Ki-43 HAYABUSA COMPARATIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY


Of all the books published in the Japanese language on the Hayabusa, we will compare the contents and the quality of the following:
1. Maru Mechanic #6
2. Famous Airplanes Of the World: #13 and #65
3. Model Art #395
4. Aero Detail #29
5. Gakken #52
 Let's start with the oldest of the above.

MARU MECHANIC #6

Published by Ushio Shobo; Sept. 1977
Authors: Akimoto Minoru, Ikari Yoshio and others
Colour Illustrations: Nohara Shigeru
Pages: 44
PHOTOS.
Vintage: 17 b/w
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Profiles: 27 colour
Drawings: 14 sets, 4-view in 1/50 scale, a/c manual,
super detail colour illustration of the cockpit.







ASSESSMENT: The oldest publication of all. Very well balanced regarding number of photos, profiles and technical details for its size. The colour illustrations of the cockpit as well as of the cowling of the Ki-43III are unsurpassed. Nevertheless, an old publication that could be called obsolete compared to the other more modern ones. Still useful, though. Out-of-print but available through our site.

Famous Airplanes of the World #13


Published by Bunrindo; Nov. 1988
Authors: Akimoto Minoru
Profiles: Nohara Shigeru
Pages: 98
PHOTOS.
Vintage: 150 b/w
Modern: 8 colour
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Profiles: 21 colour; 20 b/w
Drawings: 9 sets a/c manual; 6 multi-view sets in 1/72 scale





Famous Airplanes of the World #65


Published by Bunrindo; July 1997
Authors: Watanabe Yoji, Izawa Yasuho
Illustrations: Watanabe Rikyu
Pages: 90
PHOTOS.
Vintage: 125 b/w; 2 colour
Modern: 10 colour
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Profiles: 13 colour; 1 b/w
Drawings: 18 sets, a/c manual and multi-view in 1/72 scale





IN COMPARISON: All the vintage photos of the MM#6 are included in FAOW#13 except one but not in FAOW#65 except two (both in MM#6 and FAOW#13). All profiles in MM#6 are reproduced in FAOW#13 except two. Four sets from the a/c manual of MM#6 reproduced in FAOW#13 (machine gun feeding mechanism, main landing gear and tail wheel, combat flaps, periscope gun sight) and two in FAOW#65 (combat flaps, periscope gun sight). The rest only in MM#6. Completely different detailed illustrations in FAOW#65. 27 of the vintage photos of FAOW#13 are in FAOW#65 too. But in general, printing quality of FAOW#65 is far better. The photos in FAOW#13 are too dark. No same colour photos in both issues. All in all, the two FAOWs have a lot of different photos but quality wise FAOW#65 is much better than FAOW#13. Better illustrations and profiles and better quality of photos. FAOW#13 is out-of-print; FAOW#65 is in-print. Both available through our site.

MODEL ART #395


Published by Model Art; Sept. 1992
Authors: Nohara Shigeru, Oshio Kazuhiko
Pages: 158
PHOTOS.
Vintage: 151 b/w
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Profiles: 120 color; 72 b/w
Drawings: 8 multi-view sets in 1/72 scale







IN COMPARISON: About 20 photos also in the FAOWs. Completely new colour profiles. No technical details or drawings. Excellent presentation of camouflage and markings. Colour chips for the basic colours. Out-of-print but available through our site.

Aero Detail #29


Published by Dainippon Kaiga; Nov. 2000
Authors: Nohara Shigeru, Mochizuki Ryuichi
Pages: 74
PHOTOS.
Vintage: 14 b/w
Modern: 213 colour
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Profiles: 20 colour; 4 b/w
Drawings: 14 sets; multi-view in 1/48 and 1/72 scales, various parts.




IN COMPARISON: All vintage photos can be found in the previous publications. Excellent photographic presentation in colour of various parts of the airplane from restored ones. High quality profiles, original drawings showing various details. Unlike the rest of the publications which are all in Japanese, the Aero Detail series has English captions too. In print.

GAKKEN #52


Published by Gakken; Nov. 2005
Authors: Komine Bunzo, Katabuchi Sunao and others
Pages: 192
PHOTOS.
Vintage: 100 b/w
Modern: 44 colour
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Profiles: 42 colour; 4 b/w
Drawings: 12 sets; a/c manual, fold out multi-view in 1/48 scale, various parts






EXTRA FEATURES: Hayabusa in the press and movies. Captions from the movie "Kato Hayabusa Sentotai". List of all the known Hayabusa serial numbers with extra details for each plane. Colour chart based on the "Rikugun Kokukiyo Zairyo Kikaku Kokaku 39" (Standard 39 for materials (ingredients) of Army Airplanes).

IN COMPARISON: All vintage photos can be found in other publications except for one or two. Original colour photos of restored airplanes showing various details. All photos of superb quality. The only publication that includes a special section on the armament of the plane with colour photos. In-print and available through our site.

TOTAL ASSESSMENT: The FAOW publications are basically photo books that offer a large number of vintage photos with few detail illustrations reproduced from a service manual of the a/c and colour profiles. The Model Art is exactly what the subtitle says, a publication on the "Camouflage & markings". It offers the best collection of vintage photographs and the best presentation of various camouflage options. The Maru Mechanic is an old book with a little of everything but very limited in size and quality. Has a few very original features though. The Aero Detail is a modern publication, similar in concept to the Maru Mechanic but of excellent quality. Largely based on colour photos from restored airplanes, suffers from sufficient vintage photos and camouflage depictions. Strongest point, its English captions. The Gakken publication is the newest one, again with a little of everything. By far the best quality of vintage photos. All in all, the most well balanced book on the plane, with a good number of vintage and modern/colour photos, colour profiles, the most complete collection of the a/c manual of all the other books, plus the really very useful Hayabusa serial number list and the colour charts.
So, what does all this mean. If you are looking for lot's of vintage photos in low price, the FAOWs are your best choice. Otherwise, the Model Art is the best of all publications. If you are looking for details of the airplane but only that, the Aero Detail book with the English captions is the one. But if you are looking for just one book that covers the Hayabusa as completely as possible, the Gakken is the best book of all.

Eleftheriou George