Recent Rising Decals ~ Tabby and Peggy

Following on from LAC Morton's description of that Tabby at Meiktila, recent releases from Rising Decals have included dedicated sheets for the L2D1/2 'Tabby' and Ki-67 Hiryu 'Peggy'.

RD 72-051 for the L2D1/2 has national insignia for one aircraft but a selection of tail codes for no less than seven examples. The sheet is intended for the Amodel kit but could also be used for models based on converted DC-3 kits - of which more anon. The subjects exhibit a variety of schemes known to have been used on this type and are well chosen:-

• L2D3 Model 22 of the 1081st Kokutai at Omura in 1945 with tail code '81-984' and "swallow" emblem in plain dark green scheme. The last two of the code are repeated on the nose.
• L2D2 Model 11 of the Yokosuka Kokutai in overall grey with tail code 'Ko-901'.
• L2D2 Model 11 of the 3rd Kokutai in 1943 with tail code 'X-901' in plain dark green scheme.
• L2D2 Model 11 of the Yokohama Kokutai with tail code 'Y-902' in a dark green and brown camouflage scheme with white fuselage band (not included).
• L2D2 Model 11 of the Yokosuka Kokutai in plain dark green scheme with tail code '102Ko-1'
• L2D3 Model 22 of the 1021st Kokutai in 1944 with tail code '鳩-28' (鳩 = 'Hato' meaning pigeon or dove was the unit code name).
• L2D2 Model 11 of the 12th Rengo Kokutai with tail code 'XII-11'

RD 72-053 for the Ki-67 Hiryu (of which also more anon) follows a similar approach with national insignia for one aircraft and tail codes or unit emblems for three and bonus markings for one Ki-109 Heavy Interceptor variant of the type. The sheet is intended for the Hasegawa Ki-67 kit but I hesitate to suggest as an alternative the old LS kit still available under the Arii label as that kit is to 1/75th scale and there is no guarantee the decals would fit appropriately without some adjustment. All of the examples are shown in the factory scheme of olive drab over grey:-

• Ki-67 of the 98th Sentai at Itazuke, Japan in 1945 with tail code '409' and red horizontal fin stripe. At that time the 98th were under the command of the 762nd Kokutai as part of the IJN. This aircraft has victory markings on the nose.
• Ki-67 of an unknown unit in 1945.
• Ki-67 of the 7th Sentai at Takao, Formosa in 1944 with tail marking '7-56' for 2nd Chutai. This aircraft has a red vertical fuselage band and rudder tab with blue horizontal stripe across the fin and rudder. 
• Ki-109 at Yokota, Japan in 1945 with tail marking '2'. This aircraft is identified as probably being the second prototype of the type and has white Homeland Defence 'bandages' for the wing and fuselage Hinomaru (not included).

Two interesting sheets for Japanese model aircraft enthusiasts from Rising Decals with their usual clear printing, good, saturated colours and colour placement instructions. With grateful thanks to Mirek of Rising Decals.

Image credit: All © 2012 Rising Decals