In Box Review of Hasegawa 1/72nd Scale
N1K2-J Shidenkai (George)
Kit no. SS2-700-03002
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright:1997
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright:1997
HISTORY:
The Kawanishi N1K was an Imperial Japanese Navy fighter aircraft, developed in two forms: the N1K Kyōfū ("Strong Wind", Allied reporting name "Rex"), a floatplane designed to support forward offensive operations where no airstrips were available, and the N1K-J Shiden ( "Violet Lightning", reporting name "George"), a land-based version of the N1K. The N1K-J was considered by both its pilots and opponents to be one of the finest land-based fighters flown by the Japanese during World War II.
An improved variant, the N1K2-J "Shiden-Kai" first flew on 1 January 1944. The Shiden Kai possessed heavy armament, as well as 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. Unlike the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, the Shiden Kai could compete against the best late-war Allied fighters, such as the F6F Hellcat, F4U Corsair, and P-51 Mustang.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: One
Length: 8.885 m (29 ft 2 in)
Wingspan: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)
Height: 4.06 m (13 ft 4 in)
Wing area: 23.5 m2 (253 sq ft)
Airfoil: LB620515-6075
Empty weight: 2,897 kg (6,387 lb)
Gross weight: 3,900 kg (8,598 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 4,321 kg (9,526 lb)
Fuel capacity: 477 L (126 US gal; 105 imp gal) internal + 323 L (85 US gal; 71 imp gal) drop tank; maximum 800 L (210 US gal; 180 imp gal)
Powerplant: 1 × Nakajima NK9H Homare 21 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,473 kW (1,975 hp) at sea level
Propellers: 4-bladed, 2.987 m (9 ft 9.6 in) diameter constant-speed propeller
Maximum speed: 571 km/h (355 mph, 308 kn) at 3,500 kg (7,717 lb) at sea level, 656 km/h (408 mph) at 6,100 m (20,000 ft)
Range: 1,078 km (670 mi, 582 nmi) at 272 km/h (169 mph) at 460 m (1,500 ft), 813 km (505 mi) at 75% Vmaxat 391 km/h (243 mph) at 460 m (1,500 ft)
Ferry range: 1,746 km (1,085 mi, 943 nmi) maximum with drop tank at 269 km/h, (167 mph) at 460 m (1,500 ft), 1,078 km (670 mi) at 75% Vmax at 381.5 km/h, (237.1 mph) at 460 m (1,500 ft)
Service ceiling: 12,009 m (39,400 ft)
Rate of climb: 19.7 m/s (3,880 ft/min) at 3,500 kg (7,717 lb) at sea level, 4,065 ft/min at 3,500 kg (7,717 lb) at 1,798 m (5,900 ft)
Time to altitude: 3,000 m (10,000 ft) in 2 minutes 36 seconds, 6,100 m (20,000 ft) in 5 minutes 36 seconds
Wing loading: 166 kg/m2 (34 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass: 0.38 kW/kg (0.23 hp/lb)
Armament:
Guns: 4 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Type 99 Mark 2 machine guns in the wings.
Bombs: 2 × 250 kg (550 lb) bombs or 1 × 323 L (85 US gal; 71 imp gal) drop tank.
The Kawanishi N1K was an Imperial Japanese Navy fighter aircraft, developed in two forms: the N1K Kyōfū ("Strong Wind", Allied reporting name "Rex"), a floatplane designed to support forward offensive operations where no airstrips were available, and the N1K-J Shiden ( "Violet Lightning", reporting name "George"), a land-based version of the N1K. The N1K-J was considered by both its pilots and opponents to be one of the finest land-based fighters flown by the Japanese during World War II.
An improved variant, the N1K2-J "Shiden-Kai" first flew on 1 January 1944. The Shiden Kai possessed heavy armament, as well as 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. Unlike the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, the Shiden Kai could compete against the best late-war Allied fighters, such as the F6F Hellcat, F4U Corsair, and P-51 Mustang.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Crew: One
Length: 8.885 m (29 ft 2 in)
Wingspan: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)
Height: 4.06 m (13 ft 4 in)
Wing area: 23.5 m2 (253 sq ft)
Airfoil: LB620515-6075
Empty weight: 2,897 kg (6,387 lb)
Gross weight: 3,900 kg (8,598 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 4,321 kg (9,526 lb)
Fuel capacity: 477 L (126 US gal; 105 imp gal) internal + 323 L (85 US gal; 71 imp gal) drop tank; maximum 800 L (210 US gal; 180 imp gal)
Powerplant: 1 × Nakajima NK9H Homare 21 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,473 kW (1,975 hp) at sea level
Propellers: 4-bladed, 2.987 m (9 ft 9.6 in) diameter constant-speed propeller
Maximum speed: 571 km/h (355 mph, 308 kn) at 3,500 kg (7,717 lb) at sea level, 656 km/h (408 mph) at 6,100 m (20,000 ft)
Range: 1,078 km (670 mi, 582 nmi) at 272 km/h (169 mph) at 460 m (1,500 ft), 813 km (505 mi) at 75% Vmaxat 391 km/h (243 mph) at 460 m (1,500 ft)
Ferry range: 1,746 km (1,085 mi, 943 nmi) maximum with drop tank at 269 km/h, (167 mph) at 460 m (1,500 ft), 1,078 km (670 mi) at 75% Vmax at 381.5 km/h, (237.1 mph) at 460 m (1,500 ft)
Service ceiling: 12,009 m (39,400 ft)
Rate of climb: 19.7 m/s (3,880 ft/min) at 3,500 kg (7,717 lb) at sea level, 4,065 ft/min at 3,500 kg (7,717 lb) at 1,798 m (5,900 ft)
Time to altitude: 3,000 m (10,000 ft) in 2 minutes 36 seconds, 6,100 m (20,000 ft) in 5 minutes 36 seconds
Wing loading: 166 kg/m2 (34 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass: 0.38 kW/kg (0.23 hp/lb)
Armament:
Guns: 4 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Type 99 Mark 2 machine guns in the wings.
