Nakajima Ki-27 "Nate" - 18.5" span; Dave Diels kit

Magnetic 'knock-off' wheel pants

Wing-walks help to hide a multitude of tissue blemishes

This plane has a beautifully elegant and graceful plan form

This model was completed back in Nov '04, and was one of my first Diels kits. I've been hooked ever since.

The unique markings are from what I believe is the Manchurian Air Defense, and the text indicates a slogan about defending the Mother Country.

The wheel pants are held in place by magnets, and work exactly as I had hoped. If you should decide to try this method, remember to also tie a thread 'leash' linking the pant and wing. This way, after you pick up the model from the field, and walk back to the winding stooge, you won't have to go back to the landing spot and look for the missing wheel pant. Don't ask how I know this.

The covering is Easy Built "Lite" tissue, and all the markings are hand drawn with various gel ink colored pens, except for the yellow. I've had problems finding an opaque yellow ink, and had to settle for using a 'highlighter' marker.

To find out more about Easy-Built models and their complete line of offerings, here's the link:

http://www.easybuiltmodels.com/

For a complete listing of kits and plans offered by Dave Diels, visit Dave's site at:

http://pageproducer.acninc.net/dielsengr/index.html