IJN Prototype Jet Aircraft Nakajima KIKKA

Plastic model kit of a Nakajima KIKKA prototype jet aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy

• Scale 1:48
• Dimensions (built): Length 192 mm / Wingspan 206 mm
• 63 parts
• Metal nose weights included
• Marking options for the prototype and for the planned aircraft of the 724th Air Group
• Includes detailed instructions describing the original Kikka aircraft.
• Unbuilt, unpainted
• Paint and glue not included

The Nakajima Kikka was Japan's first jet-powered aircraft and was developed towards the end of World War II. It was influenced by German jet aircraft such as the Messerschmitt Me 262, but was not a direct copy; rather, it was an independent, simplified design adapted to Japan's industrial capabilities.

The Kikka was developed by the Nakajima Aircraft Company and was originally intended as a fast attack and interceptor, later also planned for kamikaze missions. The aircraft was a twin-engine, low-wing monoplane with a relatively compact design and retractable landing gear. It was powered by two small Ne-20 turbojet engines, each producing approximately 4.7 kN of thrust. This enabled the aircraft to reach a top speed of around 700 km/h, a significant technological advancement for Japanese aircraft.

The intended armament consisted of two 30 mm cannons, with the option of carrying bombs. However, due to its late development and the difficult war situation, it rarely reached operational readiness. The first flight took place in August 1945, just days before the end of the war. While the aircraft was fundamentally functional, it still exhibited developmental problems.

Overall, the Nakajima Kikka remained an experimental project with only a few prototypes. Nevertheless, it marks an important step in Japanese aviation history, as it initiated the transition from propeller-driven to jet aircraft, even though it never played a decisive role in the war effort.