In the 1930s, the Royal Thai Air Force – RTAF – relied primarily on aircraft manufactured in the United States and Great Britain. The situation changed with the beginning of the Second World War. After the defeat of France in Europe, Thailand decided to seize the moment and regain its territories in French Indochina. There was made an order for the delivery of new American-made aircraft. However, the US decided that strengthening the Thai Air Force could change the situation in the region in an undesirable direction for them, and refused to supply the aircraft. Thailand referred to Japan, which soon delivered several dozen bombers for the RTAF. Among them were nine Ki-21-Ia aircrafts produced by the Nakajima company, in the spring of 1941, they were included in the composition of Kong Bin Koi 6 (6th Aviation Wing). These aircraft did not have time to take part in combat operations against France but were used in Burma against units of the Chinese National Army in the spring of 1942. After the Chinese forces retreated to their territory, the Thai Ki-21-Ia were deployed for a while to perform patrol and reconnaissance missions. Later they served as training and transport aircraft.
The model kit is made with strict adherence to the geometry of the real aircraft
Elements of the outer skin and glazed parts of the fuselage are highly detailed
The kit includes decals for 4 variants of the Ki-21-Ia RTAF markings of the Second World War period
Markings:
Ki-21-la, Kong Bin Noi 6 (6th Wing), spring 1941
Ki-21-la, Foong Bin Thing Rabuy 62 (62nd Bomber Squadron): a,b) probably 1942; c) 1945
Ki-21-la, number "6", Don Muang airfield, 1945
Ki-21-la, number "9", Don Muang airfield, 1945
The Mitsubishi Ki-21 is a Japanese mid-wing, classic tail, metal twin-engine bomber from the Second World War, known under the Allied designation Jane or Sally. The flight of the prototype took place on December 18, 1936, and the entry into service took place in 1938. The plane was created as a result of an order from the Japanese air force for a bomber adapted to operations in large sea areas. The "Type 93" prototype first flew in December 1936. In the first serial version, the aircraft was designated the Ki-21 (Type 97) Model 1, and then the Ki-21 Model 2. It was a modification of the first series. The first combat use of the aircraft took place in China during the Japanese-Chinese War (1937-1940). Later, the planes were used in the Pacific War in air operations and strikes against Hong Kong, the Philippines, Burma and the Dutch East Indies. In 1943, they made a massive raid on Calcutta. In the first phase of the war, Ki-21s operated from numerous bases in Formosa, Okinawa and the Japanese Islands, controlling the East China Sea and much of the open Pacific. At the end of the war, as a result of attacks by the American air force, the Ki-21 squadron suffered enormous losses. Technical data: length: 16m, wingspan: 22.5m, height: 4.85m, maximum speed: 485km / h, rate of climb: 7.6m / s, maximum range: 2700km, maximum ceiling 10000m, armament: fixed - 4 7.7mm type 89 machine guns and 1 12.7mm type 1 machine gun, suspended, up to 1000kg of bombs.
