Dragon 1/72 Mitsubishi Ki 90 Thunder Lord

[Brad]

With the bombing of the Japanese home islands increasing, the IJAAF was on the hunt for a newly designed interceptor capable of penetrating the fighter screen and attacking the bombers. When U-1224 arrived in Japan in February 1944 she brought with her plans and details of the Messerschmitt P 1101, a single jet engine interceptor along with their new stand off wire guided missile technology. With the coming B-29 raids on the home islands, the Japanese thought this was just the fighter for them, commissioning Mitsubishi to build the aircraft.

 

The Mitsubishi Ki 90 Thunder Lord was only built in limited numbers, serving with the 520th Temporary Interception Group, the first to see combat with the new jet in March 1945. The group comprised of Senior flight instructors and the most talented flight students. Escorted by the groups Ki 84 Hayate's, the Ki 90 scored significant success against B-29 formations, being able to penetrate fighter screens with a 200mph speed advantage and stand off at a safe range while launching their X-4 wire guided missiles at the formations. Despite their success, there was never enough in service to change the outcome of the war.

 

The kit itself is the Dragon 1/72 Me P 1101, with decals from the spares box. The kit itself goes together nicely and makes into a smart looking jet.

 

 

 

 

[dogsbody]

Nice! I've got one of those in the stash.

 

 

Chris

[Jackman]

Amazing build!  Really love that camo work!

[Corsairfoxfouruncle]

Nice build and background. 👍

[Toryu]

Nice ‘What-if‘ build and a fantastic story. The Mitsubishi Ki-90 was actually a paper project for a bomber.

 

Funny idea, that!

[JWM]

The Japaneese lost the war having such interceptor?

Anyway this is the only P1101 derivate which was flying: 

Cheers

J-W 

Edited May 4, 2019 by JWM

[Vultures1]

Really nice What-If.  Your execution of the camo is outstanding, especially in 1/72

[Toryu]

On 04/05/2019 at 08:07, JWM said:

Anyway this is the only P1101 derivate which was flying

Cheers

J-W

 

Actually not the only one, J-W.

 

There was the Russian Yak 15 / 17 /23 series based on the P.1101 lay-out, and they were operational fighters!

 

Cheers, Michael

[JWM]

1 hour ago, Toryu said:

Actually not the only one, J-W.

 

There was the Russian Yak 15 / 17 /23 series based on the P.1101 lay-out, and they were operational fighters!

 

Cheers, Michael

Sorry, but I think not exactly like that - maybe P1101 was only inspiration in case of Yak fighters for position of engie . Yak 15 was just modifird Yak-3 (AFAIR),

.

 Yak 15 had even tail wheel. 

 

Yak 17 was it development still having wings from piston Yak series

 

Yak 23 was new airplane based on similar layout without swept wings similar like MiG-9 - (below)   another Soviet early jet.

 

The only existing non-finished prototype of P1101 was captured by US Army in Messerschmitt factory in Oberammergau, Soviets did not get it.

However of their machines some ideas like swept wings were rather present in early Lavachin jets - for example in La-15. Below is drowing of productional machine, the prototype from 1946 had engine in belly, like P1101 or Yaks and Mi-9. .

Anyway, the influeance of German ideas or even not finished projects is clear in many Soviet (and nt only theirs)  designs just after the war.

Cheers

J-W

 

[Toryu]

2 hours ago, JWM said:

The only existing non-finished prototype of P1101 was captured by US Army in Messerschmitt factory in Oberammergau, Soviets did not get it.

J-W,  I don't disagree with your argumentation. The swept wings and the forward cockpit are clearly more advanced design features than are obvious in the Yaks. For simplicity of development and ease of manufacture Russian engineers advanced existing technology instead of risking completely new airframes at that time (1946!).

The belly engine installation, however, is quite unique and seems to be influenced by the P.1101. Let's not forget that the Soviets, even if they didn't get hold of a prototype, 'captured' many German aeronautical engineers that helped design their early jets.

 

Cheers, Michael

[Sky Keg]

Outstanding application of paint with excellent results!!!!!