S~ ALL,
Although the Ki-44 isn't in the game as of yet, the hope is that it will be added in one of the forthcoming mods. So without further ado, here are four of the last illustrations I did in 2010.
The first nine preproduction Ki44s were issued to the Kingfisher unit for operational trials. Kuroe scored the first victory for the type when he downed a Buffalo. The marking for the Kingfisher unit was one to three diagonal stripes on the fin and aft fuselage in the shotai colour. The number of stripes indicated the position within the shotai. The Kingfisher Unit was later designated as the 47th Dokuritsu Chutai (Independant company). Since the Ki-44 was the most advanced JAAF fighter and was intended as a bomber interceptor, the 47th was recalled to Japan for home defence following the Doolittle Raid on 18 April 1942
Later the 47th was expanded to full regimental status and renamed the 47th Sentai. The marking now was as seen above. Between the previous one and this one, they had a very stylized 47 which morphed in the shape seen above - extend the vertical leg of the front triangle and you have a 4 and then the rear one is the 7 .. I probably should have just posted the profile.
Standard finish for the Ki44 was overall natural metal with grey-green control surfaces.
This one needs to be corrected as the pattern is not quite right - it is a correct pattern, but since doing it, I have found a better view of the subject aircraft and it has larger and a more brushed appearing mottle. I can still use this for another aircraft in the future though.
Aircraft assigned to home defence in Japan, carried 'bandage' markings behind the wing and fuselage hinomaru. Usually this was in white, but yellow was also regularly used. Also of note is the non-standard red leading edge stripe, the usual practice was a yellow leading edge stripe.
With the increase in B29s raids, special sections were formed in which the pilots pledged to down an enemy bomber by ramming. Within the 47th Sentai, this section was formed from the 2nd Chutai and was called the Sky Shadow Air Superiority Unit. They usually removed all armament and the gunsights to lighten their aircraft and added a red stripe to the fuselage.
Each of the training units formed active duty flights - usually of instructors - to provide additional air defence. The usual training unit emblem on the tail gained wings in aircraft so assigned
[edit - added two more profiles]
