Lifelike Decals

1/48 Nakajima Ki-43 Part 2 decal sheet

Product # 48-042

Product Article by Steve Bamford on Jan 15 2015

 

      

This latest release from Lifelike Decals features five different Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar's.  This is Part 2 of  a series dealing with the Nakajima Ki-43 from October 1942 until August 1945. 

The 5 aircraft include a huge variety of aircraft during the times of declining fortunes for the Japanese Empire.  The 5 aircraft include the following:

  • Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar Type I flown by Maj. Katsuji Sugiura, Commander of 11th Sentai, Mingaladon AB/Burma in October 1942.  This aircraft is green and brown on the upper surfaces and the tail is completely covered in red, white and orange lightning bolts.  Maj. Katsuji Sugiura was KIA February 4 1943.

  • Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar Type II Otsu (probably) flown by Maj. Torashiro Aizawa, of the 204th Sentai, Meiktila AB/Burma in August 1944.  This Sentai suffered heavy losses by US forces in Burma and the Philippines with the loss of most aircraft and 17 or it's 30 pilots.  This aircraft is green with baremetal on the upper surfaces and the leading edge of the tail is white and red.  This aircraft has heavily worn paint.  

  • Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar Type I flown by 1st LT. Saburo Nakamurra, 64th Sentai 2nd Chutai acting leader, Mingaladon AB/Burma in November 1942.  This aircraft is green on the upper surfaces and the tail features a large red arrow.  This aircraft was destroyed in an RAF ground attack in November 26 1943.  On October 6 1944 he shot down 1 Beaufighter and one B-25 but was shot down while attacking a second B-25 and his aircraft disintegrated in the air.  He was thrown out and his parachute opened automatically but he was already dead from a bullet wound to the head.

  • Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar Type III of 29th Shinbu-tai (Special Attack unit), Chiran AB/Kagoshima at the end of April 1945.  This aircraft is green on the upper surfaces with yellow Japanese characters on the tail.

  • Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar Type III of unidentified Special Attack unit, unknown location in 1945.  This aircraft is green on the upper surfaces with yellow Japanese characters on the tail.

 

Click on images below to see larger images

The quality of these decals is of very good quality.  The decals themselves are clearly printed and in perfect register.  Some decals come in 2 layers to ensure perfect registration.  

This decal sheet offers plenty of variety for aircraft including one late war weathered aircraft as well as 2 Kamikaze aircraft.  All these aircraft are from the very sad and desperate later part of the war when Japanese pilots were suffering huge losses and this is reflected in the stories of each aircraft  and their pilots on this decal sheet. 

You can purchase these decals either directly from Lifelike Decals at fax number is +81-3-5680-6733, and e-mail is lifelike@eos.ocn.ne.jp. or from HobbyLink Japan.    

I would like to thank Lifelike Decals for providing me with this product sample.

Steve Bamford

      

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford