GB-63 1/32 Mitsubishi J2M3 - Stormy Weather
User Name : Wayne Little
First Name : Wayne
Category : Judge - Non Competing
Manufacturer/ Model : Hasegawa 1/32 Mitsubishi J2M3 Raiden
Scale : 1/32
Extras : Eduard Etch Seatbelts and canopy masks
Finally on track for this GB.
Decided on a Mitsubishi J2M3 Raiden "Thunderbolt / Lightning Bolt"
This aircraft is probably the most recognised of any J2M3 as it carried the twin Lightning Bolt Fuselage marking.
It was flown by Lt. JG Aoki Yoshihiro, Commander of the 3rd Buntai of 352 Kokutai based at Omura Air base in Nagasaki Prefecture, Kyushu in March 1945.
Picture Credits from,
Model Art 11 Mitsubishi J2M Raiden
Famous Aircraft of the World 61 Navy Interceptor Raiden
and some History,
The Mitsubishi J2M 'Raiden' Sometimes translated as "Lightning Bolt" and sometimes "Thunderbolt" was a single-engine land-based fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in World War II.
The Allied reporting name was "Jack". The J2M was designed by Jiro Horikoshi, creator of the A6M Zero, to meet the 14-Shi (14th year of the Showa reign, or 1939) official specification. It was to be a strictly local-defence interceptor, intended to counter the threat of high-altitude bomber raids, and thus relied on speed, climb performance, and armament at the expense of manoeuvrability.
The first few produced J2M2s were delivered to the development units in December 1942 but severe problems were encountered with the engines. Trials and improvements took almost a year and the first batch of the serial built J2M2 Model 11 was delivered to 381st Kokutai in December 1943. Parallel with the J2M2, production of the J2M3 Raiden Model 21 started. The first J2M3s appeared in October 1943 but deliveries to combat units started at the beginning of February 1944.
The Raiden made its combat debut in June 1944 during the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Several J2Ms operated from Guam and Saipan and a small number of aircraft were deployed to the Philippines.
Primarily designed to defend against the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, the type was handicapped at high altitude by the lack of a turbocharger. However, its four-cannon armament supplied effective firepower and the use of dive and zoom tactics allowed it to score occasionally. Insufficient numbers and the American switch to night bombing in March 1945 limited its effectiveness.
* Edit Courtesy of Wikipedia
User Name : Wayne Little
First Name : Wayne
Category : Judge - Non Competing
Manufacturer/ Model : Hasegawa 1/32 Mitsubishi J2M3 Raiden
Scale : 1/32
Extras : Eduard Etch Seatbelts and canopy masks
Finally on track for this GB.
Decided on a Mitsubishi J2M3 Raiden "Thunderbolt / Lightning Bolt"
This aircraft is probably the most recognised of any J2M3 as it carried the twin Lightning Bolt Fuselage marking.
It was flown by Lt. JG Aoki Yoshihiro, Commander of the 3rd Buntai of 352 Kokutai based at Omura Air base in Nagasaki Prefecture, Kyushu in March 1945.
Picture Credits from,
Model Art 11 Mitsubishi J2M Raiden
Famous Aircraft of the World 61 Navy Interceptor Raiden
and some History,
The Mitsubishi J2M 'Raiden' Sometimes translated as "Lightning Bolt" and sometimes "Thunderbolt" was a single-engine land-based fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in World War II.
The Allied reporting name was "Jack". The J2M was designed by Jiro Horikoshi, creator of the A6M Zero, to meet the 14-Shi (14th year of the Showa reign, or 1939) official specification. It was to be a strictly local-defence interceptor, intended to counter the threat of high-altitude bomber raids, and thus relied on speed, climb performance, and armament at the expense of manoeuvrability.
The first few produced J2M2s were delivered to the development units in December 1942 but severe problems were encountered with the engines. Trials and improvements took almost a year and the first batch of the serial built J2M2 Model 11 was delivered to 381st Kokutai in December 1943. Parallel with the J2M2, production of the J2M3 Raiden Model 21 started. The first J2M3s appeared in October 1943 but deliveries to combat units started at the beginning of February 1944.
The Raiden made its combat debut in June 1944 during the Battle of the Philippine Sea. Several J2Ms operated from Guam and Saipan and a small number of aircraft were deployed to the Philippines.
Primarily designed to defend against the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, the type was handicapped at high altitude by the lack of a turbocharger. However, its four-cannon armament supplied effective firepower and the use of dive and zoom tactics allowed it to score occasionally. Insufficient numbers and the American switch to night bombing in March 1945 limited its effectiveness.
* Edit Courtesy of Wikipedia
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