Ahem. My opinion.
The current N1K2 performance deserves 5.7 because of its overall strength in an actual match.
3 things that can be “fixed” I find are as follows.
1, Mercury-switch flaps(AKA automatic combat flaps) are supposed to be deployed based on G-force.
2, There is no prop-wash interaction for the unique 4-degree root airfoil incidence which gave it a tremendous low speed lift with power.
3, The real N1K"2" had a mechanical “Speed-based stick angle mapping device” (腕比変更装置 direct translate : Arm ratio adjustment device note: arm here means *arm as a body part, *lever, *leverage )that allowed the aircraft to use more stick travel for the smaller surface deflection angles. This is an evolution from the A6M’s stretching control wires. A6M’s control wires stretched at higher speed so the pilot could tilt the stick at higher angle to deflect the aileron and elevator surfaces in a smaller magnitude, allowing them to maneuver the aircraft precisely, and slightly reducing the effort by the leverage(the longer travel distance of the hand allowed the pilot to control the aircraft “more comfortably”). Though this system for A6M restricted the turn performance at higher speed “Theoretically”, and the stretching of the wires consumed some of the pilot’s exerted arm force. Kawanishi’s new control mapping device removed the issue with the latter. It worked by moving the relative distance between the mechanical rot(wire port) with the control stick axis position. But unlike A6M’s smooth transition, it was a mult-stage system. The testbed N1K2(prototype, since all N1K2 had this device.) is equipped with this device even for a rudder, but later it is revealed it wasn’t necessary for the rudder. The production aircraft differed in that it had no rudder adjustment device.
The in-game N1K1-Ja and N1K2’s FM is very bad in full real control. The rudder is extremely sensitive beyond comprehension and the real aircraft had a problem with the rudder providing too much stability when trying to yaw at high speed(especially for N1K2-J variant).
4, The current flaps for N1K2 have really terrible lift coefficient compared to other vehicles. Though the value itself is realistic(without propwash). Other vehicles are given way better values. It’s like having more sources on a vehicle makes the vehicle worse, not only for N1K2.
Also, the drag coefficient is halved for N1K1-Ja in a patch a year ago. The N1K2 is untouched so N1K1’s flaps have drastically better efficiency at preserving the energy. IRL the N1K’s flaps are designed to achieve a better L/D ratio with automatic flaps on. It’s directly stated by the head of Kawanishi designing headquarter. I recall it from a documentary interview video.
5, The definition of gross weight is inconsistent for vehicles.
Even if Gaijin is decided in keeping one formula for all vehicles when deciding the “empty weight” of the vehicles. Some vehicles obviously don’t care about having extra weight of the armors or cartridges. What I believe is that the empty weight includes the cartridge weight of the ammo. So it makes sense for extra 400 of 20mm rounds to hold a weight least 100kg not excluding “belt rings”. Even then, N1K1 in the game is too lightweighted compared to N1K2.
5, The rudder surface area is different between N1K2-J and N1K2-Ja, at least they are supposed to be different. It’s reflected in the in-game 3D models. But the FM is shared between them like J21A-1/J21A-3.
6, N1K2-Ja is a bomber variant. N1K2-J is designed as a fighter from the get-go. So, the bombload should be different. And N1K2-J should be lighter than N1K2-Ja because of the modifications they had to undergo.
The source? It’s Wikipedia.
…
Anyway.
I think giving proper automatic flaps to N1K2 won’t make it better in most case scenarios. Especially because it worsens the energy retention (at least in this game). It’s specifically for the ww2-era pilots accustomed to turn fighting. The main problem of this vehicle would be it’s bad energy retention in maneuvers.
By the way I rate it 5.7 for having more dakka, or let’s say, dakkability with its longer-lasting ammo supply.
Alright.
Gaijin does not care. If they cared about it, they prob fixed it years ago.
BTW Gaijin doesn’t care how much Japan cared about the tight turn circles. Even J1N1 had automatic flaps, this one is synced with the outer wing slats. So basically they are tied to the AoA. Of course they had manual control over them. And flaps were 2-staged, 20 degree for take off and combat, 40 degree for landing. So there really aren’t separate combat and take-off flap positions for J1N1.
F4F has the same auto-retracting flaps but they were regulated by unpowered-state hydraulic chambers, the air resistance pushed against the hydraulics. So it was butter smooth in the air.
I burnt my curry in the pressure cooker typing this.
