1/72 Hasegawa Mitsubishi J8M1 Shusui

by Jaroslav Král

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Hello all of you. This is my J8M1. As you can see, this is like the German Me-163. And here is some history. In Early 1944 the German Luftwaffe high command revealed to the Japanese in Berlin, the existence of a secret rocket and jet fighters, the Messerschmitt Me 163 and Me 262. In March that year, it was decided to allow Japan to manufacture the jet and the Me 163B-1a for their use in Japan, so arrangements were made to send drawings and a sample of each aircraft by two different submarines. The Japanese Army was held responsible for the Walter Rocket engine development and the Japanese Navy for the airframe. Mitsubishi Corporation would produce the aircraft and Mr. Takahashi was assigned as Chief Engineer for the project. 

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Everything arrived in Japan by August 1944 and March 1945, a close copy of the Me 163 ( Japanese code Ki-200 and Navy Code J8M1(Shusui)) airframe was completed. Production and testing of Walter rocket engine was delayed as it used highly volatile liquid fuel of 80% density Hydrogen Peroxide and Liquid Oxygen as the oxidizer. The Navy´s J8M1 first flew at Oppama airfield on 7 July 1945...
As you can read this was interesting story. I get this model from my best friend from Japan. I met Mr Miyaoka here in Prague. We are still in contact and keep our friendship. This model was gift from him.
Model is very good and fit well. I hope it is interesting for you and I wish you happy modelling everyone !!!

Jaroslav

Photos and text © by Jaroslav Král