1:48 Yokosuka Ohka MXY7-K1 KAI (two seats)

Yokosuka Ohka MXY7-K1 KAI (two-seat) 1:48 - Brengun

An injection-molded plastic kit of the two-seat trainer version of the Ohka from the Czech maker Brengun. The real aircraft was a small machine of simple shapes, so the kit is manageable in extent and also suits a quicker project for a collection of Japanese aviation.

The real subject

The Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka, meaning cherry blossom, was a Japanese rocket aircraft from the end of the Second World War, designed for suicide attacks on Allied ships; it was carried to its target by a twin-engine Mitsubishi G4M bomber. Unarmed trainer versions designated K-1 were built to train the pilots: instead of a warhead they carried ballast and landed on a skid under the fuselage. The two-seat K-1 KAI variant allowed a pupil to fly together with an instructor and is among the least known forms of this machine. It is a technically and historically remarkable subject, which the kit treats factually as a document of its time.

Building and painting tips

Simple shapes tempt you to hurry - so take the time to clean up and sand down the fuselage joints, because on a smooth surface every unevenness shows. Check the finish of the trainer machines against period photographs and profiles; small areas can be managed with a brush, while an airbrush gives a smoother result. A fine wash will pick out the panel lines and the landing skid, and discreet weathering suits the machine.

Who the model is for

• anyone interested in Japanese aviation and the final phase of the Second World War
• collectors of unusual and rarely seen variants of well-known types
• modelers looking for a smaller project in 1:48 that can be built quickly

The model is supplied unassembled and unpainted. Glue, paints and accessories are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.