share you the images of a new project I started recently.
I know. My habit of starting new projects projects spoke louder, as usual.
The new project I started is the Nakajima Ki-27, known by the Allies as 'Nate' / 'Abdul' in Burma. It's a Japanese air fighter designed by Nakajima company for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force before the start of WW2, seeing action during the Second Sino-Japanese War. As always, I'll leave the plane's story down below.
Development of the Ki-27 started in 1935 to meet the specifications for a new Army Air Fighter to replace the aging Kawasaki Ki-10 biplane. The new aircraft needed to have a better performance than the experimental Mitsubishi Ki-18. The competition was met with three models: the Mitsubishi Ki-33 (which would lead to the development of the A5M carrier-based fighter), the Kawasaki Ki-28 and the Nakajima Ki-27, with the winner being the Ki-27. The Nakajima plane was based on failed models like the Ki-11 and the Ki-12, with the company trademark's the long wing with a straight leading edge and tapered trailing edge (reintroduced in the Ki-43, Ki-44 and Ki-84). The new aircraft had a fixed undercarriage, a closed canopy, a telescopic sight (retained in the early versions of the Ki-43 'Hayabusa') and two 7.7 mm Type 89 machine guns installed in the engine compartment, firing synchronized to avoid damaging the propeller. The aircraft would be powered by a Nakajima Ha-1 Kotobuki (寿, "Longevity") - providing 530 kW (710 hp) for take-off, 582 kW (780 hp) at 2,900 m (9,500 ft); and it had no self-sealing fuel tanks and armor to protect vital components like the engine, cockpit and wings. Although it wasn't the fastest plane and it had a worse climb performance than its competitors, the Army chose the Nakajima's plane for its outstanding turning ability granted by its remarkably low wing loading. The first combat debut occurred in the Second Sino-Japanese War (July 7, 1937 – September 2nd, 1945) where the Japanese aircraft enjoyed air superiority against old biplanes that equipped the Chinese air force until the introduction of the faster Soviet-built Polikarpov I-16 fighters - balancing the scale of aerial combat. During the Battle of Khalkhin Gol against the USSR in Mongolia, the Ki-27 faced both Polikarpov I-15 biplane and Polikarpov I-16 monoplane fighters. In the initial phase of the conflict, its performance was a match for the early model I-16s, and was considerably superior to the I-15 biplane. With better trained Ki-27 pilots, the IJAAF gained aerial superiority, with pilots becoming aces like the Warrant Officer Hiromichi Shinohara (August 1st, 1913 - August 27, 1939), who claimed 58 Soviet planes (including an IJAAF record of 11 in one day) whilst flying Ki-27s, only to be shot down by a force of I-16s. But with the introduction of modern versions of the I-16 and new Soviet tactics nullified the advantage the Ki-27 had in the sky. In the Pacific and China, the Nakajima plane confronted the American Volunteer Group (aka the Flying Tigers) equipped with P-40 Warhawks - armored and well armed that could shred the Ki-27 with a few machine gun bursts. The focus on maneuverability over speed and firepower would soon reflect on newer Japanese planes like the A6M Zero and the Ki-43 Hayabusa - limiting its performance and firepower to take down American, British and Soviet planes. Still, the Ki-27 (later nicknamed as "Abdul" and "Nate" by the Allies) remained in active service until being replaced by its successor: the Ki-43 Hayabusa. The remaining Ki-27 acted as training planes in the IJAAF while seeing combat in the Manchukuo and Thai armed forces. In 1944, a formation of five Thai Ki-27 engaged a group of P-38 Lightning escorted by P-51 Mustangs, with two P-51 damaged, one P-38 and one P-51 destroyed while the entire Thai squadron was lost. With Japan being attacked and the colonies neutralized by the Allies, the Ki-27 was forced to perform kamikaze missions, filled with explosives and bombs for suicide attacks against enemy airbases, carriers and warships. By the end of the war, 3,368 Ki-27s were built. The remaining planes were used by the Republic of China Air Force and the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force during the Civil War and the Indonesian Air Force during the Indonesian National Revolution of 1945–1949.
Here are the images of the Nakajima Ki-27.
The Ki-27 has been started as separate project from the Ki-43's original files. Since the two planes had some similarities, I decided to reuse the model in a new project files - sparing the other file and model.
However, I noticed that some things had to be made from scratch while some things could be used from the Ki-43 to speed up the development. The only components reused were the forward canopy framing and glass, the telescopic sights, the wheels from the wings undercarriage, the radial engine, the tail fin + rudder and the propeller blades.
The structure for the fixed undercarriage and antenna were made, with the fuselage made according to the sections based on the schematics I found on Blueprints. The wings were reused from the spare models I kept during the development of the Ki-43. Fortunately I didn't deleted the wings that I saved in case I'd mess it up while making the spacing for the retractable landing gears. Just like the Ju 87 Stuka, this Japanese plane is a bit easier to make.
Like the fuselage, I included the tail horizontal after modelling the lines based on the blueprint. So far, so good. I tried to make the wings, but I had to retain the original Ki-43's wings after noticing some issues with the new model. Instead, I made some adjustments on the upper side of the wings. Also, the vertices for the ailerons were placed in order to separate it from the main mesh, same thing for the elevator.
The canopy hatch, the tail skid and the Pitot tube were made. I made some minor adjustments on the fuselage, engine, navigation lights, decals and the main temporary painting. This Japanese plane is looking good.
To conclude this Blog, more images from the Ki-27 Nate.
The aircraft received another adjustment on its engine - like this cooper ring; the Pitot tube and the propeller shaft. Probably I plan to conclude its modelling tomorrow by adding the flaps, the engine exhaustion outlets, the cockpit internal components, the aerial attachments and a nice texture.
Based on the Ki-27, I have plans of making the Ki-100 from the Ki-61 Hien, the P-36 Hawk from the P-40 Warhawk and the F4F Wildcat from the F6F Hellcat.
Well, that's it for now my friends. I hope you like this Blog. Welcome to 2025. Let us hope this year bring us new content and something different from the usual. In case I have some spare time to enjoy, I'll be working on other things aside from Blender projects and my personal things. Until the time comes, you will be surprised to see them. See you next time.
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