Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka
Model 22

Brengun, 1/48 scale

Reviewed by Brett Green

Eduard's 1/72 Avia B.534 IV serie Weekend Edition is available online from Squadron.com

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

United States sailors gave the aircraft the nickname Baka (fool, or idiot).

The only operational Ohka was the Model 11. Essentially a 1,200 kg (2,646 lb) bomb with wooden wings, powered by three Type 4 Model 1 Mark 20 solid-fuel rocket motors, the Model 11 achieved great speed, but with limited range. This was problematic, as it required the slow, heavily laden mother aircraft to approach within 37 km (20 nmi; 23 mi) of the target, making them very vulnerable to defending fighters.

There was one experimental variant of the Model 11, the Model 21, which had thin steel wings manufactured by Nakajima. It had the engine of the Model 11 and the airframe of the Model 22.

The Ohka K-1 was an unpowered trainer version with water ballast instead of warhead and engines, to provide pilots with handling experience. 45 were built by Dai-Ichi Kaigun Koku Gijitsusho.

The Model 22 was designed to overcome the short standoff distance problem by using a Campini-type thermojet engine, the Tsu-11. This engine was successfully tested, and 50 Model 22 Ohkas were built at Yokosuka to accept this engine.

The Model 22 was to be launched by the more agile Yokosuka P1Y3 Ginga "Frances" bomber, necessitating a shorter wing span and much smaller 600 kg (1,320 lb) warhead.

None appears to have been used operationally, and only three of the experimental Tsu-11s engines are known to have been produced.*

We've seen a few Ohka Model 11 kits in 1/48 scale in the past including the old Hawk and 2011 release from Fine Molds, but I think this is the first time that the more streamlined Model 22 has been available as an injection moulded kit.

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This is Brengun's second plastic aircraft release in 1/48 scale. The box art is particularly striking.

Inside the end-opening box, the kit is fairly simple with only 42 parts in tan coloured plastic, one clear plastic part for the canopy, a photo-etched fret for the detail parts and markings for a single Ohka and its ground handling trolley.

The plastic is quite soft but the recessed detail is quite crisp and fine. Sprue attachments are fine too, so removal and cleanup of the parts will not be a chore. I'd probably lightly sand the mating surfaces of the major parts prior to assembly though.

The sliding section of the canopy and the windscreen are moulded as one piece. The plastic is quite thin and clear. You'll need to be very careful if you decide to separate the sections with a razor saw, and keep in mind there is no spare supplied.

The small photo-etched fret supplies a few additional details including the ring and bead sight.

You'll need to take some extra care with alignment of the plastic parts as there are no locating pins for the fuselage halves, and the tabs for the stumpy wings are shallow.

The trolley will be simple to build too.

A single light grey colour scheme is offered.

The decal sheet is perfectly printed with nice bright colours and perfect registration.

Item No. BRL48081 - Ohka Model 22 Update Set

A photo-etched update set is also available separately.

This supplies parts for the perforated seat, the instrument panel, harness straps and smaller detail parts for the interior and exterior.

A printed acetate sheet is included for the instrument dials.

Brengun has delivered a nice 1/48 scale model of the Ohka Type 22 and its ground handling trolley.

The small counts part should ensure a fairly fast build, and the very attractive box art is ample inspiration to start snipping parts off the sprue!

Recommended.

* Reference courtesy of Wikipedia

Thanks to Brengun for the review sample.

Review Text Copyright © 2017 by Brett Green
Page Created 19 July, 2017
Last updated 19 July, 2017

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