MAQUETTE À MONTER - (Ki-45 kai) Nick Nichimo | N° S-4819 | 1:48

Characteristics

Description

Japanese Army Type 2 Two-seat Fighter. The Ki-45kai is officially called Ki-45 improved, but in reality it is an entirely different aircraft from the Ki-45. The trial aircraft Ki-45 could not meet the targets for improvement, and the project was once abandoned. However, an attack aircraft capable of protecting bombers and providing air support was needed. The Army ordered Kawasaki to develop a second-generation twin-engine combat aircraft. At Kawasaki, engineer Tsui took the lead and entered a comprehensive redesign. As a result, the newly completed Ki-45kai became the first twin-engine fighter of the Japanese Army and was named the Type 2 Two-seat Fighter, entering mass production in September 1941. Early production models were deployed in Hawaii at the beginning of the Pacific War. In 1942, production aircraft were deployed in places like Rabaul and the Solomon Islands, and were used not only for anti-bomber and anti-ship attack operations but also as bomber escort fighters, although their original purpose as bomber support aircraft was not fully realized. The famous battle involving the Ki-45kai occurred on June 15, 1944, when B-29 bombers raided mainland China. Three bomber squadrons attacked the northern Kyushu region. The 4th Fighter Squadron defending the area intercepted with the 4th, 3rd, and other squadrons achieving combat results. The B-29s then moved to Mariana bases and began bombing Tokyo and the Kansai region. The 53rd and 5th Fighter Squadrons were equipped with upward-firing cannons and served as the main force for night interception.

More to read about the KIT here, thanks to scalemates, a Belgian Scale modeling database