Kawanishi N1K-2J Shidenkai Cockpit Set

FM Detail Sets

Here is another new cockpit detail set from FM Details.  This time, it is for the Hasegawa NIK2 Shidenkai kit. 

The instructions make no mention of which Hasegawa NIK2 kit that it has been made for.  I have had a quick measure of the parts against the newer of the NIK2 kits and everything appears to be right fit-wise.  I can’t comment on the fit to the older Hasegawa Shidenkai kit as I don’t have one in my stash to compare it to. 

Click on the thumbnails below to view larger images:

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In typical FM Models fashion, the set comprises a mixture of resin and photo-etched parts with a small acetate sheet for the instrument panel “glass”. 

The main resin parts include: 

• The cockpit floor which incorporates the front and rear bulkheads

• The cockpit sidewalls

• The instrument panel

• Gunsight

• Oxygen bottles

• Throttle box

• Control column

• Seat frame

• Rudder bar

The etched metal parts include:

• The seat – which you will have to fold up yourself

• Instrument panel

• Seatbelt and shoulder harness

•  Rudder pedals

• Trim wheel

• A myriad of small handles and levers that will make your cockpit look very busy. 

The resin parts are all well cast and exhibit a wealth of crisp, sharp detail that will well and truly stand out following the application of a wash and a dry-brush.   

The resin used is reasonably flexible.  The rear bulkhead on my example had been folded over to nearly 90 degrees.  The corner of it had broken away and I thought it was beyond salvation.  However, following a tentative dip into near boiling water I was surprised to see the bulkhead return to the vertical position without any coaxing whatsoever.  A quick application CA reunited the missing piece any you would not even notice that it had suffered any damage at all. 

The instruction sheet is a double-sided affair that shows exploded-view drawings that clearly identify each of the parts as well as providing a painting guide. 

The set comes packed in a clear plastic zip-loc bag with a stiff cardboard header – not stiff enough in my case judging by the damaged bulkhead! 

The accompanying photographs do not really do the parts justice.  They look much better in real life and will look even better under a coat of primer. 

As normally happens, I had only recently finished a Shidenkai when I received this set.  My initial thought was that the kit really does not need any enhancement as what is in the box is quite comprehensive.  However, as I compared the kit parts with the FM Detail parts and photographs of a restored Shidenkai in the Monogram Publications “Japanese Aircraft Interiors 1940-1945” it soon became evident that the FM Detail parts were far superior. 

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