Rising Decals 1/72 Shiden & Shiden-kai

Rising Decals latest set RD72101 for the Shiden and Shiden-kai offers markings for no less than 22 schemes in 1/72 scale. The schemes included for Shiden are as follows:-

• N1K1-J 'Tsu-3' of Tsukuba Ku, Tsukuba, Japan, January 1945 - in D1, described as Ryokushoku (Dark Green), over silver colour (natural metal). However Ryokushoku means simply green colour. In 1942 D1 was officially described as No-ryoku-kokushoku (Deep Green(ish) Black colour) but in the Proposal for revisions of aircraft planning procedures issued by IJN HQ in March 1944 it was described as An-ryokushoku (Dark Green colour). On the subject of Shiden and Shiden-kai colours see also the 2010 blog article on the subject here.
• N1K1-J 'Yo-168' of Yokosuka Ku, Yolosuka, Japan, August 1945 - in D1 over silver (natural metal).
• N1K1-J '762-56' attributed to 762 Ku, Tokunoshima, Japan 1945 - the upper surface colour is not specified but depicted similarly to the other subjects whilst undersurfaces are silver (natural metal). The unit identity is speculative based on partial photographs and film. The Shiden equipped 701 Hikotai was transferred on paper to 762 Ku and was one of three Shiden Hikotai operating as a combined force over Leyte at the end of 1944 with tail codes variously seen and depicted. '762-56' was also the featured option in a 2011 special edition of the Hasegawa 1/48 N1K1-Ja kit. See also Pacific Wrecks for colour photo of '2-56' mentioned in the decal notes. Tokunoshima is an island south-west of Kyushu in the Amami archipelago of southern Satsunan Islands, Kagoshima Prefecture. An Army airfield, Asama, was constructed on the island during 1944 and served as a staging base for special attackers during the Okinawa campaign.  
• N1K1-J '341-6 s' of 402 Hikotai 341 Ku found at Clark Field, Philippines in January 1945  - the upper surface colour is not specified but depicted similarly to the other subjects whilst undersurfaces are silver (natural metal). Colour photographs of this aircraft exist and it has been suggested that the '6' might be 'S'. 
• N1K1-J '341S-23' of 402 Hikotai, 341 Ku found at Clark Field, Philippines in January 1945 - in D1 over silver (natural metal).
• N1K1-J '341-56 A' attributed to 701 Hikotai, 341 Ku found at Clark Field, Philippines in January 1945 - D1 over silver (natural metal).
• N1K1-J '341-16 S' attributed to 402 Hikotai, 341 Ku - in D1 over silver (natural metal).
• N1K1Jb 'Ge-1174' of Genzan Ku , Kasumigaura, Japan, late 1944 - the colours are specified in plan view as D1 over silver (natural metal) with aluminium doped ailerons.
• N1K1-Jb '210-149' of 210 Ku Tokushima, Japan, 1944 - the colours are specified in plan view as D1 over silver (natural metal) with aluminium doped ailerons. Both latter Shiden have a small circle containing a character above the tail code. The character was usually the first kanji of the pilot's name with the circle indicating an officer pilot and a triangle symbol an NCO pilot. Enlisted pilots simply had the kanji character without a symbol. The symbols and characters were usually applied for specific sorties corresponding to the assigned aircraft number on the missions board and were applied in a removable white medium. 

The schemes included for Shiden-kai are as follows:-

• N1K2-J 'A 342-15' of 301 Hikotai, 343 Ku at Matsuuama, Japan, April 1945, attributed to Lt Naoshi Kanno - in D1 over silver (natural metal) with grey painted drop tank and white number '15' applied to the fuselage hinomaru. This aircraft is depicted with twin oblique fuselage bands in yellow.
• As above but with the addition of five victory markings in two optional styles and the hinomaru number removed but still faintly visible.
• N1K2-J 'B 343-30' of 407 Hikotai, 343 Ku attributed to Lt Yoshihige Hayashi - in D1 over silver (natural metal) with grey painted drop tank and remains of white number '30' applied to the fuselage hinomaru faintly visible. This aircraft is depicted with twin oblique fuselage bands in white.
• N1K2-J 'A 343-11' of 301 Hikotai, 343 Ku at Matsuyama, Japan, March 1945, attributed to CPO Shoichi Sugita and Lt Naoshi Kanno - in D1 over silver (natural metal) and remains of white number '11' applied to the fuselage hinomaru faintly visible. This aircraft is depicted with a single oblique fuselage band in yellow and victory markings depicted on the starboard fuselage side , referencing from a photograph in the book 'Genda's Blade' by Henry Sakaida and Koji Takaki, the best English language reference to the operations and aircraft of 343 Ku. 
• N1K2-J 'A 343-11' of 301 Hikotai, 343 Ku at Kanoya, Japan in early April 1945 - in D1 over silver (natural metal) with grey painted drop tank and white number '11' applied to the fuselage hinomaru. Attributed to CPO Shoichi Sugita this aircraft differs from the previous in having the smaller tail fin.
• N1K2-J 'A 343-17' of 301 Hikotai, 343 Ku at Matsuyama, Japan in January 1945 - in D1 over silver (natural metal) with remains of white number '17' applied to the fuselage hinomaru faintly visible. 
• N1K2-J 'B 343-17' of 407 Hikotai, 343 Ku, attributed to Lt Ikuhi Matsumura and CPO Hisamitsu Watanabe - in D1 over silver (natural metal) with remains of white number '17' applied to the fuselage hinomaru faintly visible and three victory markings on the starboard side. 
• N1K2-J 'C 343-45' of 701 Hikotai, 343 Ku at Omura, Japan in May 1945 - in D1 over silver (natural metal) with twin oblique fuselage bands in optional white or red colour. This aircraft is depicted armed with aerial rocket bombs and is attributed to Lt Takashi Oshibuchi the 701 Hikotai leader.  
• N1K2-J 'B 343-20' of 407 Hikotai, 343 Ku at Matsuyama, Japan in March 1945 - in D1 over silver (natural metal) and white number '20' applied to the fuselage hinomaru. The caption makes note of the small yellow rectangle on the tail fin containing the names of two ground crew assigned to this aircraft and speculates on the purpose of the white numbers. They were usually applied for example for carrier landing trials to monitor individual performance during training.
• N1K2-J 'A 343-06' of 301 Hikotai, 343 Ku at Omura, Japan, in August 1945 - in D1 over silver (natural metal) with remains of white number '06' applied to the fuselage hinomaru faintly visible and a single oblique fuselage band depicted in yellow.  
• N1K2-J 'B 343-03' of 407 Hikotai, 343 Ku at Omura, Japan, in April 1945, attributed WO Hiroshi Ohara - in D1 over silver (natural metal) with grey painted drop tank and white number '06' applied to the fuselage hinomaru.  A single fuselage band in white is depicted near the tail with optional decals for an oblique or chevron style.
• N1K2-J 'Yo-157' of Yokosuka Ku at Yokosuka, Japan in August 1945 - In D1 over silver (natural metal) with yellow horizontal tail stripe and depicted with a white diagonal 'arrow' applied to the fin and rudder behind the tail code.
• N1K2-J 'Yo-104' of Yokosuka Ku at Yokosuka, Japan, in February, 1945, attributed to WO Kaneyoshi Mutoh - In D1 over silver (natural metal) with yellow horizontal tail stripe.

This is a bumper set of decals for 1/72 Shiden and Shiden-kai fans offering many good subjects with plenty of optional choices to address issues of uncertainty or controversy. The set offers remarkable value at £12.30 (from Hannants in UK) for a set which might easily have been released as two separate sheets at comparable price. The set is even cheaper from HLJ but alas currently out of stock. Aftermarket decal sheets are just one aspect of the hobby which have proliferated in recent years and in many cases have shown extraordinary price inflation. Rising Decals are to be congratulated for their approach of offering quality decals of interesting Japanese types at attractive cost and presentation.  

With special thanks to Mirek of Rising Decals for the review set.

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