Tamiya 60768 - 1:72 Kawanishi N1K1 Ja Shiden Type 11

Plastic model kit of the Kawanishi N1K1-Ja Shiden Type 11 fighter in 1:72 scale

Tamiya 60768 depicts the Kawanishi N1K1-Ja Shiden – a Japanese land-based Imperial Japanese Navy fighter that originated from the N1K Kyofu floatplane fighter. This lineage explains its distinctive mid-wing layout and long landing-gear legs. A powerful radial engine and heavy armament made the Shiden a dangerous opponent in the late Pacific War.

The kit is from Tamiya's own tooling and faithfully captures the aircraft's powerful shape, with a detailed cockpit interior, landing gear and wheel wells. The decals finish the aircraft in one of four Japanese-unit schemes.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with fuselage, wing and tail parts
• Four-blade propeller and a detailed cockpit interior and landing gear
• Clear canopy parts
• Waterslide decal sheet for 4 marking options (Imperial Japanese Navy)
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:72
• Item number: 60768
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: approx. 120.5 mm, wingspan: approx. 167 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate

Note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

As a Tamiya-tooled kit it features good parts fit and approachable assembly. Paint the cockpit interior before closing the fuselage and fit the canopy last, after painting.

Shiden aircraft most often wore dark green on the upper surfaces over a light grey underside, though some examples remained in natural metal. Lay the decals over a gloss coat to avoid silvering, then finish with a satin varnish. The instructions provide paint references for all four schemes.

Tools you'll need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for cleaning up sprue-gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Brushes of various sizes and modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Panel-line wash to emphasise detail and recesses
• Gloss varnish for the decals and a satin coat to finish
• Optional: self-adhesive canopy masks

About the aircraft – Kawanishi N1K1-Ja Shiden:

The Shiden was developed as a land-based evolution of the N1K Kyofu floatplane fighter. Moving the design to conventional wheeled landing gear required long legs so that the mid-mounted wing would give clearance for the large propeller.

Powered by a powerful radial engine and armed with 20 mm cannon, the N1K1-Ja was an agile, well-armed fighter that, in the hands of experienced pilots, posed a serious threat to Allied aircraft in the final phase of the Pacific War.

Original aircraft specifications (N1K1-Ja Shiden):

• Length: approx. 8.9 m
• Wingspan: approx. 12.0 m
• Height: approx. 4.06 m
• Max take-off weight: approx. 4,300 kg
• Powerplant: Nakajima Homare 21 radial engine, approx. 1,990 hp
• Max speed: approx. 580 km/h
• Armament: four 20 mm cannon; underwing bombs
• Crew: 1
• Feature: land-based development of a floatplane fighter

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 in Shizuoka, regarded as the heart of Japan's model-making industry. It launched its first injection-moulded plastic kit in 1960 and soon set a global benchmark for quality thanks to precise tooling and excellent parts fit. Tamiya's own-tooled kits are popular with beginners and experienced modellers alike, combining accurate detail with thoughtfully engineered, enjoyable assembly. Beyond plastic kits in many scales, the company offers a full range of accessories: paints, glues, tools and brushes. Tamiya operates in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable brands in the hobby.