Rising Decals RD48039: Ki-43 over New Guinea and the Solomons Part 2

The Ki-43 could easily be considered the IJAAF's 'Zero' as the two aircraft has much in common. Both were light weight, both were the service's first monoplane fighter with retractable landing gear, and both were quite maneuverable. The A6M had greater range and heavier armament, while the Ki-43 was faster and had better mid to low altitude handling. Both had insufficient armor protection.

This sheet is one of three covering units operating in New Guinea and the Solomons, a time when the IJAAF still had a cadre of experienced and well trained pilots.

This sheet has a number of early Ki-43-Is on it with the first one being an 11th Sentai, 2nd Chutai plane  at Lae in mid 1943. This one is overall dark green upper and silver underside with a red forward cowling.

Second is a Ki-43-II mid production plane with the 24th Sentai in an overall unpainted aluminum with very light mottling.  The plane was based at Hollandia in early 1944.

Third is another Ki-43-I with the 11th Sentai, this time with the 1st Chutai based at Rabaul in early 1943. It is overall dark green with a brownish overall pattern on the upper surface.

Another -I this time with the 1st Sentai based at Rabaul in 1943. It is an ex-11th Sentai plane and still carries part of its marking on the fin. A heavily patched dark green over unpainted metal camouflage.

Finally a late production Ki-43-II with the 63rd Sentai based at Hollandia in early 1944. This one is dark green over unpainted metal. Like all the other options, it has a black nose anti-glare panel.

While the instructions don't provide an upper surface image of all the options, it does for the third one. 

Decals are nicely printed. I have not shown the separate insignia sheets as they are the same in all of the sets and you can see those in the initial review. 

These sheets often sell out quite quickly and I've not known Rising to reissue any so if you want them, get them when they are new. For kits, you have both Hasegawa and Fine Molds along with the LS/Arii and for the -I add in the Nichimo kit.

July 2025

Copyright ModelingMadness.com. All rights reserved. No reproduction without express permission.

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and fairly quickly, please contact the editor or see other details in the Note to Contributors.