1/48 scale Aircraft Series No.49 plastic model kit of the WWII Imperial Japanese Navy Mitsubishi Isshikirikko Type 11 Bomber.
The Betty was a staple in the IJN's arsenal throughout the war. It gained fame for being the plane primarily responsible for sending the HMS Prince of Wales and Repulse to the bottom early in the war, and infame for being the plane in which Admiral Yamamoto was riding when U.S. P-38s shot him down. In addition, the Betty is included in Bill Yenne's The World's Worst Aircraft. The primary reason he cites is that the “one-shot lighter,” as it was nick-named by Allied pilots, had massive, unprotected fuel tanks throughout its wings making it quite easy to set the plane on fire. While that's true, these fuel tanks were also one of the plane's strengths, giving it a tremendous range and helping make it the most important Japanese bomber of the conflict.
The Japanese nicknamed the plane hamaki, which means “cigar,” due to its bulbous fuselage, designed to allow internal storage of all ordnance and facilitate crew movements within the plane. Late in the war, the Betty (not the type represented by this model) was used as the mother plane for launching Ohka suicide rocket planes, and was also the aircraft in which the Japanese surrender delegation was transported. Isshikiriko, by the way, translates as “Type 1 Land-based Bomber.”
Tamiya's gorgeous new kit includes bombs and torpedoes, and three crew figures. The interior is also fully detailed.
- Approximately 75 parts in light grey and clear with fine recessed panel lines.
- Full bomb load or torpedo armament.
- Full interior detail – -Cockpit: Pilot and copilot's seats, control yokes, throttles, accurate instrument panel (decal is provided for instruments). -Aft Fuselage: Full floor, bulkheads and wing carry-through structure, -Rear Gunners Station: Gunner's seat, machine gun and supports. -Bomb Aimers Station: Floor and bombsight.
This plastic kitset requires assembly, paints and glue to complete.
Wingspan: 20–1/2" (51.8cm)
Fuselage Length: 16–1/2" (41.6cm)
Tamiya Product Number: 61049
Scale: 1:48
Suggested Paint Colors (not included):
AS-1 – Dark Green (IJN)
AS-17 – Dark Green (IJA)
AS-2 – Dark Gray (IJN)
TS-1 – Red Brown
X-10 – Gun Metal
X-11 – Chrome Silver
X-12 – Gold Leaf
X-14 – Sky Blue
X-18 – Semi Gloss Black
XF-1 – Flat Black
XF-10 – Flat Brown
XF-15 – Flat Flesh
XF-16 – Flat Aluminum
XF-2 – Flat White
XF-22 – RLM Grey
XF-52 – Flat Earth
XF-56 – Metallic Grey
XF-58 – Olive Green
XF-64 – Red Brown
The MitsubishiG4M “Isshikirikko”, or the type 1 land-based attack bomber, was built to a “range-at-all-cost” specification. In order to compensate for the inferior fleet strength restricted by the London and Washington Treaties, the Imperial Japanese Navy intended to support their naval operations from shore based aircraft.
Bombers with an extremely long range were in dire need for such missions, and this could be achieved by designing the entire wing as integral fuel tanks ad keeping the structure as light as possible, without and armor or self-sealing protection. Defensive weapons and armor protection for the crew were also kept to a minimum. To reduce the drag, bombs or torpedo were stored within a thick, cigar-like fuselage. The thin, wide wing contributed to obtain an excellent stability and maneuverability during flight. Using two 1530hp Mitsubishi “Kasei” type-11 radial engines, the G4M achieved a maximum speed of more than 420Km/h and an outstanding 4,200km or range. However, the 5,000 liters of fuel in the unprotected tanks made the bomber extremely vulnerable, and it soon became known to U.S. gunners as the “one-shot lighter.”
With several improvements incorporated, the Isshiki Rikko stable served throughout the pacific War. Including all variants, more than 2,400 units were produced. It was part of the force which sank the British battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battle cruiser HMS Repulse at the beginning of the conflict. In 1945, it was also used in carrying the Japanese surrender delegation to end the war.
