Designed as a shore-based twin-engine interceptor, the Nakajima JN5 Tenrai (Heavenly Thunder) was a handsome looking machine (not dissimilar to the DH Mosquito) but proved to have a disappointing performance. 6 prototypes were built, 4 as single seat fighters and the last two examples converted to two-seat interceptors.
Power was provided by two 1,990 hp Nakajima Homare 21 radial piston engines and its armament consisted of two 30mm and two 20mm cannon. Due to its poor performance and lack of development the type was not put into production.
THE KIT
Type: Resin.
Parts: 48 including one spare prop blade, probably a packing error.
Generally well cast with good panel lines and detail. Some flash on main parts, so need a little clean up prior to assembly, but a nice thing is there are no big casting trees to remove. Smaller parts come in groups within resin flakes to keep them together in box, so all small parts need removing and cleaning up.
As is the norm with most resin kits the wings are butt jointed so re-inforcing with brass rod, for example, is necessary.
METAL PARTS
Good metal main undercarriage legs and a pitot tube supplied.
One fret of etched parts is supplied, which includes pedals, undercarriage “knees”, seatbelts and antennae etc. One instument film is also provided. These look well up to standard
CLEAR PARTS
One good clear vac canopy is provided.
DECALS
Decals seem to be good quality and come as one set of red discs and one small sheet with the serial numbers.
VALUE
As far as resin kits go this example represents good value. The price, whilst expensive compared to most injection kits, does buy you a lot of kit for the money. So by market standards this is a good price for a resin kit of this size and complexity - especially when you consider the included metal and PE parts.
CONCLUSIONS
Although relatively expensive it will make a very nice model. A good model for experienced modellers, but with care and patience should prove not too difficult for those tackling a mixed materials kit for the first time.
SUMMARY
A&V Models is a Czech Republic company producing a wide range of good quality resin kits of most nations' aircraft, specialising in the more unusual.
About Peter Allen (flitzer) FROM: ENGLAND - NORTH WEST, UNITED KINGDOM
Greetings to all.
My real name is Peter Allen and I have recently returned to UK from working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as a creative director in an advertising agency.
My home town is Wigan in the north of England.
I’m married to Emily, a Polish lass who tolerates my modelling well.
I’ve wor...
