Rising Decals Regimental Duo in 1/72 scale Part 1

Two more recent sets of decals from Rising Decals in 1/72 scale feature the aircraft of specific Japanese Army Air Regiments - Hiko Dai 25 Sentai with 12 subjects and Hiko Dai 59 Sentai with 14 subjects. 

Beginning with RD72113 which includes markings for the following aircraft:-

• Ki-43-II '00' at Hankow in the Spring of 1944, the aircraft of Sentai commander Maj Toshio Sakagawa in a scheme depicted as solid green with a brown or darker green mottle applied over that. The Rising sheet includes the insignia in three Chutai colours as recorded by the late Dr Yasuho Izawa and the subject of Maj Sakagawa's Oscar was also discussed at the blog here.  Note that this aircraft had the armoured headrest removed.

• Ki-43-II '71' of 2nd Chutai in China, Summer 1943, the aircraft of the Chutai leader Capt Nakakazu Ozaki, a 19-victory ace credited with the destruction of six B-24 bombers, in a camouflage of patchy green. He was killed in action over Suichuan on 27 December 1943.

• Ki-43-II '55' of 1st Chutai at Nanking in the Autumn of 1943 in a green mottle over natural metal. The white senchi hiyoshiki, so called 'combat stripe' (literally 'war front sign') was removed or overpainted on most 25 sentai Oscars but this one is said to be overpainted with the mottle but still faintly visible.

• Ki-43-III Ko '18' of 1st Chutai at Hengzhou (Hengyang), in November 1944, the aircraft of Sgt Goro Miyamoto in # 7 (olive brown) colour.  He claimed the first P-51 Mustang shot down by the unit on 10 February 1944. 

• Ki-43-II '05' 6925 of 1st Chutai at Hankow, in April 1944, the aircraft of 26-victory ace 2Lt Moritsugu Kanai in solid dark green. Kanai, a graduate of juvenile flying school, had flown during the Nomonhan Incident as the youngest pilot in 11 Sentai, later entering the Army Air Academy. In 25 Sentai he later flew a Ki-84 painted black, also with the number '05'.

• Ki-43-II '51' of 2nd Chutai at Hankow in the Spring of 1944, aircraft flown by 15-victory ace M/Sgt Hazawa Iwataro in green with a brown or darker green mottle applied over that.  

• Ki-43-II '15' of 2nd Chutai at Nanking in December 1943, aircraft of Sgt Maj Kyushiro Ohtake in a sparse or worn away mottle of green over natural metal.  Sgt Maj Ohtake was a veteran of the unit who had served in it from the days of the 10th Independent Flying Squadron until the end of the war. He died from illness in 1947.

• Ki-43-II '62' of 3rd Chutai at Hankow in the Spring of 1944, aircraft flown by Corporal (not Captain) Haruyuki Toda, a classmate of Miyamoto, in a patchy finish of green, The senchi hiyoshiki is over painted in green or brown.A graduate of juvenile flying school Toda was assigned to the unit in the Spring of 1944 and flew as wingman to Capt Keisaku Motohashi, the 3rd Chutai leader, who was killed in action over Hengyang on 4 August 1944.

• Ki-43-II '22' of 1st Chutai at Suwon, Korea in August 1945. in solid green but with a forward fuselageand cowling in natural metal with remnants of mottle. The style of number and presence of the senchi hiyoshiki is unusual but Hasegawa are releasing their 1/48 Ki-43-II kit in the guise of another 25 Sentai aircraft with similar number presentation 'o1' in August this year 'based on new research'. The unit had converted to the Ki-84 at Nanking during February 1945 and moved to Korea in July. Hasegawa put 'o1' in China during 1943-44 as the aircraft of 1st Chutai leader Capt Takashi Tsuchiya. During early 1944 Tsuchiya had flown a Ki-43-II with the number '10'.

• Ki-84 photographed at Suwon in August 1945 in a reticulated 'giraffe' camouflage of green over natural metal. The tail stripe has been depicted variously over the years and Rising include red or blue versions on the sheet.

• Ki-43-I of 3rd Chutai at Hankow in November 1943. in solid green with overpainted rear fuselage band.  The marking of horizontal tail band in Chutai colours was changed when the unit converted to the Ki-43-II and the design suggested by Cpl Seshimo Kennosuke of a simple diagonal band was adopted with slight modification.

• Ki-43-I of 1st Chutai at Hankow in the Winter of 1942/43 in solid green with a non typical senchi hiyoshiki. The application of extended lines on the rudder might have represented the Shotai.

This is an excellent and comprehensive decal set which includes Hinomaru and allows the modeller to select from several notable aircraft of the unit. It's also good to see included two Ki-43-I examples from this unit. With special thanks to Rising Decals for the review sheet.

Image credit: All images © 2025 Rising Decals.