Nakajima Ki-43 II "Oscar"
The Ki-43 II, code name "Oscar", was a single seat, single engine fighter built for the Japanese Army during World War II. The prototype of the “Oscar” first flew in January 1939. The Ki-43 II used the Nakajima Ha-1115 engine. Because of the “Oscar’s” light wing loading, the aircraft could out maneuver any of the Allies’ fighters. She just did not have the horsepower or the armament.
Four “Oscar” wrecks were recovered by Doug Champlin from the Kuril Islands north of Japan. The rebuild was started by the Texas Airplane Factory, currently GossHawk has the #3 and #4 projects available for completion.
Wing unit, in fabrication process
Wing leading edge, ribs with poster board patterns
Wing unit, view of leading edge ribs with center location on pattern and running string
Wheel well area, cardboard pattern made to help form skin around the wheel gear scissor area
Leading edge skin in form press, in fabrication process
Leading edge skin preliminary fit in progress
Leading edge skin preliminary fit complete; lower skin drilled
Fitting and installing fuel tanks
Wing unit, rivet layout on stringers and leading edge ribs
Fitting the leading edge skin
Leading edge skin fitted
Wheel well area, fitting panels
Wheel well area
Fitting main gear before forming skins
Fuel tanks and landing gear installed for fit
Wing unit with fuel tanks and landing gear
Wings with top skins installed, and in the process of installing the leading and trailing edges
Aft view, looking through the tail section
Fuselage, in fabrication process
Forward view, just aft of tail landing gear
Elevator control pulley brackets, in fabrication process
Elevator control pulley brackets, after fabrication
Aft fuselage cable guides, pulleys and tube, after fabrication
Cable brackets and pulleys in aft section of tail, after installation
Preliminary mounting of horizontal stabilizer
Horizontal stabilizer and control cables, after installation
Elevator cable terminal extension, after fabrication
Elevator cable terminal extension, after installation
Elevator fittings, after fabrication
Elevator hinges and bellcrank alignment checked and shimmed
Fitting elevators to horizontal stabilizer
Laser alignment of elevators prior to drilling bellcrank tube
Drilling pilot holes to attach elevator control bellcrank
Elevator bellcrank drilled and assembled
Tail unit, in fabrication process
Tail unit, in fabrication process