The most advanced Japanese purpose apparatus was regularly serving J1N Nakajima Gekko "Irving" for the Allies responded to the same tactical and strategic needs that the Western concept of Zerstorer, long-range fighter capable of escorting bombers into enemy territory until his project began in 1940 and was known as the 13-Shi, the first prototype came out of the production line in 1941, but by then the Japanese authorities knew very well the failure of I-110 and had the disadvantage that heavy fighters against the agile single-engine, however authorize developing a reconnaissance version.
So the first models were used for strategic reconnaissance, where its long range and speed they did extremely useful in the Pacific, the first aircraft were used during the campaign Salomon, and it was not until 1943 that was modified one in the field with 20 mm guns to use as a night fighter to intercept the American bomber formations that were destroying the Japanese aertodromos every night. Almost immediately prove useful achievement, shooting down two B-25 in June, the Navy finally realized how useful it would be a Gekko well armed, and although they immediately began developing this advanced very slowly, it was not until 1944 the first night fighter Gekko began to leave the factory, armed with 4 20mm cannons, had the speed and adequate firepower, there was a fundamental technological defects, the Japanese had an airborne radar, so the first model was equipped with a powerful lighthouse on the front of the fuselage. Came too late for the war to represent any definite role, with magnificent scope, well-armed and fast, had been a terrible opponent if they had found a large number, however with the exception of reconnaissance and fighter versions night, very few other versions continued flying, some of them were interesting, and others can only speculate about its function, since there are only very few pictures and no official data or appliance to give us a good idea.
As possible, some units are equipped cubicles with the reserves to defend the metropolitan area, facing the raids of B-29 their heavy weapons was very helpful and soon shot down several of the bombers magnificent, but it was very difficult to locate them, sometimes the Japanese fighter spent a few meters without seeing it, only when they had dropped their bombs and lit up the fuselage with the glow fires were visible, but by then it was lighter and could escape more quickly.
The Gekko received first Japanese air radar, but too late, was just developing and fine tuning when the war ended, this was not the only project that used the unit as a base, at the very beginning there was an armed version of recognition equipped with a 20mm turret, which proved to be very heavy and useless, others considered more secrets and because their documentation was lost in the bombing of Tokyo, which serfia never know its function, there are however some rare photographs of aircraft with specially modified fuselage, although it is not the slightest idea that. In the last desperate days, they used some Gekko in suicide missions against B-29 bombers or American vessels outside Okinawa.
successes were achieved against the B-29 bombers, some Japanese pilots night became aces, could not stop the American offensive and Japan surrendered, Americans are flown into megnificas capturarons conditions and sent for study to AITU, after which some were sent to museums, others stored, forgotten or scrapped, only one plane was packed and left outside the air base in Suitland, where he remained for over 20 years, finally was repaired and put on display at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Washington
Country of Origin: Japan
Type: Game Night
Engines: 2 x Sakae 21 radial piston of 1.130 hp each.
Performance: Maximum speed: 507 km / h. Service ceiling 9900 m Maximum range cruise speed of 3300 Km,
Weight: 4840 pounds empty and 7010 kg loaded.
Dimensions: wingspan 17.00 m, 12.2 m length, 4.70 m high, Wing loading 175 kg/m2
Armament: 4 20 mm cannons, two up and two sloping down to 50 kg of bombs
The model is a "TAMIYA" to 1 / 48, good cast, good details as to improve the belts only, otherwise the plane, needs no improvement ..
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