Hasegawa’s 1/48 Kawanishi N1K2 Shiden-Kai ("George")
‘343rd Flying Group Matsuyama’

By Kelly Jamison

History

The Shiden (Allied code name George) was the Japanese Navy’s attempt to have a land born island hopping fighter. An offshoot of the "Rex" program, the N1K1-J was developed without the floats and a four-bladed propeller, it was initially plagued with development problems and complex construction especially around the landing gear. Kawanishi engineers went back to the drawing boards and developed a drastically simpler airframe resulting in the N1K2-J, considered one of the best planes Japan developed during World War II.

The Shiden-Kai was a low-wing design, as opposed top the mid-wing N1K1-J, and incorporated features like pilot armor and self-sealing tanks, components that had been left off Japanese fighters until then. 1,440 planes were produced in all.

The Shiden-Kai I wanted to build was assigned to the 343rd Airborne Corps in Matsuyama base and was part of the air defense of the mainland. Its principal airbase was at Kure. It was a big brute of an airplane. It’s American brother would have to be the P-47D Thunderbolt. There is a real one owned by the National Air and Space Museum at Mesa, Arizona on long term loan after being restored by the Champlin Fighter Museum. I have visited the museum and can affirm the first class job of restoration that was done on this extremely rare aircraft. The guys and gals at Champlin are the best. I don’t think it will ever fly again but it looks like it could taxi out of the hanger on a moment’s notice.

The Kit (click on thumbnails for larger image)

You do not always have to get the latest, greatest or most expensive kit on the market to get a great model. There are many fine kits that have been around for many years. I find these in the bargain bin at the local hobby store all the time. Some people get so caught up in resin, photoetch and white metal parts that they miss some of the best kits already out there.

This kit is getting a little long in the tooth at just over 18 years, but it still holds its age very well. It has been re-issued many times and the company’s latest incarnation is the 343^rd Flying Group. The box art is to Hasegawa’s usual standard—outstanding! I never seem to tire of Koike’s fabulous artwork.

There are only 37 parts to this kit, but one should never judge a kit by the number of parts. Like Tamiya’s excellent Fw 190A-3, Hasegawa has shown us time and time again that more is not always better. The main parts are tightly gathered into one bag. The decals and clear parts are in another bag. The whole kit comes on four trees and is done in a medium gray plastic. As always, the instructions are in their usual cryptic Hasagawa fashion. The assembly views are done very well but all the different nomenclature found around the page are bewildering.

I like the decals very much. They are in register and look as if they will work just fine. Time will tell. The decals are covered by a sheet of wax paper protecting them from chafing by the clear parts during the long trip over the Pacific Ocean.

The fuselage halves are molded very crisply and well shaped but there is no surface detail other than major panel lines. Surface detail is molded to the inside walls of the cockpit interior. The headrest is molded into the two fuselage halves. There is a tall antenna right behind the headrest that is just begging to be broken off and lost.

The engine nacelle is cast as one piece. Just the first rows of cylinders have been molded into a flat disk that fits inside of the cowl. There is an oil transfer ring with radial lines going to each of the cylinders molded separately. Then the gearbox sits on top of that. The four-bladed propeller is well rendered and looks to be of the correct shape.

I think the cockpit tub is a bit basic. With just a little effort it could be made into a very nice area. It has a back wall and a left and right side panel that the circuit breakers and throttle sit on. The cockpit is topped off by a rather simple-looking instrument panel that will detail out just fine. A set of foot pedals and a nicely detailed control stick finish off the little bits in the "office" area. The seat looks a little dubious. I might have to check out another detail source for the accuracy of it.

The wings are very well done. The fabric surfaces are molded in a light matte finish, but they might be just a little over scalloped for this scale. The lower wing comes in one long section, with the two left and right upper wing panels as separate pieces to be glued to the top. The wheel well detail is sparse but can be dressed up with very little effort. The external tank is a two piece affair split down the horizontal axis.

The gear looks sturdy and has the scissor-jacks molded on them. The gear doors are thin and detailed on both sides. The tail wheel is extremely well done but it looks fragile. I can see this being a weak point on the model. The wheels are well detailed and seem right on with the example at the Champlin Fighter Museum.

I am impressed with this kit for its age. It is far better than many kits being released today. I think this kit is going to be a quick build and an enjoyable one.