Bombs: 2 × 250 kg (550 lb) bombs or 1 × 323 L (85 US gal; 71 imp gal) drop tank.
THE KIT:
Hasegawa is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer, based in Shizuoka, Japan. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped, tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color photo of the George, made up and sitting on a snow-covered field.
It is overall dark-green, with yellow bands on the tips of the propeller-blades. Japanese Air Force roundels on top of the wings, that are not outlined, and white outlined ones on the fuselage sides, with white no. 15 on them. Before the fuselage roundel there are 2 diagonal yellow fuselage bands. The rudder has yellow letter A, over 343-15 on its sides.
There is a small box art of an earlier boxing of this kit. It shows a George that is shooting-down a Corsair. Another small square shows a photo of the painted canopy included in the kit.
One side-panel of the box shows a close up of the finished model fuselage markings, followed by a side view of the George. This time is shows the grey undercarriage and drop tank
It says: The model’s length is 133mm (5 ¼”) and wingspan is 172mm (nearly 7”). In Japanese and English. It is an unassembled model kit. Copyright 1997 and Hasegawa is said to be in Shizuoka, Japan.
Hasegawa is an old prolific plastic model kit manufacturer, based in Shizuoka, Japan. They make all manner of plastic model kit subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped, tray and lid type box.
The cover art shows a color photo of the George, made up and sitting on a snow-covered field.
It is overall dark-green, with yellow bands on the tips of the propeller-blades. Japanese Air Force roundels on top of the wings, that are not outlined, and white outlined ones on the fuselage sides, with white no. 15 on them. Before the fuselage roundel there are 2 diagonal yellow fuselage bands. The rudder has yellow letter A, over 343-15 on its sides.
There is a small box art of an earlier boxing of this kit. It shows a George that is shooting-down a Corsair. Another small square shows a photo of the painted canopy included in the kit.
One side-panel of the box shows a close up of the finished model fuselage markings, followed by a side view of the George. This time is shows the grey undercarriage and drop tank
It says: The model’s length is 133mm (5 ¼”) and wingspan is 172mm (nearly 7”). In Japanese and English. It is an unassembled model kit. Copyright 1997 and Hasegawa is said to be in Shizuoka, Japan.
The other side-panel of the box gives Hasegawa’s phone no. Followed by: Contains parts for one model. Paint and glue are not included. With English instructions, in multiple languages, including English. Followed by a listing of Gunze Sangyo and Tamiya bands of paints suggested to use.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
The kit holds 2 medium-grey trees, 1 clear tree and the decal sheet in 3 clear cello-bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet, that accordion-folds out into 8 pages, in 7 ¼” x 8 ¼” page format.
Page 1 Gives a one-paragraph history and specifications of the George. Over READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY instructions, illustrations of tools and glue to use and ASSEMBLY NOTES, in Japanese and English.
Page 2 begins with international assembly symbol explanations, in the two languages.
The bottom of page 2 on through to page 5 gives a total of 4 assembly steps. The assembly and painting of the pilot figure is in step 4.
Page 6 begins with a suggested paint color listing of Mr. Color and Tamiya brands of paints, over the part-trees illustrations and a customer assistance coupon, for use by Japanese modelers, in the 2 languages.
Page 7 is a marking and painting guide, that shows a 4-view of the George and a view of the propeller in the cover art scheme (already described above).
Page 8 begins with decal application instructions. Over: CAUTION, not suitable for children under 3 because of small parts and other cautions, in multiple languages, including English.
Trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds: the fuselage halves, propeller, horizontal tail planes, engine, landing gear parts, drop tank halves, wheels, seat, dashboard, pilot figure etc. (21 parts)
The kit holds 2 medium-grey trees, 1 clear tree and the decal sheet in 3 clear cello-bags.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet, that accordion-folds out into 8 pages, in 7 ¼” x 8 ¼” page format.
Page 1 Gives a one-paragraph history and specifications of the George. Over READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY instructions, illustrations of tools and glue to use and ASSEMBLY NOTES, in Japanese and English.
Page 2 begins with international assembly symbol explanations, in the two languages.
The bottom of page 2 on through to page 5 gives a total of 4 assembly steps. The assembly and painting of the pilot figure is in step 4.
Page 6 begins with a suggested paint color listing of Mr. Color and Tamiya brands of paints, over the part-trees illustrations and a customer assistance coupon, for use by Japanese modelers, in the 2 languages.
Page 7 is a marking and painting guide, that shows a 4-view of the George and a view of the propeller in the cover art scheme (already described above).
Page 8 begins with decal application instructions. Over: CAUTION, not suitable for children under 3 because of small parts and other cautions, in multiple languages, including English.
Trees are alphabetized.
Medium-grey letter A tree holds: the fuselage halves, propeller, horizontal tail planes, engine, landing gear parts, drop tank halves, wheels, seat, dashboard, pilot figure etc. (21 parts)
Medium-grey letter B tree holds: wing halves, cowling, cockpit floor and framing, more landing gear parts etc. (10 parts)
The clear canopy part, that comes nicely pre-painted is next (1 part)
The decal sheet completes the kit’s contents.
The detail is great.
Recommended.
Recommended.