Kawanishi N1k2-JA Shiden Kai ‘George’ (62”)

The Kawanishi N1K Kyōfū (‘strong wind’), was an Imperial Japanese Navy floatplane fighter, the Kawanishi N1K-J Shiden (‘Violet Lightning’) was an Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service land-based version of the N1K. Assigned the Allied codename ‘George’, it was considered to be one of the finest land-based fighters during WWII. Only four days after the Shiden’s first test flight, a complete redesign was begun, the N1K2-J, this new design addressed the N1K1-J’s major defects. Unlike the A6M Zero, the Shiden Kai could compete against the best late-war fighters, such as the F6F Hellcat, the F4U Corsair and P-51 Mustang. Despite such capability, it suffered from unreliable engines and was produced too late and in insufficient numbers to affect the outcome of the war. One of Brian Taylor’s earliest designs this iconic Japanese WWII fighter is available on well-detailed plans and builds into 1620mm (62”) 1:7.4 scale all wood replica. Although showing a fixed undercarriage this model is suitable for retracting gear with no awkward angles involved.