Diecast Aircraft Information

MetalWings Diecast Aircraft Reference by Dauntless Aviation

Specifications Nakajima B5N2

Type 97, model 3

Allied Reporting Name - Kate

Crew - 3 X (pilot, commander, rear-gunner/radio operator)

Dimensions
Length - 33 ft 9.5 in   (10.30 m)
Wingspan - 50 ft 11 in   (15.52 m)
Height - 12 ft 1.6 in   (3.70 m)

Weights
Empty weight - 5,024 lb   (2,279 kg)
Loaded weight - 8,380 lb   (3,800 kg)
Max takeoff weight - 9,040 lb   (4,100 kg)

Performance
Engine - 1 X Nakajima Sakae 11 radial engine, 750 kW (1,000 hp)
Maximum speed - 235 mph   (378 km/h,   204 kn)
Range - 1,237 mi   (1,992 km, 1,075 NM)
Service ceiling - 27,100 ft   (8,260 m)
Rate of climb - 1,283 ft/min   (6.5 m/s)

Armament

Guns
1 X   7.7 mm Type 92 machine gun 'Ru' (Lewis) rear dorsal, hand-loaded drum
magazines - 97 rounds.

Bombs
1 X 1,760 lb   (800 kg) type 91 torpedo
or
1 X 1,760lb   (800kg) bomb
or
3 X 550 lb   (250 kg) bombs
or
6 X 293 lb   (132 kg) bombs

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA2012
B5N2 Kate
931st Naval Flying Group (KEB303),
Kushira Air Base, April 1945 (Okinawa air operations)

Die-cast metal.

Fully assembled.

Superb detailing in 1/72 scale.

Pre-painted with pad applied markings.

Comes with crew figures.

Comes with bombs.

Display stand included.

Option to display model with wheels up or down.

Minimum use of plastic.

Very collectable.

The Nakajima B5N1 first flew in January 1937. It was quite unique for a carrier-aircraft
with its low mono wing that folded for storage and wide-track inward folding retractable
landing gear. The new Kates were far superior to its competition, the TBD Devastator
and the Fairey Swordfish however it did have its shortcomings. It was very poorly
armed for self defense and required A5M escort protection. Also the crew and fuel
tanks had no protection. The B5N1 was replaced by the improved B5N2.

The 931st Japanese Naval Air Group was established on February 1, 1944 and
assigned the designation KEB. Kushira Air Base on Okinawa began with the purpose of
training pilots, navigators and ground crews. Later during WWII with Japan now losing
they resorted to Kamikaze attacks with Kushira becoming the third largest Kamikaze
base. In April 1945 B5N2 Kate KEB303 was assigned the task of Anti Submarine
Warfare and later assigned to a training unit ended up saving the aircraft from the U.S.
assault on Okinawa. 363 Kamikaze pilots from Okinawa were lost.

This new site is being updated regularly and it will be much improved before too long. Please be patient, give it time, and check back regularly. Opportunities for community collaboration are in the works for a little further down the road.

This is not a retail site. You cannot buy models here.

Thanks to Dauntless Aviation for providing web hosting and other support for this site. Real or sim pilot? Check out their stuff!

This is not an official site of any manufacturer or retailer. Information provided here may be incomplete or in error. Use at your own risk.

This is not an "advice" site. Please do not contact us asking about these models. Please contact a manufacturer or retailer with your questions or comments.

Please update your links!

Update HomePage links from the HMC website to either www.MetalWings.com or, preferably, www.dauntless-soft.com/MetalWings.
Update your page links to this page from HMCwebsite/HA2012.html to http://www.dauntless-soft.com/MetalWings/HA2012.asp

This site will be modified over time. We are well aware of its many issues, including missing images and bad formatting.