Yokosuka Ohka II
Piloted Flying Bomb

OzMods, 1/32 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Eduard's 1/72 scale Bf 110 G-4 is available online from Squadron.com

The Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka was a purpose-built, rocket powered human-guided anti-shipping kamikaze attack plane employed by Japan towards the end of World War II.

The design was conceived by Ensign Mitsuo Ohta of the 405th Kokutai, aided by students of the Aeronautical Research Institute at the University of Tokyo. Ohta submitted his plans to the Yokosuka research facility. The Imperial Japanese Navy decided the idea had merit and Yokosuka engineers of the Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal (Dai-Ichi Kaigun Koku Gijitsusho, or in short Kugisho) created formal blueprints for what was to be the MXY7.

The only variant that saw service was the Model 11. This was powered by three Type 4 Mark 1 Model 20 rockets.

155 Ohka Model 11s were built at Yokosuka, and another 600 were built at the Kasumigaura Naval Air Arsenal.

The final approach was almost unstoppable because the aircraft gained high speed (403 miles per hour (649 km/h) in level flight and 576 miles per hour (927 km/h) or even 650 miles per hour (1,050 km/h) in a dive).

Later versions were designed to be launched from coastal air bases and caves, and even from submarines equipped with aircraft catapults, although none were actually used in this way.

It appears that the operational record of Ohkas includes three ships sunk or damaged beyond repair and three other ships with significant damage. Seven US ships were damaged or sunk by Ohkas throughout the war. The USS Mannert L. Abele was the first Allied ship to be sunk by Ohka aircraft, near Okinawa on 12 April 1945.

The Ohka pilots, members of the Jinrai Butai (Thunder Gods Corps), are honored in Japan at Ohka Park in Kashima City, the Ohka Monument in Kanoya City, the Kamakura Ohka Monument at Kench?-ji Kamakura, and the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.

* Historical information courtesy of Wikipedia

Australian cottage industry manufacturer OzMods has released their first 1/32 scale full resin kit - an Ohka II. The kit was originally marketed by Lone Star Models, but this boxing has been updated with a few additional parts. It is marketed now by OzMods in association with LockOn Models.

The kit comprises 31 parts in grey coloured resin, two parts in clear vacuum formed plastic, printed instructions, waterslide decals for one marking scheme.

Casting quality is very good and there are no huge chunky blocks to contend with.

The Ohka was a very simple aircraft - really not much more than a flying bomb - so the model reflects this simplicity in detail and surface features. Panel lines are few, but those present are very subtle. There are also some raised details including the wing root fairings with recessed rivets. The wings are similarly (and correctly) restrained.

The cockpit is also quite basis. Raised ribs plus boxes and wiring are all moulded directly onto the interior sidewalls, and other parts - control column, a simple instrument panel, and seat with a cushion and lap harness cast in place - are included to fill out the front office.

The balance of the resin parts include the ring and bead aiming device (not a gunsight as there is no gun!), the rocket motors (well dedpicted to deep inside the rear fuselage), tail surfaces and balance horns.

The canopy is a thin vacformed affair supplied in one piece. A spare is supplied in case of slip ups.

Instructions are provided on a double sided A4 sheet. There is a numbered list of parts, one exploded view diagram supplemented by detail photos of the actual model under construction plus notes.

With its small number of parts construction should be fairly quick, but you will need to take some care aligning the multi-part fuselage. The wing and tail plane joins don't have any locating aids, so I would strongly suggest reinforcing these by drilling and pinning.

Markings are supplied on a small decal sheet for a single aircraft - I-13 with a large cherry blossom emblem.

The decals are glossy and in register.

OzMods’1/32 scale Ohka II is a relatively simple model, reflecting the nature of the real aircraft.

If you are interested in late-war WWII aircraft, or you are an experienced modeller just looking for a suitable subject for your first all-resin kit, this will be for you!

Highly Recommended to experienced modellers.

Thanks to OzMods for the sample

Review Text Copyright © 2013 by Brett Green
Page Created 30 October, 2013
Last updated 31 October, 2013

Back to HyperScale Main Page

Back to Reviews Page