HOBBY LOBBY INTL. HAYATE

Model Airplane News, Jun 2005 by Harris, Dave

No-fuss warbird fun

BROUGHT INTO SERVICE IN 1944, THE NAKAJIMA KI.84 HAYATE (Allied code name "Frank") is generally considered the best Japanese fighter aircraft of WW II. The Hayate was a match for many advanced Allied fighters and was often their superior in many ways. The well-armored, well-armed fighter was fast and, most important, very maneuverable. It could out-climb and outmaneuver the P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang. Now you can stage your own "dogfights over Okinawa" with Alfa Model's new Hayate Japanese fighter.

KIT CONTENTS

Expertly molded out of factory-painted, extruded polystyrene foam, the airframe comes fully assembled and has a hardened surface to resist dings and hard plastic skins where the model contacts the ground. The ailerons and elevators come hinged, and all of the pushrods are installed and ready to be hooked up to the servos. The one-piece wing is removable, and Alfa Model includes waterslide decals for three versions. The kit also includes a removable, vacuum-formed cowl and a very detailed assembly manual that is among the best I have seen. It consists of an easy-to-read, four-page booklet and a detailed blueprint of the plane. To finish the Hayate, you need a 3-channel radio with two microservos, a 10A ESC, a brushless outrunner motor and the battery.

ASSEMBLY NOTES

Putting the Hayate together takes only about two hours. You need only install the motor, the two servos, the receiver and the ESC and place the battery in the fuselage to achieve the correct center of gravity (CG). The well-designed radio compartment hatch uses a flexible ply retainer that simplifies battery and equipment installation and removal. I started assembly by separating the major assemblies and hardware. The model is not very large, so a small work area is suitable for this project.

RADIO INSTALLATION

Radio installation is very simple, thanks to the kit's well-thought-out engineering. The Hayate has plenty of room for the radio gear, and a precut, lite-ply servo/battery tray comes installed in the fuselage. I used Velcro® to mount the receiver and battery; it makes their installation and removal a snap. Screw the elevator servo into the servo tray, and then connect the pushrod to the servo. Make sure that the servo and elevator are centered before connecting them.

The aileron servo slips easily into its opening in the center of the wing, and I used low-temp hot glue to secure it. I then inserted the aileron pushrods into the provided plastic sleeve and attached it to the aileron servo.

POWER SYSTEM

I used the recommended brushless MP Jet AC 28/7-35D outrunner motor and a Jeti Advance ISA ESC-both available from Hobby Lobby. I really like this motor because it's smooth running and quiet. Its blue, six-spoke endbell adds to the appearance of a radial-type engine. An Apogee 3S 1570mAh Li-poly battery provided power. Before I installed the motor, I checked its alignment and then drilled three small pilot holes in the firewall. Using the wood screws provided, I attached the motor. It fits very well and took only a few minutes to install. That completes the assembly of the Hayate. I told you it wouldn't take long!

FINISHING

All that's left is to balance the model, set the control throws and apply the waterslide decals. Applying the decals was the most time-consuming task, as they're very fragile. In the end, though, it took only about 20 minutes.

BOTTOM LINE

The Alfa Model Hayate is an excellent choice for pilots who prefer to spend their time flying rather than building. This well-made, semi-scale warbird is very impressive. It's super-easy to assemble and to get into the air, and it looks great! It isn't often that a manufacturer releases a model of an obscure aircraft that has been overlooked for so long. Now, where are those Mustangs and Thunderbolts?