Product Description

Protect the night sky with its oblique guns! The Gekko Type 11 Late Model joins the 1/72 Japanese Aircraft (C Series) lineup!

The Gekko was a night fighter operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Initially, when development began, it was called the "Type 13 Twin-Engine Land-Based Fighter" as a twin-engine long-range fighter, but with the outbreak of World War II, the operational philosophy of fighter aircraft changed.
It was officially adopted by the Navy as a reconnaissance aircraft that could take advantage of its high speed and long range, and entered service in 1942 as the Type 2 Land-Based Reconnaissance Aircraft.
Later, as the war progressed and the need arose to intercept bombers at night, the aircraft was equipped as a night fighter and was officially adopted in 1943 as the Gekko Type 11.
A distinctive feature of the Gekko as a night fighter was its 20mm cannon, mounted at an upward angle (initially also mounted downwards).
This weaponry, known as oblique guns, was designed to allow aircraft to fly parallel to enemy bombers and land more hits.
The Gekko-11, initially adopted as a standard aircraft, featured a stepped rear fuselage with a 20mm cannon, a characteristic feature from the prototype stage. However, in later production models, this step was eliminated, resulting in a straight rear fuselage.
During the final stages of the war, in the air defense battles over mainland Japan, they fought against B-29s that attacked at night, and some of their crew members recorded multiple B-29 kills.
They served as the main force in the nighttime air defense of the Japanese mainland and fought until the end of the war.
Initially, when development began, it was called the "Type 13 Twin-Engine Land-Based Fighter" as a twin-engine long-range fighter, but with the outbreak of World War II, the operational philosophy of fighter aircraft changed.
It was officially adopted by the Navy as a reconnaissance aircraft and entered service in 1942 as the Type 2 Land-Based Reconnaissance Aircraft.
Later, it was repurposed as a night fighter for intercepting American heavy bombers at night.
It was officially adopted in 1943 (Showa 18) as the Gekko-11 night fighter.
A distinctive feature of the Gekko as a night fighter was its 20mm cannon, mounted at an upward angle.
This weaponry, known as oblique guns, was designed to allow aircraft to fly parallel to enemy bombers and land more hits.
The Gekko-11, when it was first officially adopted, featured a stepped rear fuselage and a 20mm cannon, a characteristic that had been present since the prototype stage.
Later production models are characterized by a straight rear fuselage shape without this step.
During the final stages of the war, in the air defense battles over mainland Japan, it fought against B-29s that attacked at night, and even recorded the downing of a B-29.
They fought until the end of the war.

This 1/72 scale model replicates the Japanese Navy's Gekko night fighter.
Unpainted plastic model kit. Gluing and painting are required.
This model represents the later production version of the Gekko Type 11, which features a seamless rear fuselage.
The Gekko, a night fighter of the Imperial Japanese Navy, fought until the end of the war. It is a famous aircraft that is indispensable for any collection of Japanese aircraft from World War II.
The twin-engine, two-seat aircraft is reproduced with engraved panel lines. Night fighter-specific equipment, such as the oblique guns behind the cockpit, is also realistically recreated.
The molded color is dark green. From the moment you open the package, you can imagine the distinctive appearance of a night fighter, with its entire fuselage covered in dark green.
The decal set includes three types of aircraft, including one belonging to the 210th Naval Air Group, characterized by the crescent moon marking on the nose.

Product Specifications

Item series

Fujimi-C

Country

Japan

Item code

723730

JAN code

4968728723730

Purchase Information