ixo-MODELS

Junior Series

DDIJ00022 – AICHI B7A2

Ryusei-Kai “Grace”

Die Cast

1/72 Scale (aprx. wingspan 7 3/4")

Retails for $32.00

Additional discount available for regular customers, please inquire.

Aichi B7A2 Ryusei-Kai “Shooting Star” – Allied Code Name “Grace” was Imperial Japanese Navy attack plane that intended to replace both dive-bombers and torpedo planes and was the last plane produced by Imperial Japan during WWII.  It was armed with two 20mm cannons and one 13 mm machine gun and able to care as a dive-bomber (2x 250 kg /551lb or 6x60kg /132lb bombs within closed bomb bay) or a single 800 kg/1764lb torpedo.  This large plane (wingspan 14.4 m / 48’, length 11.4 m / 38’, height 4.07 m/13.6’ and had propeller that spanned 3.5m /11.6’) was powered by Homarre 12 18cyl engine and had speed of 543 km/h/337.4 mph, some sources says max 570km/h / 354mph and had max range of 3220km /2000miles.  Due to the large prop size wings were bent near midspan (like on C_orsair) Only just over a hundred planes were produced before the factory at Funakata was totally destroyed by earthquake in May 1945.  Designed as carrier-based the plane though was operated from land bases only due to the fact that Japan lost its carrier fleet.  It was very promising design that entered into service to late in order to make any impact on the course of the war.  About its combat service know only fact that most were destroyed in kamikaze attacks during last month of the war.  By the end of the war Japan was able to produce plane designs that were equal or ever supreme to best American planes but they were unable provide required production level.

This model presented as it was attached to 752 Kalgun Kokutai during April 1945

Models from the ixo-Junior plane collection at first were released as a part of A_ltaya collection that sold as subscription at Spain.  The models are the same but are packed in ixo packaging.  Ixo introduced line of 1/72 scale die cast planes of a good to very good quality in a great variety of models that hard to find or simply unavailable from other model makers.  The series gained high popularity among collectors, models are very difficult to find and often sold at premium price practically upon their releases.