Kyushu J7W2 Shindenkai (1945)

[unknowntales]

look...

www.fantastic-plastic.com/KyushuShindenkaiPage.htm


Imperial Japan's Kyushu J7W1 Shinden was one of the few propeller-driven "pusher" fighter ever slated for mass production. But even as the Japanese were tooling up to get the Shinden into the skies, plans were underway to upgrade the aircraft with the new jet engines that were coming on line.
This 1996 release from Hasegawa depicts the conceptual jet-powered version of the Shinden, the "Shindenkai," as it might have appeared had WWII continued into 1946.

[xeoran]

Very cool! We definately need some of these...

[Darkson]

Thats a sleek looking little jet. Does it come in 1/43 scale?

[tordenskjold]

Look very cool and pulpy, and it could make the Japanese a great air power.

[xeoran]

Well the Zero was an amazing power so I can see the Japanese as having a small but potent air force.

[unknowntales]

I suppose since its 1946 in the game, we'd use the Jet version. That would create the need for large supplies of fuel. Interesting plot line possibilities...

[unknowntales]

SCALE: 1/72

INITIAL RELEASE: 1996

MEDIUM: Polystyrene


---can't find any other scales for this unt..

[tordenskjold]

The site got lots of other good models, like the Germans "UFO" that have been mentioned in more than one thread.

[xeoran]

I'm sure I've been on that site before. The UFO models look interesting (wonder if we'll ever see some in AE?) but just too...non human/WW2. I keep thinking of a frisbee in silver.....

[skorzeny]

Depends how early the AE setting diverges from our own reality. By late 1944, the Japanese didn't really have any experienced pilots any more, and those few that remained were being used to train up the kamikazes. In fact, both the IJA and IJN commands were so damnably obsessed with 'special attack technique' that this was the focus of a new pilot's training! Even the 'volunteer' aspect of the kamikaze went out the window, with pilots who refused to employ it being degraded, abused and told that they would be doing their duty despite their intentions. Under such circumstances, it doesn't matter how good the aircraft are, they will still be inferior due to the poor quality of the pilots (look at the German misuse of some of their late war aircraft, but when a competent pilot got into one, the effects were quite nasty).

However, even as a kamaikaze, jets are scary. They'd be spotted by radar too late for AA crews on ships to put up much resistance, and be travelling so fast that hitting them would almost be a miracle. Given Japanese propensities for targetting troop ships, the losses would be ugly.

I'll defer to unknown here, since he has my 'Secret Japanese Aircraft of WWII' dvd, but I know the Japs were working on a jet-powered bomber as a delivery system for those hideous Ohka piloted rocket-bombs. The Ohka was a nasty weapon which could have done terrible things if its delivery system had been better (Bettys could be picked off long before they got within range of ships), combining them with jet bombers is certainly a match made in hell.

[xeoran]

Good points there Skorenzy. Of course perhaps German science allowed the Japanese to "grow" suicide pilots allowing for other pilots to be given normal training. Plus a kamikaze aircraft with a rocket on it would be nasty...

Have you got anymore on the Okhas? Thanks.