Lifelike Decals

1/48 Nakajima Ki-43 Part 1 decal sheet

Product # 48-042 for approx $16.75

Product Article by Floyd S. Werner, Jr. on Mar 28 2013

 

 

The second sheet that Lifelike Decalse has recently released on the Ki-43 Hayabusa is just as exciting as the first one.  Designed for the Hasegawa, Arii, or Fine Molds kits these decals will certainly add color to your Oscar. 

The instructions are printed on two single sided 8.5x11 sheets with full color drawings.  This sheet contains a previously unpublished photo.  Lifelike continues to set the standard for research as far as I’m concerned.  I know there are certain things that we ‘know’ and other things we think we know and still other things that are speculation.  I’m a big boy I can take the truth.  Lifelike lets you know what they know and what they are speculating.  It is up to you, as the modeler, to make an informed decision on colors and painting.  The instruction 

The decals themselves are printed on two sheets.  The first one is a 6x9 sheet with most of the markings included.  They are crisp, thin and in perfect register.  The second sheet has just some silver strips.

 

Click on images below to see larger images

The first aircraft is a type I flown by Major Katsuji Sugiura in Burma in 1942.  This aircraft sports are very colorful white, red and yellow lightning bolts.  The thing that sets this aircraft apart is the camouflage which consists of meandering brown over the dark green with a NMF bottom.  Very unique looking and colorful. 

The type II flown by Major Torashiro Aizawa in Burma 1944.  This aircraft sports a heavy dark green mottle over the NMF.  The white and red leading edge to the tail along with the three yellow and one white band around the fuselage makes for an interesting paint scheme. 

The third aircraft, a type I, has an emblem on the tail that I associate with a Frank and not an Oscar, a red arrow.  The dark green over NMF has a diagonal white outlined yellow fuselage stripe.  The pilot Cpt. Saburo Nakamurra was flying this machine in Burma in 1942. 

The fourth aircraft is a type III from a Special Attack unit (Kamikaze) sports the yellow green #7 with wing tanks and light grey belly.  The aircraft has one bomb and one drop tank for its ‘special’ mission.  There are Japanese characters on the rudder that pay tribute to the Yasakuni shrine. 

The final aircraft is also from a Special Attack unit.  This aircraft is shown in a previously unpublished photo on the instruction sheet.  The camouflage is yellow green #7 with a light grey belly.  It has some Japanese characters on the rudder.  

These decals are the usual quality that I’ve come to expect from Lifelike.  Thorough research, high quality decals and the historical information carried in the instructions makes this a quality product. 

Highly recommended 

Thanks to Lifelike Decals for the review copy.  You can obtain yours by contacting them directly at  http://www16.ocn.ne.jp/~lifelike/ .  Be sure to tell them that you heard about it here.

Floyd S. Werner, Jr. IPMS # 26266

      

Photos and text © by Floyd S. Werner, Jr.