"1945 THUNDER GOD" sculpted figure/scratch-built aircraft.

[alexwencho]

1/12th scale Sculpted figure.
Kamikaze 'OHKA' Pilot.

1/12th scale scratch-built Ohka aircraft.

An 'artistic' interpretation (in a dramatic role) rendered in miniature.
A short history lesson, so that this will never happen again.




Takijirō Ōnishi (大西 瀧治郎 Ōnishi Takijirō?, 2 June 1891 – 16 August 1945)
was an admiral in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II,
who came to be known as the father of the kamikaze.


Bushidō (武士道?), meaning "Way of the Warrior", is a name in common usage since the late 19th century which is used to describe
a uniquely Japanese code of conduct adhered to by samurai since time immemorial.
This code is said to have emphasized virtues such as loyalty, honor, obedience, duty, filial piety, and self-sacrifice.


hachimaki (鉢巻)
Perhaps the most infamous usage of the hachimaki was by the kamikaze pilots toward the end of World War II.
Kamikaze pilots would frequently don a hachimaki, usually with the kanji characters 神風 ("Kamikaze") before flying to their deaths.


A Senninbari (千人針 thousand-person-stitches?) or Thousand stitch belt is a strip of cloth, approximately one meter in length,
decorated with 1000 stitches, given as an amulet by women to soldiers on their way to war as a part of the Shinto culture of Imperial Japan.


In blossom today, then scattered:
Life is so like a delicate flower.
How can one expect the fragrance to last forever?

By: OHNISHI, Kamikaze Special Attack Force


The poem is fading out with Ohka pilot fading into view.


Hirohito (裕仁), also known as Emperor Showa or the Shōwa Emperor (昭和天皇) (Shōwa tennō), (April 29, 1901 – January 7, 1989)
was the 124th emperor of Japan according to the traditional order, reigning from December 25, 1926, until his death in 1989.


Bowing is a gesture of respect.


SAKE (rice wine)
During World War II, kamikaze pilots drank sake prior to carrying out their missions.


The Yokosuka MXY-7 Ohka, (櫻花 (Shinjitai: 桜花) "cherry blossom", Hebon-shiki transcription Ōka, ) was a purpose-built,
rocket powered human-guided anti-shipping kamikaze attack plane employed by Japan towards the end of World War II.
United States sailors gave the aircraft the nickname Baka, (Japanese for "fool" or "idiot")


1/12th scale SCRATCH-BUILT project for the "Divine Wind" display.


The Ohka pilots, members of the Jinrai Butai (Thunder Gods Corps), are honored in Japan at Ohka Park in Kashima City,
the Ohka Monument in Kanoya City, the Kamakura Ohka Monument at Kenchō-ji Kamakura, and the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.


Data from Japanese AIrcraft of the Pacific War

General characteristics
Crew: One
Length: 6.06 m (19 ft 11 in)
Wingspan: 5.12 m (16 ft 9½ in)
Height: 1.16 m (3 ft 9⅓ in)
Wing area: 6 m² (64.583 ft²)
Empty weight: 440 kg (970 lb)
Loaded weight: 2,140 kg (4,718 lb)
Powerplant: 3× Type 4 Mark 1 Model 20 rocket motors Solid propellant, 2.60 kN (587 lbf) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 804 km/h in dive (576 mph in dive)
Range: 36 km (23 mi)
Wing loading: 356.7 kg/m² (73.1 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 0.38
Dive speed (3× Rocket motors Full-Boost): 1,040 km/h (650 mph)
Armament
1,200 kg (2,646 lb) Ammonal warhead


Published Cover page of the October, 1997 issue
MILITARY MODELLING magazine.
A very rare "aircraft" related cover for MM magazine.


Thank You.
AWD