Mansyu Ki-98 1/33 MPModel 42

[ricleite]

Getting back to planes, the next one is an experimental Japanese fighter – Mansyu Ki-98, by MPModel.
The first photos, as always, show the kit. I counted 497 parts. So, not too simple and not too complicated.
The color scheme is simple – green and silver – but the aircraft shape should result in an attractive model.
Assembly diagrams are not limited to 2 pages, as it might look. There are some drawings next to the parts, namely for the landing gear.
Photo 4 shows the laser cut set. I got the plastic canopy, too.

[Don Boose]

I look forward to seeing you apply your skill and experience to this model of an unusual and rare airplane.

Don

[tigertony100]

this is going to be a spectacular Japanese plane.

[ricleite]

Welcome aboard, Don and Tigertony
The photos show the ordnance provided in the kit: two bombs and two external fuel tanks. The kit includes circular card formers but no gluing tabs. I added them. The tank skin is modeled in a single part, with petals on both ends. I opted to cut that part in 3 sections. This way, there is access to both petal sets and it is easier to get a decent finish. As you see, there are just two pylons.

[Royaloakmin]

A treat for Christmas, Ricardo!

[Isaac]

A bit of a background about this Japanese concept plane :

The Mansyū Ki-98, (also written as Manshū Ki-98),[1] was a Japanese ground-attack aircraft proposed by Mansyū (Manshūkoku Hikōki K.K. - Manchuria Airplane Manufacturing Company Ltd.) during World War II for use by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. The still unassembled components of the first prototype were deliberately destroyed before Japan surrendered.

There were many more concept X planes that the Japanese designed or create a concept of. Sort of like the German Luft 46 topic.


Isaac

[ricleite]

I’ll take a little longer, Fred. Hmm, talking about Christmas, I’ll have something to show, soon
Thanks for the information, Isaac. I have a copy of a book named “Japanese Secret Projects”. They had a lot! Not as many and varied as the Luftwaffe, anyway. The same series has, to my knowledge, 3 books devoted to German Secret Projects…

The cockpit is neatly modeled, not to Halinski’s detail level but, nevertheless, very effective.

[Isaac]

my reference books including one in Japanese I purchased when I lived in Tokyo.


Reality is that the Japanese secret projects were not as prominent as the German ones. And this twin boom pusher plane aircraft concept was tried a few times including the USA,Soviets, Sweden, France etc...




Isaac

[Isaac]

Here are examples of similar concepts of pusher prop twin boom fighter concepts from the same era. Other than the Swedish SAAB J21, non achieved production. An even the SAAB J21 was a marjinal aircraft replaced by jets .


Fokker D.XXIII

SAAB J21

Vultee XP-54

SNCASO Narval



All interesting concepts. I really like them.



Looking forward to your further build !



Isaac

[ricleite]

Of those, my favorite is the XP-54. Maybe a kit will pop up. MPM is releasing kits at an astonishing rate…
Well, an astonishing rate makes it more probable for glitches to appear. Is there anything wrong on the ailerons? Yes, someone forgot to mirror the colors! The wings have the ailerons printed, to be removed in the “realistc” version, where the separete ailerons are to be used. They should provide parts to correct the problem.