Tamiya 1/72 scale Kawanishi N1K1 Shiden

Manufacturer: Tamiya, distributed by Tamiya America, 2 Orion, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656-4200, 800-826-4922, www.tamiyausa.com
Kit: No. 60768 Scale: 1/72
Price: $15
Comments: Injection-molded, 52 parts, decals
Pros: Good detail, easy assembly, good decals
Cons: Gaps to fill between wing and fuselage and at aft end of gun pods, no throttle control

The Kawanishi N1K1-Ja Shiden Type 11 is the latest in Tamiya's 1/72 scale Warbird Collection. It features a well-detailed cockpit, landing gear, and under-wing gun pods. A clear eight-step instruction sheet with suggestions for painting and markings is included, and decals provide markings for four different aircraft.

Basic overall fit of parts was good, but the wing root-to-fuselage seams fore and aft needed filler. I also found that the molded-in fuselage positioners on the lower wing surface kept the fuselage from lining up correctly. The left one is taller than the right and had to be shaved down. There was also a gap between the cowl and fuselage.

The underwing machine-gun pods don't fit well. I had to block off the back half of the pods and refine the mating surfaces to get them to match the contour of the wing.

You're in for a treat when putting the cockpit together. The instrument panel has raised detail and a decal, and the combination looks fine. The gun sight, floor, stick, and cockpit walls are well detailed.

The pattern of lightening holes in the seat is different from the photos in my references, but it looks OK. A decal for the seat belt is a nice touch. On the minus side, there is no throttle quadrant nor any other control levers. My sample's canopy framing was sharp at the front but became indistinct toward the rear.

A nicely detailed Homare 21 engine and one-piece ring of exhaust stubs beg for opened panels to show more detail. The engine cowl is made up of one large and two small pieces. Each main landing gear leg has six pieces, and they went together without any problems.

I wanted my model to look a bit weathered, so I first applied Floquil Old Silver on the undersurfaces and around the cockpit and upper wing surfaces. I lightened Tamiya's XF11 Japanese Naval Green with white; after it dried, I used tape to pull off chunks of the green, exposing the silver below. I found nothing in my photographs showing a wavy line between upper and lower colors on the cowl as shown in the instructions, so I went with a straight line.

The markings I chose were from the 341st Naval Fighter Group, 402nd Fighter Squadron, based in the Philippines. My sample's decals were in register and snuggled down nicely with a little Micro Set. I found good photographs of this captured aircraft in my references, Donald Thorpe's Aircraft in Profile Volume 10, Japanese Naval Air Force Camouflage and Markings WWII (Doubleday), and the Asahi Journal Vol.1 No.4.

I spent about 15 hours on my Shiden, about average for me. Next time, I will add cockpit control levers and substitute an opened vacuum-formed canopy to show off the interior detail.

This kit builds up into a fine example of the "Violet Lightning," ready to do battle with the other WWII fighters in my display case.