Lifelike Decals

1/72 Ki-61 244th Sentai decal sheet Scale

Product # 72-003 (also comes in 1/48) 

Product Article by Steve Bamford on Apr 13  2005

 

 

 

Click here for Japanese translation of instruction sheets

Lifelike Decals is a new Decal company out of Japan.  The owners have been involved in the researching of decal sheets for other companies for many years.  They have decided to create their own decal line.  Their third sheet is this one featuring eight different Ki-61's.

The Ki-61 has always held a special spot in my mind.  It was a unique plane using a licence built version of the DB-601 engine used in the Me-109.

This decal sheet provided a fantastic variety of paint schemes and markings and you can see in the instruction sheets below.

Click on images below to see larger images

There are also a few more pages of text (not shown here) describing the various colours and markings and references on these planes.  Four of the planes have kill markings on the side of the fuselage by the cockpit.

The first plane is a Ki-61 type I-Hei #3295 flown by Capt. Teruhiko Kobayashi, Commander of the 244th Sentai, Chofu Airbase, presumably on Jan 26 1945.  One day later Capt. Teruhiko Kobayashi made a successful ramming attack against a B-29 and landed safely by parachute.

The second plane is a Ki-61 Type I-Tei #4424 flown by Capt. Teruhiko Kobayashi, Commander of the 244th Sentai, Chofu Airbase, March 19 1945.  Refenence photos for this plane on this date were taken just before a mission against enemy shipping, but weather prevented the mission being successful.  The photos taken were to be used for for propaganda.

The Third plane is a Ki-61 Type I-Tei #4424 flown by 2nd. Lt. ShunzoTakashima of the 159th Shinbu-tai, Chofu Airbase in early May 1945.  This was the beloved aircraft of Capt. Teruhiko Kobayashi.  To give good luck he had the paint scheme specially modified.

The fourth plane is a Ki-61 Hien type I-Hei #43 flown by an unknown pilot.  this was the #2 A/C for the Soyokaze-tai.

The fifth plane is a Ki-61Hein Type-I Hei, flown by Corporal Seiichi Suzuki, Chofu Airbase on Feb 16 1945.  This plane was shot down by F6F's on Feb 16 1945.

The sixth plane is a Ki-61 Type I-Tei #57 flown by 2nd Lt. Tohru Shinomiya, Chofu Airbase on Dec 3 1944.  This pilot downed a B-29 by ramming attack with this plane and returned to base with half the left wing missing.  

The seventh plane is a Ki-61 Type I-Tei #57 with bar, pilot unknown, Chofu airbase, March 1945.

The eighth plane is a Ki-61 Type I-Otsu #45 flown by Corporal Kiyoshi Ando, landing at Narimasu Airbase, January 9 1945.  On Jan 27 1945 Corporal Ando died in another plane during a ramming attack on a B-29.

The quality of these decals is quite pleasing.  The carrier film in nicely limited around the decals.  The decals themselves are clearly printed and in perfect register.  The colour of the decals appear solid enough to prevent paint showing through the decals.

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.  

Other shops that stock Life like Decals are *Hannants/UK, *Mister Kit/Italy, *Revi (publisher)/Czech Republic, *SkyGrid/Canada, *Roll Models/USA, *Great Models Webstore/USA, *FlightDecs/Canada, *Victory Models/USA
*M & Models/USA, *Zed Hobbies/Australia, *AB &S Enterprise/Australia, *Desert Miniature/USA 

I highly recommend these decals to anyone interested in building a Ki-61.  

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

Steve  

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford