Mitsubishi J3M3 “Raiden” – the Japanese fighter

The history of this aircraft began in October 1938, when the chief engineer of the Mitsubishi company, Jiro Hirokoshi, began preliminary negotiations with the representative of the aviation of the military fleet for the design of a ground-based fighter - an interceptor. But due to the fact, that the design of the proposed aircraft was significantly different from the fighters, used in the Japanese fleet at that time, and the “Zero” project took a lot of money and time, the future fighter was put "in reserve" for a long time. The situation changed in September 1939, when a tender was announced for exactly the purposes, for which Hirokoshi's project was intended. Design work began in 1940, but the priority of the “Zero” fighters kept pushing the project of this fighter further. And only on March 20, 1942 J2M1 took off for its first flight. The aircraft was easy to fly, but visibility from the cockpit begged for improvement, and the drop-shaped cockpit canopy (even at the front) severely distorted the view. The aircraft had more shortcomings, but was mainly targeted for redesign, because it did not achieve the required maximum and takeoff speed. To fix things, a new, more powerful and narrower engine was installed in prototype 4, the visibility from the cockpit was improved, and the front windshield was made flat. The Japanese Navy was so convinced of the aircraft's success, that it ordered serial production to begin even before the end of flight tests. As soon, as the fighters entered service, the consequences of that hasty decision became apparent: the engine spewed smoke, vibrations began in some flight modes, the tail landing gear retracted, the wheel locked the pitch rudder in the thrust position. Later all these problems were eliminated, but only 155 copies of the J2M2 were produced, and from May 1944 they were replaced in production by the J2M3. Only 260 aircraft of this type were produced.

An uncomplicated, well-designed and beautiful model airplane, perfect for even the advanced beginner modeler, working under the supervision of a more experienced colleague. Only it does not have to be one of the first more complex models.