Aoshima – No.10 (51917) – Kawanishi N1K1-Ja “Shiden Type 11”

Description:

Kawanishi N1K1-Ja
Shiden 11a “Kou” of 343rd Naval Air Group “Tsurugi”

Yes, the Kawanishi N1K1-Ja Shiden, known to the Allies as “George,” was one of Japan’s most formidable land-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Originally derived from the floatplane fighter N1K Kyōfū, the N1K1 was reengineered into a high-performance land-based interceptor to meet the growing pressure from Allied bombing campaigns. The N1K1-Ja was an early sub-variant of the Shiden series, distinguished primarily by its heavy armament and robust construction.

The aircraft was powered by a Nakajima Homare 21 radial engine, giving it good speed and climb performance, though the engine was temperamental and maintenance-intensive. One of the defining features of the N1K1-Ja was its four 20 mm Type 99 cannons—two in each wing—which gave it impressive firepower, especially effective against B-29 bombers. It also carried two 7.7 mm machine guns in the nose. The plane’s mid-mounted gull wing, long undercarriage legs, and heavy airframe made it somewhat complex to fly, especially during takeoff and landing, but experienced pilots could use it to great effect in combat.

Despite arriving relatively late in the war and being somewhat hampered by limited production numbers and engine reliability issues, the N1K1-Ja was well-regarded by Japanese pilots. It offered a rare match in performance to many Allied fighters, including the F6F Hellcat and P-51 Mustang, particularly at medium and low altitudes. It would eventually evolve into the more refined N1K2-J Shiden-Kai, which further improved on its predecessor’s design. The N1K1-Ja remains a testament to Kawanishi’s innovative engineering and one of the most capable Japanese fighters of the war.

An original Aoshima kit tooled around 1994 and released since them several times (with or without updates) as well as under Kopro or Kora brands.