Type 97 Fighters
Parts 1, 2 & 3

LifeLike Decals, 1/72 scale

S u m m a r y :
Catalogue Number:	72-034 – Type 97 Fighters Part 1 72-035 – Type 97 Fighters Part 2 72-036 – Type 97 Fighters Part 3
Scale:	1/72 (Also available in 1/48 and 1/32 scales)
Contents & Media:	Decals for six or seven subjects in each case, with colour-printed painting and markings guide. Part 2 also has a self-adhesive mask for one scheme, which the modeller must cut out.
Price:	Available on-line from these stockists:
	Stockist	Part 1	Part 2	Part 3
	Lifelike Decals	¥1300	¥1300	¥1300
	Hannants	£8.33	£8.33	£8.33
	Hobbylink Japan	¥1300	¥1300	¥1300
Review Type:	First Look.
Advantages:	Superb production quality and attractive subject choices.
Disadvantages:	None apparent.
Conclusions:	These are superbly produced decals. Lifelike has selected some very attractive and most interesting Ki 27 “Nate” schemes that appear to be very well researched. I definitely recommend them.

Reviewed by Mark J. Davies

HyperScale is proudly sponsored by Squadron.com

The Nakajima Ki 27 “Nate” offers the possibility of numerous colourful schemes with three good kits in the One True scale to wear them. There is the old but still decent kit from Mania and re-boxed by Hasegawa, the also nice but better detailed RS Models limited run kit, and finally the superbly rendered offering from ICM. I have built the first two brands, and will have to build my ICM kit now that I have some great markings options courtesy of Lifelike Decals.

Lifelike Decals come in the usual zip-lock bag with and folded A4 pages for instructions. These are nicely printed in colour and include quite detailed notes describing each scheme. I think that a fair amount of research effort has been made judging by their content, and numerous reference sources are quoted. Lifelike do acknowledge where doubt our conflicting information exists.

The decals are printed by Microscale Industries, and appear to be excellent in all respects. Part 2 also has a self-adhesive mask for one scheme, which the modeller must cut out.

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The selection of schemes is both diverse and interesting; and offers the potential for some very eye-catching models of this “pretty” little fighter. The same schemes are also available in 1/48-scale. Parts 1 & 3 provide makings for seven aircraft each, whilst Part 2 gives six choices.

Part 1:

• Ki-27 Otsu flown by 246th Sentai Commander, Major Takeo Miyamoto, Kakogawa AB/Hyogo Prefecture in December 1942.

• Ki-27 Otsu flown by 4th Sentai Commander,  Lt. Col. Saburo Hayashi, Kikuchi AB/Kumamoto Prefecture in September of 1940.

• Ki-27 Otsu flown by Corporal Susumu Kajinami of 346th Sentai 2nd Chutai, Kakogawa AB/Hyogo Prefecture in September of 1940.

• Ki-27 Kou flown by 1st Lt. Iwori Sakai, Captain of the 64th Sentai 2nd Chutai, Ertaokou AB/China in November 1938.

• Ki-27 Otsu flown by M. Sgt. Katsutaro Takahashi of the 59th Sentai 1st Chutai, Hankou AB/China at the end of 1939.

• Ki-27 Otsu with the 77th Sentai 1st Chutai, probably Lampang AB/Thailand at the beginning of 1942.

• Ki-27 Otsu of the Manchuria AF photographed at Takanosu AB/Fukouka Prefecture on September 17 1942.

Part 2:

• Ki-27 Otsu probably of some training unit in Manchuria, time and location unknown.

• Ki-27 Otsu flown by M. Sgt. Totaro Ito, 5th Sentai 3rd Chutai, Kashiwa AB in Chiba Prefecture at the end of 1940. 

• Ki-27 Otsu flown by Major Kato, Commander of the 64th Sentai, Kwangtung AB/Cjina in May 1941. 

• Ki-27 Kou of the 10th Independent Chutai, Taiyan A/B in northern china in 1929 and 1930.

• Ki-27 Otsu with the 50th Sentai, 3rd Chutai (Hoshi Hikoutai), Clark AB in the Philippines in January of 1942. 

• Ki-27 Otsu flown by Capt. Toshio Sakagawa, leader of the 3rd Chutai, 24th Sentai, Hailar AB in Mongolia in January 1940.

Part 3:

• Ki-27 Otsu (s/n 326) flown by Sgt. Moritugu Kanal, 11th Sentai, 1st Chutai, Nanking/ China, 1940. 

• Ki-27 Otsu flown by 2nd Lt. Iichi Yamaguchi, Leader of the 68th Shinbu-tai, Tenryu AB/Shizouka Prefecture, March 1945.

• Ki-27 Otsu of the 13th Sentai, 3rd Chutai, Taisho AB in Osaka Prefecture in the summer of 1942.

• Ki-27 Otsu of the 47th Sentai, 2rd Chutai, Narimasu AB in Tokyo in 1944.

• Ki-27 Otsu with the 11th Sentai, 1st Chutai, Manchuria in May-June of 1939.

• Ki-27 Otsu flown by 2nd Lt. Kawabata of the 1st Sentai, 2nd Chutai, Harbin, China in January 1941.

• Ki-27 Otsu flown by Capt. Shigetoshi Inoue, leader of the 1st Sentai, 1st Chutai, Nomonhan, China in September 1939.

These are superbly produced decals. Lifelike has selected some very attractive and most interesting Ki 27 “Nate” schemes that appear to be very well researched. I definitely recommend them.

Thanks to Lifelike Decals for these samples.

Text and Images Copyright © 2015 by Mark J. Davies
Page Created 23 July, 2015
Last updated 23 July, 2015

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