Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate
Part 2

Lifelike Decals, 1/48 scale

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Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

48-031 is the second sheet featuring Imperial Japanese Air Force fighter aircraft in Lifelike Decals latest round of issues.

This time it is for the Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (Gale) or “Frank” as it was dubbed in the US system of Japanese aircraft recognition.

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The sheet is Part 2 of Lifelike Decals coverage of the Ki-84 and it provides markings five machines in all, four of which are finished in what the placement guide terms “yellow green #7” upper surfaces over natural metal undersides.  The individual options are:

• Ki-84 Kou flown by Lieutenant Shuho Yamana of the 2nd Hikotai, Army Transport Unit from the Ohta Air Base in the September of 1944.  The odd man out on this sheet, the airframe is finished in a very dense mottle of “yellow green #7” upper surfaces over natural metal undersides.  The mottling is so dense that it appears to be solid green with natural metal “veining”.

• Ki-84 Kou of the 57th Shinbu-tai, flown by Corporal Hajime Shimizu from the Shimodate Air Base in the May of 1945.  If I am correct, these markings were one of the options provided in the ancient Tamiya rendering of the Ki-84.

• Ki-84 Kou of the 2nd Chutai, 85th Sentai flown by Lieutenant Colonel Yukiyoshi Wakamatsu from the Hankou Air Base in China in the December of 1945.

• Ki-84 Kou of the 10th Fighter Training Hikotai, Kita-Ise Air Base in the August of 1945.

• Ki-84 Kou flown by Warrant Officer Yojiro Obusa of the 1st Chutai, 50th Sentai, from the Pnom Penh Air Base in Indo China in the April of 1945.  The notes on the placement guide advise thatthis option could have been painted in Imperial Japanese Army Air Force dark green rather than “yellow green #7”.

Very comprehensive descriptions of each option are provided on the placement guide and they document Lifelike’s decision to depict the aircraft the way they have.  The two A-4 sized sheets are in full colour and carry side profile illustrations of each option as well as two upper surface plan views and two lower surface plan views.  A comprehensive list of references consulted by Lifelike Decals in producing the sheet is included –six references in all.

The decals themselves are thinly printed, in perfect register and have the absolute minimum in carrier film surrounding each individual item.  Hopefully the whites and yellows will be opaque enough to survive application over the dark green of the upper surfaces of each option – I have used Lifelike Decals in the past and this has never been a problem so far.  There is also stencil data a plenty including the yellow/orange leading edges to the wings – Yay no masking!  One item of stencil data I really liked was the inclusion of the oh so thin propeller warning markings.

The recommended kits are Hasegawa and Tamiya.  If I recall correctly, the Tamiya kit is more like 1/50 scale rather than 1/48 so I’d be wary with this one!

The decal sheets and the placement guide come packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag.

The Ki-84 was a colourful machine in Japanese Imperial Air Force service and this sheet certainly proves it!

Thanks to Keishiro Nagao of Lifelike Decals for the review sample.

Lifelike Decals are available by email at lifelike@eos.ocn.ne.jp or from

2-8-7-202, Kameari, Katsushika, Tokyo 125-0061, Japan
fax: +81-3-5680-6733