Lifelike Decals

1/32 244 Sentai Part 3 decal sheet

Decal sheet product # 32-005 

Review by Steve Bamford on Jan 23 2008

--------------------

This latest release from Lifelike Decals decal sheet features four different Kii-61's.  This is Part 3 of  a series dealing with the 244 Sentai from February 1942 in France to the summer of 1944 in Germany. 

The first plane is a Ki-61 Hein I-Tei, #87 flown by Commander Teruhiko Kobayashi (?) from Chofu AB , in early May 1945.  It is not known this was Commander Teruhiko Kobayashi's aircraft or if this was an aircraft painted in his markings for public appearances.  This plane has many victory markings.  The camo scheme is white on the undersides and green on the top side with a  red spinner and red tail.

The second plane is a Ki-61 Hein I-Tei, #5262 flown by 2nd Lt. Yujiro Itakura from Chofu AB, on March 19 1945.  The camo scheme is white on the undersides and green on the top side with a  red spinner and red tail.

 

The third plane is a Ki-61 Hein I-Tei, probably of the 159th or 160th Shinbu-tai (Special attack Squadron) from Ashiya AB around October 1945.  The camo scheme is white on the undersides and green on the top side with a  red spinner.  This aircraft also has large artwork on the rear fuselage of a Japanese Hein aircraft in the midst of a successful back breaking dive bombing attack on a US Battleship.

The fourth plane is a Ki-61 Hein I-Otsu (or Hei), #16 probably flown by Capt. Fumisuke Shono from Chofu AB, February 23-24, 1945.  This aircraft sports my favourite Ki-61 camo scheme with it's green camo splotches over a white background with a red spinner.  This plane has victory markings.

The quality of these decals is of very good quality.  The decals themselves are clearly printed and in perfect register.  Some decals come in 2 layers to ensure perfect registration.  

You can purchase these decals either directly from Lifelike Decals at fax number is +81-3-5680-6733, and e-mail is lifelike@eos.ocn.ne.jp. or from HobbyLink Japan.    

Other shops that stock Life like Decals are *Hannants/UK, *Mister Kit/Italy, *Revi (publisher)/Czech Republic, *SkyGrid/Canada, *Roll Models/USA, *Great Models Webstore/USA, *FlightDecs/Canada, *Victory Models/USA
*M & Models/USA, *
Zed Hobbies/Australia, *AB &S Enterprise/Australia, *Desert Miniature/USA 

I'm a big fan of the Ki-61, so it is a special treat to see new decals of this sleek aircraft. 

I would like to thank Lifelike Decals for providing me with this review sample.

Steve

I would like to thank Lifelike Decals for providing me with this review sample.

Click on images below to see larger images

  

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford