Fine Molds FC06 - 1:48 IJN Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka

Plastic model kit of the Japanese Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka (Model 11) piloted flying bomb in 1:48 scale

Fine Molds FC06 represents the Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka – a rocket-powered, piloted suicide weapon of the Imperial Japanese Navy, developed late in World War II to attack Allied warships. In the Model 11 version the aircraft was carried beneath a mother bomber, released near the target and then accelerated by three solid-fuel rockets into a terminal dive after a short glide.

This is a 2025 reissue based on the Fine Molds tooling that captures the Ohka's short, distinctive silhouette with its straight trapezoidal wings and single vertical fin. The fuselage and tail surfaces carry fine engraved detail, and the cramped cockpit is reproduced to a level appropriate for the scale. A transport trolley and a stand are included, allowing the model to be displayed in a typical ground-handling setting.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with fuselage, wing and tail components
• Transport trolley and display stand
• Waterslide decal sheet for unit markings
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:48
• Catalogue number: FC06
• Manufacturer: Fine Molds
• Assembled length: approx. 126 mm, wingspan: approx. 104 mm
• Difficulty level: beginner/intermediate

Note: This kit does not include cement, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Assembly:

This is a small kit with a modest parts count, approachable also for less experienced modellers. It is worth painting and finishing the tight cockpit before joining the fuselage halves, as access to the interior is limited once it is closed. The parts are small, so a sharp knife and precise tweezers are useful for cutting and clean-up.

For painting, colours typical of Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft are recommended – depending on the chosen scheme, IJN greys or grey-greens with the appropriate marking accents. Decals are best applied over a gloss coat to avoid silvering, with a satin coat as the final finish. Exact paint codes are provided in the manufacturer's instructions.

Required tools:

• Modelling side cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Modelling knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precise modelling tweezers
• Brushes of various sizes
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to emphasise detail

About the aircraft – Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka:

The Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka ("Cherry Blossom") was a piloted suicide weapon of the Imperial Japanese Navy, developed in 1944 in response to growing American naval superiority in the Pacific. It was a single-use design from the outset: a small aircraft with a large warhead in the nose, rocket-powered, intended to be guided by its pilot directly into an enemy ship.

The Ohka could not take off on its own – because of its very short range after the rockets fired, it was carried beneath a twin-engine mother bomber and released only near the target ships. This left the slow carrier aircraft highly vulnerable to interception by escorting fighters, which greatly limited the effectiveness of the whole concept. The solid-fuel Model 11 was the most numerous variant.

The Ohka first saw combat in spring 1945 during the fighting around Okinawa. It did manage, among other things, to sink an American destroyer, but the overall operational record remained modest against the losses incurred. Today the Ohka is one of the most recognisable and at the same time most tragic symbols of the final phase of the Pacific war.

Original aircraft specifications (MXY7 Ohka Model 11):

• Length: approx. 6.07 m
• Wingspan: approx. 5.12 m
• Height: approx. 1.16 m
• Take-off weight: approx. 2,140 kg
• Powerplant: three solid-fuel rocket motors, burning for several seconds
• Warhead: approx. 1,200 kg of explosive
• Crew: 1
• Dive speed: very high (depending on flight phase)
• Range after release: approx. 30–37 km
• Production: 1944–1945, Model 11 approx. 750 examples

About the manufacturer – Fine Molds:

Fine Molds is a Japanese model company valued above all for highly accurate kits of Japanese aircraft and weapons of World War II. The brand stands out for its fine surface engraving, precise rendering of detail and carefully developed tooling. Beyond Japanese subjects, Fine Molds also offers kits of modern jet aircraft such as the F-4 Phantom II, F-14 Tomcat and F-15 Eagle, as well as ranges of military figures. For many years the company held the official licence for models from the Star Wars universe, giving it recognition far beyond the scale-modelling community. Fine Molds kits are aimed mainly at modellers who value fidelity and build quality.