In Box Review of Testors 1/48th Scale
German V-1 Buzz Bomb & Japanese Oka Suicide Aircraft
Kit no. 626
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1983
Kit is available several places on Ebay, with price ranging from $19.50 on up to $50.00.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1983
Kit is available several places on Ebay, with price ranging from $19.50 on up to $50.00.
HISTORY OF THE OKA:
The "Ohka" (Cherry Blossom) rocket-powered bomb was created from an idea instigated by the Imperial Japanese Navy transport pilot Ensign Mitsuo Ohta. Because of the success registered by small Kamikaze (Divine Wind) suicide aircraft such as bomb-laden Zeros, and the poor results obtained by Navy bombers because of Allied air superiority, Ohta suggested using converted G4M Betty bombers to carry small rocket powered Kamikaze aircraft to within striking distance of Allied ships.
Ohka assisted in the design of the plane which was officially designated Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka. Although Ohka's were responsible for sinking or damaging several Allied ships, more often than not the Betty's carrying them would be attacked by Allied fighters before they were within range of the fleet.
U.S. Navy men called the rockets "Baka", which is Japanese for "Fool".
SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE OHKA MODEL 11:
Wing span: 16 ft. 9 9/16 inches
Length: 19 ft. 10 13/16 inches
Height 3 ft. 9 21/32 inches
Loaded weight: 4,718 lbs
Warhead: 2,645 lbs
Range: 23 miles
THE V-1:
The V-1 was the first extended range guided missile to see widespread service.
The V-1 idea was created almost as an afterthought to pulse-jet development undertaken by Argus Motoren Gesellschafts of Berlin. In 1939, Argus was instructed by the German Air Ministry to develop the pulse-jet motor.
By 1942, the engine was thought to be fully developed, however, its low power output limited its potential for use in conventional aircraft. Argus suggested the best use for the pulse-jet would be as the powerplant for a flying bomb.
The "Buzz Bomb" or "Doodlebug" as it was known to the British, had a maximum range of 149 miles and was controlled by a gyroscopic guidance system. From specially built launch ramps in France, over 2,400 Buzz Bombs hit London between June 1944 and April 1945.
SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE FIESELER FI-103 A-1:
Wing span: 17 ft. 6 1/4 inches
Length: 27 ft. 9 3/4 inches
Height: 4 ft. 8 inches
Loaded weight: 4,796 lbs
Warhead: 1,830 lbs
Range: 149 miles
The "Ohka" (Cherry Blossom) rocket-powered bomb was created from an idea instigated by the Imperial Japanese Navy transport pilot Ensign Mitsuo Ohta. Because of the success registered by small Kamikaze (Divine Wind) suicide aircraft such as bomb-laden Zeros, and the poor results obtained by Navy bombers because of Allied air superiority, Ohta suggested using converted G4M Betty bombers to carry small rocket powered Kamikaze aircraft to within striking distance of Allied ships.
Ohka assisted in the design of the plane which was officially designated Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka. Although Ohka's were responsible for sinking or damaging several Allied ships, more often than not the Betty's carrying them would be attacked by Allied fighters before they were within range of the fleet.
U.S. Navy men called the rockets "Baka", which is Japanese for "Fool".
SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE OHKA MODEL 11:
Wing span: 16 ft. 9 9/16 inches
Length: 19 ft. 10 13/16 inches
Height 3 ft. 9 21/32 inches
Loaded weight: 4,718 lbs
Warhead: 2,645 lbs
Range: 23 miles
THE V-1:
The V-1 was the first extended range guided missile to see widespread service.
The V-1 idea was created almost as an afterthought to pulse-jet development undertaken by Argus Motoren Gesellschafts of Berlin. In 1939, Argus was instructed by the German Air Ministry to develop the pulse-jet motor.
By 1942, the engine was thought to be fully developed, however, its low power output limited its potential for use in conventional aircraft. Argus suggested the best use for the pulse-jet would be as the powerplant for a flying bomb.
The "Buzz Bomb" or "Doodlebug" as it was known to the British, had a maximum range of 149 miles and was controlled by a gyroscopic guidance system. From specially built launch ramps in France, over 2,400 Buzz Bombs hit London between June 1944 and April 1945.
SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE FIESELER FI-103 A-1:
Wing span: 17 ft. 6 1/4 inches
Length: 27 ft. 9 3/4 inches
Height: 4 ft. 8 inches
Loaded weight: 4,796 lbs
Warhead: 1,830 lbs
Range: 149 miles
THE KIT:
Testor is an old model company based in Rockford, IL.
The kit comes in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts of the decal sheet find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The cover art shows the V-1 and Ohka built up and sitting on a modeler's workbench.
The Ohka is overall pale-gray with a black I-13 and cherry blossom on the side of its nose.
The V-1 is in a mottle of gray-violet over light-gray. It has no markings. It is displayed here with it's top off, showing its warhead, fuel- tanks etc. inside.
