In Box Review of Otaki 1/48th Scale
Japanese Navy Intercepter Fighter
Shinden N1K1-J "George"
Kit no. OT2-7
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1975
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1975
HISTORY:
The Kawanishi N1K Kyōfū "strong wind", Allied reporting name "Rex") is an Imperial Japanese Navy floatplane fighter. The Kawanishi N1K-J Shiden "Violet Lightning") was an Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service land-based version of the N1K.
Assigned the reporting name "George", 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.
The Shiden Kai possessed heavy armament as well as surprisingly good manoeuvrability, 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: 1
Length: 9.3 m (30 ft 7 in)
Wingspan: 12.0 m (39 ft 4 in)
Height: 3.9 m (13 ft 0 in)
Wing area: 23.5 m2 (253 ft2)
Empty weight: 2,656 kg (5,855 lb)
Loaded weight: 4,000 kg (8,820 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 4,860 kg (10,710 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Nakajima Homare NK9H radial engine, 1,850 hp (1,380 kW)
Maximum speed: 656 km/h (408 mph) (6100m Maximum s speed: 656 km/h (408 mph) (6100m(20,000ft))
Range: 1,716 km / 2,395 km (1,066 mi; 1,488 mi (2,395 km) ferry)
Service ceiling: 10,800 m (35,500 ft)
Rate of climb: 20.3 m/s (4065 ft/min)
Wing loading: 166 kg/m2 (34 lb/ft2)
Power/mass: 0.305 kW/kg (0.226 hp/lb)
Armament: 4× 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 Mk 4 cannon in wings. 200 rounds per gun (up from 100 rounds per gun internally and 70 rounds per gun in underwing boots for the early N1K1-J). The 20×101 mm round had an effective range of 1,000 m (3,280 ft) and a muzzle velocity of 700 m/s (2,297 ft/s). The 128 g shell had 6–8% HE. Rate of fire was about 500 rounds/min per gun. The guns were harmonized to converge at 200 m (656 ft).
2× 250 kg (551 lb) bombs
1× 400 L (105 gal) drop tank
The Kawanishi N1K Kyōfū "strong wind", Allied reporting name "Rex") is an Imperial Japanese Navy floatplane fighter. The Kawanishi N1K-J Shiden "Violet Lightning") was an Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service land-based version of the N1K.
Assigned the reporting name "George", 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.
The Shiden Kai possessed heavy armament as well as surprisingly good manoeuvrability, 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: 1
Length: 9.3 m (30 ft 7 in)
Wingspan: 12.0 m (39 ft 4 in)
Height: 3.9 m (13 ft 0 in)
Wing area: 23.5 m2 (253 ft2)
Empty weight: 2,656 kg (5,855 lb)
Loaded weight: 4,000 kg (8,820 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 4,860 kg (10,710 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Nakajima Homare NK9H radial engine, 1,850 hp (1,380 kW)
Maximum speed: 656 km/h (408 mph) (6100m Maximum s speed: 656 km/h (408 mph) (6100m(20,000ft))
Range: 1,716 km / 2,395 km (1,066 mi; 1,488 mi (2,395 km) ferry)
Service ceiling: 10,800 m (35,500 ft)
Rate of climb: 20.3 m/s (4065 ft/min)
Wing loading: 166 kg/m2 (34 lb/ft2)
Power/mass: 0.305 kW/kg (0.226 hp/lb)
Armament: 4× 20 mm Type 99 Model 2 Mk 4 cannon in wings. 200 rounds per gun (up from 100 rounds per gun internally and 70 rounds per gun in underwing boots for the early N1K1-J). The 20×101 mm round had an effective range of 1,000 m (3,280 ft) and a muzzle velocity of 700 m/s (2,297 ft/s). The 128 g shell had 6–8% HE. Rate of fire was about 500 rounds/min per gun. The guns were harmonized to converge at 200 m (656 ft).
2× 250 kg (551 lb) bombs
1× 400 L (105 gal) drop tank
THE KIT:
Otaki is a prolific model company based in Tokyo, Japan.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a "George" being chased by a "Corsair" above the clouds. It is dark-green over light-grey under-carraige. Rudder code is white 341-151.
One side panel has 2 small color profiles of the "George" they are in the same colors as the box art scheme. It has the rudder code in white of 210-134.
Otaki is a prolific model company based in Tokyo, Japan.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a "George" being chased by a "Corsair" above the clouds. It is dark-green over light-grey under-carraige. Rudder code is white 341-151.
One side panel has 2 small color profiles of the "George" they are in the same colors as the box art scheme. It has the rudder code in white of 210-134.
The other side panel shows 6 color box arts of other Otaki aircraft kits that they manufacture: a Zero carrier-fighter A6M5, a Japanese Ki-43 fighter "Oscar", a Japanese fighter Ki-61 "Tony", this "George" kit, a Japanese advanced trainer K5Y1 "Willow" and a Japanese Type 4 fighter "Frank". I assume all are to 1/48th scale ? No kit numbers are provided for these 6.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 3 pale-grey trees and a slear canopy in 2 stapled-shut clear cello bags with the decal sheet and 3 instructions.
The first instructions is a single-sheet printed on both sides and all in Japanese. It is in 13" x 9" format.
The face side has a top and bottom view and 3 profiles of the "George". All 3 are green over grey under-carriages.
1. A "George" with rudder code white 211-134.
2. A "George" with rudder code white 341-151
3. A "George" with rudder code white Japanese symbol-1172
Bottom of the page has the first assembly step.
The reverse side gives a balance of a total of 5 assembly steps, over the parts-trees illustrations.
Trees are alphabetized.
Pale-grey letter A tree holds: fuselage, elevators, cowling, engine parts, dashboard, bulkhead etc. (10 parts)
This kit holds 3 pale-grey trees and a slear canopy in 2 stapled-shut clear cello bags with the decal sheet and 3 instructions.
The first instructions is a single-sheet printed on both sides and all in Japanese. It is in 13" x 9" format.
The face side has a top and bottom view and 3 profiles of the "George". All 3 are green over grey under-carriages.
1. A "George" with rudder code white 211-134.
2. A "George" with rudder code white 341-151
3. A "George" with rudder code white Japanese symbol-1172
Bottom of the page has the first assembly step.
The reverse side gives a balance of a total of 5 assembly steps, over the parts-trees illustrations.
Trees are alphabetized.
Pale-grey letter A tree holds: fuselage, elevators, cowling, engine parts, dashboard, bulkhead etc. (10 parts)
Pale-grey letter B tree holds the wings (4 parts)
Pale-grey letter C tree holds: propeller, spinner, under-wing gun pods, pilot, tail wheel, antenna, landing-gear legs, cockpit floor, wheel pants, drop tank, exhaust-pipes etc. (33 parts)
The clear part is the canopy (1 part)
The second instructions are all in English. It walks you through the assembly steps. It is a single-sheet printed on one side in 11 3/4" x 8 1/2" folded to fit the box.
The third-instructions is a single-sheet printed in color on one side on slick-coated paper. It has a color side view of a "George" with white rudder code 210-134.
The third-instructions is a single-sheet printed in color on one side on slick-coated paper. It has a color side view of a "George" with white rudder code 210-134.
The decal sheet completes the kit's contents.
Detail is engraved. Flaps are all molded solid.
Recommended.
Recommended.