1/32 Mitsubishi J2M5 Raiden Type 33

Description

This is an injection-plastic aircraft model kit.

This kit contains parts molded in grey and clear plastic and includes decals. Completed model has a wingspan of 337mm and a length of 303mm.

From the manufacutrer:

From the beginning of hostilities in China in 1937, the Japanese Navy had been the target of small but annoying bombing attacks by Chinese air forces. Feeling the need for a high-speed, quick-climbing interceptor to combat such raids, work began on what was to eventually become the Raiden (“Thunderbolt”) in 1938.

Slowed by priority work on the A6M Zero, Jiro Horikoshi’s team at Mitsubishi eventually chose to employ the powerful 14-cylinder Mitsubishi Kasei 13 radial engine in the new plane despite concerns about its large size and high fuel consumption. To combat the big power plant’s drag, it was decided to mount it deep within a long, tapered cowling, connecting the propeller via an extension shaft and incorporating a cooling fan.

The first prototype flight finally took place in March of 1942, but problems with the engine and its cooling system, poor pilot visibility and sub-specification performance led to numerous modifications. These included replacement of the engine and extension shaft system with the smaller Kasei 23a, resulting in a shorter nose and improved visibility.