Mitsubishi Ki-83 by MPM

1/72 scale
Kit No. 72088
Cost: $29.99
Decals: Two versions — Imperial Japanese Navy and a captured example in American markings
Comments: Engraved panel lines, one-piece canopy, individually mounted propeller blades

History

The Mitsubishi Ki-83, aerodynamically one of the cleanest Japanese aircraft of World War II, was the product of a design team led by Tomio Kubo to meet the requirements of a May 1943 specification issued by the Koku Hombu which called for a long-range escort fighter. Mr. Kubo, assisted by Engineers Mizuno, Kato, and Sugiyama, first investigated the possibility of meeting the requirements with a single-engined design, the Ki-73, powered by a 2,600 hp Mitsubishi Ha-203-II 24-cylinder horizontal-H liquid-cooled engine. When development problems with the Ha-203 engine delayed the program, the Ki-73 was abandoned before construction had even started. Still, since captured documents led the Allies to believe that the Ki-73 was about to enter service, they gave it the code name Steve.

After this inauspicious start, Tomio Kubo called on his experience with the Ki-46 and designed the Ki-83, an exceptionally clean all-metal mid-wing two-seat aircraft, powered by two 2,200 hp Mitsubishi Ha-211 Ru turbosupercharged 18-cylinder air-cooled radial engines. The new design would be heavily armed, with two 30mm Ho-105 and two 20mm Ho-5 cannon mounted in the lower nose. The first prototype, completed in October 1944, took its maiden flight on November 18, 1944. During successive test flights, often interrupted by Allied bombing raids or fighter sweeps, the aircraft demonstrated exceptional maneuverability for its size, and performance was truly spectacular.  However, engine and tail vibration delayed the flight test program and three additional prototypes had modified engine mountings and strengthened horizontal tail surfaces with external mass balances.

The maneuverability and performance of the aircraft — which had a maximum speed of 686 km/hour at 8,000 meters (426 mph at 26, 250 feet) — attracted the attention of the Imperial Japanese Navy and arrangements were made for the IJN to receive a portion of the production aircraft, but the war ended before production could begin. At the time of the Japanese surrender an advanced version of this aircraft, designated Ki-103, was under development, and the Ki-95 was yet another planned version of the aircraft being developed to replace the Mitsubishi Ki-46 as a Command Reconnaissance Plane equipped with aerial cameras, its armament reduced to two 20mm Ho-5 cannon.

Plans for the production of the Ki-83 were never finalized because by 1945 the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force was compelled to give priority to the production of interceptor fighters. Had the war lasted longer, the Ki-83 would have been a formidable weapon as its performance compared favorably with that of contemporary late-war Allied fighters such as the Grumman F7F Tigercat and the de Havilland D.H. 103 Hornet.

The Kit

MPM’s Mitsubishi Ki-83 is injection molded in grey plastic and consists of 79 parts on four sprues, including five clear parts for the single-piece canopy and windows, including a ventral aperture integrated into the airframe for the photo-reconnaissance version. The cockpit assembly includes a seat, control yoke, rear bulkhead and side panels, all of which are cemented to the cockpit floor. There is a main instrument panel which bears very faint raised detail that looks as if it will require very skillful dry brushing to bring out the dials.

There are also parts for a rear compartment situated roughly amidships in the fuselage consisting of front and rear bulkheads and a floor which features an opening directly over the ventral aperture. No camera equipment is provided, so apparently MPM intends for this to be the pure fighter version. This rear cabin also aligns with two rectangular windows on either side of the fuselage. The engine nacelles each have their own internal bulkheads forming the wheel wells for the main landing gear, along with raised detail along their inner surfaces. The nacelles also feature separate intake scoops and exhaust vents.

There are no engines, but there are separately mounted spinners and individually mounted propeller blades for each airscrew. The landing gear themselves are average in their level of detail. An unexpected feature of what was clearly a high performance design is the presence of support struts for the rear stabilizers. The instructions have clear illustrations, providing painting instructions calling out Gunze Sangyo colors only.

Markings

Decals are provided for two versions. The first one is a Ki-83 of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force during 1944-45, featuring a paint scheme of Dark Green over Light Grey with Red Brown spinners and Yellow de-icing boots on the leading edge of the wings. The second is a captured Ki-83 bearing American markings, but with an identical paint scheme.

Conclusion

This is a fascinating late war design demonstrating that the Japanese were poised on the brink of a leap in fighter performance at the time the war in the Pacific ended. Had the war continued into 1946, and the Japanese found a way to achieve mass production given dwindling resources and Allied bombing, they may have had a chance of contesting Allied air supremacy over the Home Islands. But even had the Ki-83 entered service in significant numbers, it would still more than likely have been too little, too late. Highly recommended for its sleek design and “what if” factor.

Reference

• Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War, by R.J. Francillon, Ph.D.; Copyright 1970 by Putnam & Company, Limited; London.

A captured Ki-83 in American markings under guard in Japan after the war. The sleek, aerodynamic lines of the airframe and apertures for the multi-cannon armament give an indication of what was in store for the Allies had the war dragged on into 1946.