1/32 scale J2M3 Raiden [Jack] Type 21

The Mitsubishi J2M3 Raiden (Allied code name "Jack") was an attack fighter aircraft of the Japanese Imperial Navy, developed by Dr. Jiro Horikoshi as a defender of the capital. The goal was to create a machine that could climb quickly to the altitudes where American B-29 bombers operated, and had sufficient armament to disable them. The Raiden sacrificed range and agility in favor of power and firepower - becoming a symbol of the determination of Japanese pilots in the last years of the war.

The machine was powered by a massive fourteen-cylinder Mitsubishi Kasei 23a engine, housed in an elongated fuselage with an extended nose to improve aerodynamics and cooling. Zoukei-Mura's kit reproduces this engine in detail, including the extension shaft, cooling fan and bulkheads between the cylinders to dissipate heat from the rear rows. Every structural element - from the cockpit frame to the landing gear to the fuselage support members - was based on meticulous research of the original machine, which is preserved at the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, USA.

The model shows a J2M3 (Raiden Type 21) equipped with four Type 99 20mm guns - two Type 99-2 Model 4 with 210 rounds internally and two Type 99-1 Model 4 with 190 rounds externally. Also included are wide propellers designed for high altitude flight, a realistically rendered landing gear with electrical controls and a cockpit with integrated controls and wiring.

The Zoukei-Mura provides a faithful recreation of the Raiden's "spindle" fuselage shape with typical transitions, curved upper section and massive rudder. This kit reveals the true design logic and technical elegance of one of Japan's most exciting WWII fighters - a fighter that challenged the B-29's dominance of the Japanese skies.

The package does not include the paint or glue needed to assemble.