Kawanishi N1K-2 Shiden "George" 343 Kokuta 301 Hikotai 1945

The Shiden was considered by both its pilots and opponents to be one of the finest land-based fighters flown by the Japanese during WWII. Our aircraft represents that of CPO Shoichi Sugita, one of the Japanese leading war aces with reputedly over 120 kills to his name. He was killed on 15th April 1945 over Kanoya Airfield in Japan. The 1:72 scale model is decorated in dark green with silver undersides, while the fuselage band, leading edges of the aircraft and the propeller bands are masked in bright yellow. The Japanese Navy Air Service roundels are masked in a rusty red and white on the fuselage and plain rusty orange on the upper and undersides of the wings. The aircraft identity A343-11 is printed on the tail fin in yellow. Notice too, the 'kills tally' printed in yellow beneath the cockpit window.