Vought AXV1 V-143 Imperial Japanese Navy Naval Air Technical Arsenal

These are 1/72 scale decals for the Vought AXV1 (V-143), evaluated by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) at the Naval Air Technical Arsenal (海軍航空技術廠), wearing overall natural metal with hinomaru national markings in four sizes and "VOUGHT V-143" manufacturer's stenciling.

The AXV1 was the Imperial Japanese Navy's designation for the Vought V-143 — a single-seat monoplane fighter that Vought sold to Japan for technical evaluation in 1937. The V-143 was itself a development of the Vought V-141, which in turn was derived directly from the Northrop 3-A — making the AXV1 a direct descendant of the same design lineage already represented in the ootbModels range. The significance of this transaction cannot be overstated: Japanese engineers at the Naval Air Technical Arsenal studied the V-143 in exhaustive detail, and the lessons learned — particularly regarding retractable undercarriage design, stressed-skin construction, and aerodynamic refinement — are widely credited as having directly influenced the development of the Mitsubishi A6M Zero.

In other words, an American company sold Japan a fighter that helped them design the Zero — one of the more remarkable ironies of interwar aviation history. The Naval Air Technical Arsenal crest and the Rising Sun flag are included on the decal sheet alongside four hinomaru in two sizes. Includes two stencil size options: "VOUGHT V-143" in two sizes.

A fascinating link in the chain from the Northrop 3-A to the Zero — a natural companion to the Northrop 3-A XP-948 listing, and an essential subject for any prewar IJN, Zero origins, or interwar fighter collection. Please allow some time for decal printing and shipping.