This is the second decal sheet that Lifelike has released for the Hasegawa 1/48th scale Nakajima Ki-44 Tojo. This particular sheet is unique with the inclusion of a bunch of aircraft with kill markings on the sides.

The decals themselves are printed by Cartograf, so they are very thin and in perfect register. The decals are included on three sheets. The first and largest sheet contains everything but the kill markings. The second sheet is a small sheet that includes ‘scratched’ number ‘2’, which is perfectly executed, and the kill markings. To show you the level of attention to detail, there is a third sheet that is a correction sheet for the one set of kill markings that is finer and better executed than the previous sheet. Well done, Lifelike.

The instructions are included on two single-sided A4 sheets. The first one includes the profile cover views and the upper and lower views. The other sheet contains the historical data and the research used to determine the markings and colors. This is one of the things that I like about Lifelike Decals. They provide you the references just in case you want to use them to make your own determination. Where they are not sure, they let you know that, based on the best possible data, this or that is speculative. It makes Lifelike stand apart from other decal manufacturers.

• Aircraft 1 is flown by Capt. Yoshi Yoshida of the 70th Sentai in June 1945, a natural metal aircraft with five victory markings painted on the side. This aircraft is interesting because Yoshida scored five night victories in this aircraft and was awarded the Bukousho medal.
• Aircraft 2 is my favorite of this sheet. It includes home defense bands and has five victory markings. The number ‘2’ exhibits the scratches perfectly rendered on the decals. The aircraft was flown by Warrant Officer Makoto Ogawa of the 70th Sentai in June 1945. The level of detail taken by Lifelike is exhibited in the kill markings. The top row was worn more than the center row and the bottom row was even newer. Well, the decals show this uneven wear of the kill markings perfectly. I’ve never seen this level of detail in decals before from any manufacturer.
• Aircraft 3, also attached to the 70th Sentai in February 1943, carries a resplendent kill marking of an F6F. It is uncertain that the aircraft belonged to either the 1st or 3rd Chutai, so Lifelike gives you both tail unit markings and lets you choose which one you like.
• The final aircraft is a 9th Sentai aircraft with heavily chipped green paint. This aircraft is based off some illustrations and not necessarily from photos.

The kill markings make this sheet very desirable. The finesse of the scratches on the markings and the inclusion of the correction sheet show the level of detail that is a hallmark of Lifelike articles.

Highly recommended

Thanks to Lifelike Decals for the review copy.