KI-84 vs P-38J

[Rich46yo]

I find myself fascinated by this matchup.

Tell me how you would fight the one in the other.

[Triton28]

The 38 needs to either get aggressive quickly, or keep the KI at arms length until a mistake is made.  Most of what the 38 does well, the KI does better.  Early in the fight is the biggest danger for the KI, since the 38 gets into flaps quicker and can sometimes get an angle if the KI is too fast. 

[FBKampfer]

I think a better match is the 38 vs the 109G2.

[Delirium]

Triton nailed it.

I remember having lots of duels against Gianlupo in his Ki84 and it gave me fits!

(I wonder how Gianlupo is doing, I haven't seen him in a long while)

[Slade]

If OldCoot is in the P-38 you are a gonner.  No point.  Just bail.  He has gotten crazy good in that thing.

I would like to see INK vs. OldCoot.  Have a film of that.

Fighting OldCoot in planes similar to the Ki-84 almost makes me want to fly the P-38 more.  Also when I encounter Mossy's that out turn me in turny birds.  That seems to be happening more and more.

[Randy1]

Perfect answer Triton. 

The Ki is not only a large offensive threat, it takes a lot of damage to bring it down.  The only weakness I know of from using the Ki is guns.  They have plenty of hit power but loose accuracy fast with distance.   A skilled Ki stick probably has less of a problem than I do with long shots.

[Full Metal Jug]

They're the same canons as on the zero, roll back your canopy and throw your 20mms.

[Karnak]

They're the same canons as on the zero, roll back your canopy and throw your 20mms.

They are not the same cannons as on the A6Ms.  Much higher muzzle velocity and much higher rate of fire, but lower shell weight with less explosive.  I'd like to see you throw a 20mm shell at 750m/sec.

A6M5b's cannons have similar muzzle velocities, but their rate of fire is even lower than the A6M2 or A6M3's.

[Slade]

A6M5b's cannons have similar muzzle velocities, but their rate of fire is even lower than the A6M2 or A6M3's.

Sorry to ask this really dumb question.  Which Zero would you say has the most lethal gun package?

Thanks,

Slade 

[Karnak]

Sorry to ask this really dumb question.  Which Zero would you say has the most lethal gun package?

Thanks,

Slade 

A6M5b without question.  The Type 99 Model IIs it carries are the second hardest hitting 20mm cannons in the game and it replaces one of the 7.7mm machine guns with a 13.2mm machine gun.

The Type 99 Model IIs also have more ammo due to a belt feed and a much improved muzzle velocity.  Their weakness is their horrible rate of fire, much lower than any other 20mm cannon, even the Hispano Mk II's.  That said, it is not nearly low enough for the Type 99 Model Is on the A6M2 and A6M3 to compete.  The N1K2-J carries four of the Type 99 Model IIs with a boatload of ammo, really making the gun shine.

All that said, I find the A6M3 the most fun to fly and fight in of the A6Ms.

[Rich46yo]

But the P-38 is an even larger "offensive threat" aint it?

I know enough about it to know you never want to be in front of its guns no matter how or when. Even 600 away it can be deadly.

Perfect answer Triton. 

The Ki is not only a large offensive threat, it takes a lot of damage to bring it down.  The only weakness I know of from using the Ki is guns.  They have plenty of hit power but loose accuracy fast with distance.   A skilled Ki stick probably has less of a problem than I do with long shots.

[Devil 505]

But the P-38 is an even larger "offensive threat" aint it?

I know enough about it to know you never want to be in front of its guns no matter how or when. Even 600 away it can be deadly.

Well it's larger, that's for sure.

[hgtonyvi]

Triton nailed it.

I remember having lots of duels against Gianlupo in his Ki84 and it gave me fits!

(I wonder how Gianlupo is doing, I haven't seen him in a long while)

Hey del remember me in the Ki84 also?....was some great fights.

[Guppy35]

First thing I'd do is take a 38G instead.  Fun to get low and slow with 84s

[Triton28]

But the P-38 is an even larger "offensive threat" aint it?

I know enough about it to know you never want to be in front of its guns no matter how or when. Even 600 away it can be deadly.

The 38 is faster and dives better, so I suppose that gives it an offensive edge in certain situations.  The 38 guns are the best in the game, IMO, so that's a bit of an offensive feather in it's cap too.

As much as I love the 38, if I were in a dogfight that I had to win, I'd rather be in the KI if everything was equal.