The box art says that the kit is intended for experienced modellers age 10 and over. Wingspan is 4 1/8" and length 4 1/4", but it is not said if this is for the V-1 or the Ohka ?
The bottom of the box has 4 color walk-around photos of the Ohka made up, with the kit features: Two highly detailed 1/48th scale models of aviation's first operational cruise missiles. The Ohka consists of 34 injection molded plastic parts with cockpit details, rocket engines inside the fuselage, and a pilot figure. The V-1 internal components are featured. A complete, easy-to-follow instruction manual is also included.
Parts are made in Mexico. Printing done in the USA. The copyright of the kit is given as 1983 with Testors street address in Rockford, IL.
Testor is an old model company based in Rockford, IL.
The kit comes in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts of the decal sheet find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The cover art shows the V-1 and Ohka built up and sitting on a modeler's workbench.
The Ohka is overall pale-gray with a black I-13 and cherry blossom on the side of its nose.
The V-1 is in a mottle of gray-violet over light-gray. It has no markings. It is displayed here with it's top off, showing its warhead, fuel- tanks etc. inside.
The box art says that the kit is intended for experienced modellers age 10 and over. Wingspan is 4 1/8" and length 4 1/4", but it is not said if this is for the V-1 or the Ohka ?
The bottom of the box has 4 color walk-around photos of the Ohka made up, with the kit features: Two highly detailed 1/48th scale models of aviation's first operational cruise missiles. The Ohka consists of 34 injection molded plastic parts with cockpit details, rocket engines inside the fuselage, and a pilot figure. The V-1 internal components are featured. A complete, easy-to-follow instruction manual is also included.
Parts are made in Mexico. Printing done in the USA. The copyright of the kit is given as 1983 with Testors street address in Rockford, IL.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
The parts of the missiles are all dark-green.
The V-1 parts and the Ohka parts are in separate sealed clear cello bags, with the clear cockpit for the Ohka and its decal sheet.
Both missiles include red plastic flames to show coming out of their engines. Neat!
The instructions consist of a unbound-booket of 6 pages in 9 1/2" x 12" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the two missiles made up and mounted on their display stands, over the histories and specifications of both of them and BEFORE STARTING-instructions and PREPARATION OF PARTS and painting instructions.
Page 2 & 3 give 3 assembly steps for the Ohka, with a lot of text to walk you through the assemblies.
Page 4 & 5 gives 2 assembly steps for the V-1, with a lot of text again to walk you through the assemblies.
Page 6 is the painting and decal-instructions. It shows 2 side views of the V-1 and one side view of the Ohka.
The parts of the missiles are all dark-green.
The V-1 parts and the Ohka parts are in separate sealed clear cello bags, with the clear cockpit for the Ohka and its decal sheet.
Both missiles include red plastic flames to show coming out of their engines. Neat!
The instructions consist of a unbound-booket of 6 pages in 9 1/2" x 12" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the two missiles made up and mounted on their display stands, over the histories and specifications of both of them and BEFORE STARTING-instructions and PREPARATION OF PARTS and painting instructions.
Page 2 & 3 give 3 assembly steps for the Ohka, with a lot of text to walk you through the assemblies.
Page 4 & 5 gives 2 assembly steps for the V-1, with a lot of text again to walk you through the assemblies.
Page 6 is the painting and decal-instructions. It shows 2 side views of the V-1 and one side view of the Ohka.
One V-1 is grey-violet over light-gray sides and undercarriage.
The other V-1 is in the mottled scheme (already described above).
The Ohka is over all light-gray, with black I-13 and the cherry blossom on its nose.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions. They also do not have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Testors!
For the V-1 there are 2 dark green trees and loose dark-green wings and the rocket engine.
The first dark green tree holds: a fuselage half, elevators, fuel bottle and display stand arm (6 parts)
The other V-1 is in the mottled scheme (already described above).
The Ohka is over all light-gray, with black I-13 and the cherry blossom on its nose.
Trees are not alphabetized or illustrated in the instructions. They also do not have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Testors!
For the V-1 there are 2 dark green trees and loose dark-green wings and the rocket engine.
The first dark green tree holds: a fuselage half, elevators, fuel bottle and display stand arm (6 parts)
The second dark green tree holds: the other fuselage half, display base, warhead, engine cowling, bulkheads (9 parts)
The rocket motors' exhaust flame is molded in bright orange (1 part)
The rocket motors' exhaust flame is molded in bright orange (1 part)
The wing and rocket motor were loose in the box (3 parts)
The first dark green tree for the Ohka holds the rocket motors, elevators and the display stand support arm and wing flap hinges (13 parts)
The second dark green tree for the Ohka holds the pilot figure, dashboard, seat, nose explosive, elevators, display base plate, ring sight (9 parts)
Loose dark green parts for the Ohka are: the nose cone, wings (4 parts), bright motors' exhaust- flames (3 parts) and the clear cockpit canopy.
The fuselage halves (2 parts)
The decal sheet completes the kit.
These are neat subjects.
Highly recommended.