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.
Click on
images below to see larger images
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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
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