RS92016 Manshu Ki - 79b 1/72

Kit has resin parts, recessed panel lines, photo-etch details, injection-molded clear parts - canopy and markings for 3 aircraft. Japan and China WWII. (injection-molded plastic kit). Limited edition. *****

While manufacturing the Nakajima Ki-27 fighter under license,in 1942 Manshu undertook redesing of this aircraft as an advanced trainer.The aircraft was built as the Ki-79 a single-seat trainer powered by a 510 hp Hitachi Ha-13a,and the two-seat Ki-79 b with Hitachi Ha 23. By 1943 they were becoming available in quantity,with both models equpping the Sendai and Tachiarai Army Flying Schools and the Tokorozawa Army Aviation Maintenance School.The Ki-79 b model was supplied to the Army Air Academy as well as the Tokyo,Otsu and Oita Army Boys Flying Schools,set up for high scool studens to interest them in becoming pilots for the same 2 Koren aircraft on Kamikaze missions.Other Ki-79 a and Ki-79 b trainers that been sent to Singapore.Java,the lower Philippines and elsewhere in the Japanese occupied zones for additional training of green pilots.In Java and Sumatra local Indonesian forces took over the Japanese arms in theit areas and offered select Japanese pilots the opportunity to help train insurgents in the use Japanese fighters.While the Americans destroyed similar aircraft when they found in Japan,the Russians left them on the airfields in the occupied Manchuria,where they were soon picked up by the Red Army air Force.When the Peoples Liberation Army was officially formed in July 1946 the 2 Koren trainers became the first standart Trainers of the PLAAF,the air force of the communits army.