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

The Raiden had been created by engineer Jiro Horikoshi and their designers that has taken cost of the Zero Fighter. To reduce air opposition, was not ideal become employed in a fighter. The Raiden is made by engineer Jiro Horikoshi and their developers who had taken expense related to Zero Fighter. To attenuate environment opposition, the propeller shaft related to motor ended up being made considerably longer although the cowling had been made slenderer. To obtain greater air-con efficiency, the forced-cooling fan had been utilized. The human body ended up being spindle-shaped using its biggest part 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 had been employed. The retracting system and propeller pitch changing system about the electric type was utilized in host to those of hydraulic kind which had a negative reputation.

The 14-Shi Interceptor made its 1st journey at Kasumigaura Airfield on 20th March, 1942. Due to different tests tracks made thereafter, defects such as inadequate power connected with Kasei engine, bad vibration concerning the extended propeller shaft and bad existence was in fact revealed. A production kind which bettered existence by shortening the nose and remodelling the canopy and mounted the more powerful Kasei 23 motor loaded with the water-methanol injection system made its very first journey on 13th October, 1942. The manufacturing kind additionally developed numerous dilemmas in the engine and also other parts, plus it was at December 1943 that the airplane have been accepted to be used within the title of Raiden Type 11 (J2M2). Inside meantime, the Raiden Type 21 (J2M3), an anti-bomber fighter which had more effective armament consists of four belt-fed 20mm unit weapons, ended up being completed in October 1943 and after this became the main item of manufacturing. The production associated with the sort 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, even so the outcome was not as effective as the Japanese had expected. It absolutely was in air defense actions the mainland by the Raiden unit from the 302nd Air Group in accordance with Atsugi that the Raiden exercised unique power to the entire and unveiled the absolute most brilliant activity. The Raiden product distinguished it self by shooting lower a whole of about 300 enemy planes inside the short time from end of 1944 toward end associated with the war. It owed much of its success towards undeniable fact that it may readily get necessary product from nearby Koza naval atmosphere toolbox which produced the Raiden, the geographical conditions that its base Atsugi ended up being situated nearby the size of B29 bombers intruding in the Kanto district, and the most readily useful consolidated atmosphere immune system and air control through radar network.