1/48 Hasegawa Shiden-Kai (George)

Gallery Article by David Walker on Mar 22 2010

 

1/48 Hasegawa Kawanishi Shiden-Kai N1K2-J ( George ) Fighter 

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The Shiden Kai (Japanese for "Violet Lightning--Improved")  was known by the Allies as the "George," this maneuverable, Japanese Navy heavily-armed fighter was a formidable opponent in the closing months of the war. 

The Shiden Kai was considerably better than the Japanese Navy's most common fighter, the A6M Zero. With a top speed of 369 mph, the N1K2 was about 20 mph faster than the A6M Zero. The heavier Shiden Kai also possessed surprisingly good maneuverability due to a mercury switch that automatically extended the flaps during turns. These "combat" flaps created more lift, thereby allowing tighter turns. Moreover, its four 20 mm automatic cannon provided greatly increased firepower than earlier Japanese designs. Unlike the A6M Zero, the Shiden Kai could compete against the best late-war U.S. Navy and U.S. Army Air Forces fighters.
 
There are only 4 aircraft surviving in the world ,three in the USA in Museums with a fourth aircraft ( which was rescued from the Sea in Japan ) displayed in a Japanese Museum but not restored .

TECHNICAL NOTES (N1K2-Ja):
Armament: Four Type 99-2 20mm cannon and four 551-lb. bombs
Engine: 1,990 hp Nakajima NK9H Homare
Maximum speed: 369
mph 

This Model went together very easily , it was virtually fault free.

It was painted using the Aztek airbrush as an aircraft of the 343rd Kokutai (Naval Air Group) flown by Lt Takashi Oshibuchi ( six kills ). His aircraft has been wrongly depicted as having 2 red fuselage stripes and is incorrectly shown in the Hasegawa kit artwork and also in the kit instructions (always re-check your sources). In fact the aircraft had white stripes! - the book by Henry Sakaida called Gendas Blade is a great reference guide, I also used the Aero-Detail Book which supplied a lot of interior and exterior Photos for reference.

This Model is notable for the Montex masks for the national insignia and unit markings which were used instead of the kit decals - and can then be weathered over - try doing that to a decal. The Eduard photo-etch set was used and also a new item - Fukuya brass barrels for the 20mm cannon and pitot tube. The kit engine was replaced with a Vector resin engine (made in Russia) - and available from Parade Figures in the UK. This was built as a kit in its own right, replacing the single kit part which looks like a blob. This replacement engine is so much more detailed and realistic in appearance and it also has individual push rods made from brass. The guns and pitot tube (if you can see from the pics) have hollow ends, and another benefit is that everything is very strong as its all brass.

Lt Takashi Oshibuchi was the leader of Hikotai (Squadron) 701 'Ishin-Tai' within the 343rd and was reported as missing in action in this aircraft on 24th July 1945.

David Walker

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Photos and text © by David Walker