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

The Raiden ended up being created by engineer Jiro Horikoshi and their designers who'd taken cost of the Zero Fighter. To lessen atmosphere opposition, was not suitable to be used in a fighter. The Raiden ended up being created by engineer Jiro Horikoshi and their developers who had taken fee associated with Zero Fighter. To lessen atmosphere opposition, the propeller shaft regarding the motor ended up being made much longer and also the cowling ended up being made slenderer. To obtain higher cooling efficiency, the forced-cooling fan was used. Your body had been spindle-shaped using its biggest part during the 40percent of its overall length. The wing load had been because big as 145 kg/m? and, in due consideration of dogfights, Fowler flaps had been used. The retracting system and propeller pitch changing system of the electric type were used in place of those for the hydraulic kind which had a poor reputation.

The 14-Shi Interceptor made its very first journey at Kasumigaura Airfield on 20th March, 1942. As a result of various tests routes made thereafter, defects like insufficient energy of Kasei engine, bad vibration associated with the extended propeller shaft and poor exposure were stated. A production type which bettered presence by reducing 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 production kind also developed numerous troubles into the motor alongside sections, therefore was in December 1943 that the plane had been accepted to be used in title of Raiden Type 11 (J2M2). In meantime, the Raiden Type 21 (J2M3), an anti-bomber fighter which had more powerful armament consisting of four belt-fed 20mm device weapons, ended up being completed in October 1943 and now became the key item of production. The manufacturing of the kind 21 totaled about 300.

The Raiden Type 21 very first saw action in the Battle of Mariana in September 1944. Later, some were delivered to the Philippines and Formosa and took part in actions, nevertheless the outcome wasn't just like the Japanese had anticipated. It absolutely was in air defense actions for the mainland by the Raiden product of the 302nd Air Group considering Atsugi that the Raiden exercised its very own capacity to the total and revealed probably the most brilliant task. The Raiden device distinguished itself by shooting straight down an overall total of about 300 enemy planes into the short period through the end of 1944 to your end of this war. It owed a lot of its success towards the proven fact that it might easily get necessary material through the nearby Koza naval air toolbox which produced the Raiden, the geographical conditions that its base Atsugi was situated close to the length of B29 bombers intruding to the Kanto region, as well as the most useful consolidated air immune system and air control in the shape of radar community.