This latest release from Lifelike Decals decal sheet features 5 different Ki-84 Hayate's.  This is Part 1 of  a series dealing with the Ki-84 Hayatein 5 different paint schemes. 

The 5 aircraft include:

• Ki-84 Hayate flown by 2nd Lt. Toshizo Kurai of the 1st Operational Flying Training Unit, Sagami AB in Dec 1944.

• Ki-84 Hayate type Kou flown by 2nd Lt. Moritsugu Kanai of the 1st Chutai, 25th Sentai, Kyongsong, Korea in the summer of 1945.  This pilot was an ace with 28 kills.

• Ki-84 Hayate type Kou flown by an unknown pilot of the 104thSentai, Xinjin, China in late August 1945. 

• Ki-84 Hayate type Kou flown by Lt. Col Hiroshi Yoshioka, Commander ofthe 21st Hikoudan(Air Brigade) sometime between May to Dec 1944 in Japan or Formosa.  This pilot died in a sortie fighting American forces in Mindora Island on Dec 17 1944. 

• Ki-84 Hayate type Kou flown of the 102nd Sentai around May 1945, Miyakonojo Nishi AB., Sagami AB in Dec 1944.  This unit was assigned with protecting Kamikaze Attack Unit from Miyskonojo Nishi AB against US forces in Okinawa, but this unit was consumed by June and disbanded in July.

Click on images below to see larger images

The quality of these decals is of very good quality.  The decals themselves are clearly printed and in perfect register.  Some decals come in 2 layers to ensure perfect registration.  

You can purchase these decals either directly from Lifelike Decals at fax number is +81-3-5680-6733, and e-mail is lifelike@eos.ocn.ne.jp. or from HobbyLink Japan.    

Other shops that stock Life like Decals are *Hannants/UK, *Mister Kit/Italy, *Revi (publisher)/Czech Republic, *SkyGrid/Canada, *Roll Models/USA, *Great Models Webstore/USA, *FlightDecs/Canada, *Victory Models/USA
*M & Models/USA, *Zed Hobbies/Australia, *AB &S Enterprise/Australia, *Desert Miniature/USA 

The variety of paint schemes is what caught my eye on this decal sheet.  I especially liked the blue Ki-84....wow that one looks so different....and the history behind many of these late War Japanese aircraft is tragic as the young pilots met their fate in a hopeless situation. 

Steve

I would like to thank Lifelike Decals for providing me with this review sample.