Japanese Fighter Airplane Model Kits

In the summer of 1937 Japan started action against China and threw into the front a great number of the newest planes which Japan had created with their original ideas and technique. Concerning fighters in particular, Japan had abandoned biplane type which was counted as the common sense of the then world and already employed the Type 96 Carrier Fighter (96 Kansen) that Japan had produced on the basis of many pieces of new technique and ideas such as all-metal, internally braced low wing monoplane design and the engine cowling designed to reduce air resistance. 96 Kansens always successfully engaed with I-15 and I-16 fighters and SB-2 bombers of Russian make as well as Gladiator fighters of

In September 1939, aircraft manufacturers Nakajima and Mitsubishi received an unofficial order to trial-manufacture the Raiden, the Japanese Navy's first interceptor (a fighter to undertake the air defence of land bases). It was finally decided, however, that the development and trial-manufacture of the Raiden should be conducted only by Mitsubishi. It was in April of 1940 that the plane was designated "14-Shi Interceptor (J2M1)" and official requirements were set out by the Navy. The requirements gave priority to climbing power, maximum speed and high altitude performance. Aircraft engines of those days that could meet all these requirements were only the air-cooled engine "Kasei" type 11 t

In 1939, the Naval Aviation Headquarters conceived a plan of trial manufacturing a floatplane fighter, a new type beyond all precedents in the world. On the assumption of landing and invading the Southern regions, the Japanese Navy intended in those days to station float planes in waterways and bays near the landing places until the completion of land air bases for the purpose of defending those under construction and occupied territories. Since the floatplanes might have to fight with enemy fighters in the air, they were required to be pure fighters comparing favourably with enemy fighters in performance. The Navy firmly believed that sufficiently armed floatplanes would be able to fight on

First flight was on 1 April 1939 and combat trials were concluded in July 1940 with 15 pre-production A6M2's sent to two squadrons by the end of the month. These aircraft had folding wing tips to accommodate aircraft carrier elevators, and were the ones first seen by Gen. Chennault in China, and at Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Although the A6M2 met or exceeded original design specifications, modifications were taking place at the Mitsubishi factory to improve roll rate, speed up handling aboard carriers, and utilize the uprated Sakae 21, 1,130 hp engine. The first A6M3 type 32 (code named HAMP) took to the air on 15 July 1941 with production beginning in April 42. A total of 343 aircraft w

A plane which since July 1932 the Nakajima Aircraft Mfg. Company had designed and manufactured for trial under the name of KI-84 was officially adopted in April 1944 by the Army as the Fighter Type 4 "Hayate" and the mass production was started. The number of the Hayate produced by the end of World War II totaled about 3,500 which ranks next to that of the Zero and the Hayabusa but is the largest in the Japanese aircraft history in view of the number produced in about a year. The performance of the Hayate was equal to, or higher than that of the Allies' fighters of those days. This was the first fighter worthy of the name having excellent speed (climbing ability), firepower and maneuverabili

Total production of the Type 52 series consisted of 10,449 aircraft of which Nakajima produced 6,570. It first entered combat in August 1943 at a time when the Japanese forces were withdrawing from previously held islands in the South Pacific. The type 52c was the last of the A6M5 series, and the most effective against Allied aircraft due to its armament configuration three of 13mm machine guns and two 20mm cannons. A total of 93 Type 52 and 52b zeros were field modified to "c" weapons configuration. The 7.7mm machine guns, housed in the cowling of the Zero since its first introduction, proved to be less effective during the latter stages of the conflict, due to the heavier armor protection

This is the 1/72 Scale A6M2b Zero Aircraft Plastic Model Kit by Airfix.

This is the 1/72 Scale Mitsubishi J2M3 Raiden (Jack) Plastic Model Kit from Hasegawa.

This is the 1/72 Scale Nakajima Ki84 Hayate (Frank) Plastic Model Kit from Hasegawa.

This is the 1/72 Scale Nakajima Ki43-II Hayabusa (Oscar) Plastic Model Kit from Hasegawa.

This is the 1/72 Scale Zero Fighter Type 52 Plastic Model Kit from Hobby Boss. Suitable for Ages 14 & Older.

This is the 1/72 Scale Kawasaki Ki61-I Tei Hien (Tony) Plastic Model Kit from Hasegawa.

This is the 1/144 scale A6M2 'ZERO' Fighter plastic model airplane kit from Minicraft Models.

This is the 1/48 Scale Kawakaki Ki-61-Id Hein (Tony) Plastic Model Kit from Tamiya. Suitable for Ages 14 & Older.

This is the 1/48 Scale Kawasaki Ki45Kai Tei Toryu (Nick) Plastic Model Kit from Hasegawa Suitable for Ages 10 & Up.

This is a 1/32 Scale Type 52 Zero Fighter Plastic Model Kit from Hasegawa.

This is the A6M2B Zero Fighter MOD.21 plastic model kit from Academy Plastics.

This is a 1/72 Plastic A6M5c Zero Fighter Type 52c Model Kit from Academy Plastics. It's for ages 10 and up. The Zero Fighter was the Imperial Japanese Navy's first single-seat and sinlge-engined shipboard fighter with the retractable undercarriage. It was the most produced type of Japanese aircraft during WWII. Towards the end of WWII many of the Zero fighters were converted for use as Kamikaze attack craft.

This is the 1/72 Scale A6M2b Zero Fighter (Zeke) Plastic Model Kit by Tamiya. Suitable for Age 14 & Older.

At the begining of World War II, the Imperial Navy had created the finest naval aviation corps in the world.