Tamiya 61018 - 1/48 Mitsubishi J2M Raiden (Jack)  [61018]

The Raiden had been created by engineer Jiro Horikoshi and their developers who had taken cost of the Zero Fighter. To minimize air resistance, wasn't best suited to be utilized in a fighter. The Raiden was created by engineer Jiro Horikoshi and their designers who had taken cost associated with Zero Fighter. To minimize atmosphere opposition, the propeller shaft associated with motor ended up being made much longer while the cowling had been made slenderer. To obtain higher air conditioning efficiency, the forced-cooling fan was used. The body ended up being spindle-shaped using its biggest section at the 40per cent of its overall size. The wing load ended up being because big as 145 kg/m? and, in due consideration of dogfights, Fowler flaps were employed. The retracting system and propeller pitch changing system regarding the electric type had been utilized in host to those of hydraulic type which had a negative reputation.

The 14-Shi Interceptor made its very first journey at Kasumigaura Airfield on 20th March, 1942. Because of different tests routes made thereafter, defects such as for example inadequate energy associated with Kasei motor, bad vibration regarding the extended propeller shaft and poor presence had been pointed out. A production type which bettered presence by shortening the nose and remodelling the canopy and mounted the stronger Kasei 23 engine equipped with the water-methanol injection system made its first journey on 13th October, 1942. The manufacturing kind additionally developed numerous problems in the motor along with other parts, also it was at December 1943 that the plane had been accepted to be used underneath the title of Raiden Type 11 (J2M2). Inside meantime, the Raiden Type 21 (J2M3), an anti-bomber fighter which had more effective armament composed of four belt-fed 20mm device weapons, was finished in October 1943 and today became the primary item of production. The manufacturing of the kind 21 totaled about 300.

The Raiden Type 21 first saw action inside Battle of Mariana in September 1944. Later, some were delivered to the Philippines and Formosa and took part in actions, nevertheless the result had not been as good as the Japanese had anticipated. It was in air defense actions the mainland by the Raiden device associated with the 302nd Air Group according to Atsugi that the Raiden exercised unique power to the entire and revealed the most brilliant activity. The Raiden product distinguished itself by shooting straight down a complete of about 300 enemy planes within the little while from end of 1944 toward end of the war. It owed much of its success to the fact that it might readily get necessary material from nearby Koza naval air toolbox which produced the Raiden, the geographical conditions that its base Atsugi ended up being situated nearby the length of B29 bombers intruding in to the Kanto district, plus the most useful consolidated atmosphere immune system and air control through radar network.