(Contents) : J7W1 Imperial Japanese Navy Interceptor Shinden

1-1.
Actual Aircraft Specifications

１ J7W1 Imperial Japanese Navy Interceptor Shinden
In May of 1944, as the enemy's long-distance bomber attacks grew more intense by the day, the Japanese Navy felt the need increasing for the
deployment of a new, stronger short-range interceptor craft. And so at last there was an official declaration to Kyushu Aircraft from the
Japanese Navy for the development of a prototype craft for just that purpose.
It was in that instant that the legend of the 'Shinden' was born, whose uniqueness would surpass all else in the history of Japanese aircraft from
then on.
At the top of that request, the following was inscribed. "A superior high-speed land based fighter aircraft capable of mastering the shooting
down of the enemy's bombers."
It was the full scope lingering in this brief sentence that cause such great pressure and distress for Kyushu Aircraft's development team.
And then, one young Navy Engineering Officer offered a novel idea in response to that request. "A single-engined monoplane with forward
airfoils." This was not just new or novel - it was an aircraft shape that had never been seen before.
It was an unprecedented creation, with the main wings on the rear of the body, equipped with a 6 blade propeller for the propulsion engine, and
with a maximum speed of 400kt (750km/h) at an altitude of 8,700 meters.
It boasted a climbing power capable of reaching an altitude of 8,000 meters in under 10 minutes, 30 seconds, and a service ceiling of over
12,000 meters. For its firepower, 30mm machine guns were concentrated in a 4-way configuration on the nose, allowing maximum destructive
force. In short, it was a plan to recover from the current state of the war in one breath, using the superior speed for a attack-and-retreat tactic
against the enemy's impregnable large-scale bombers.
At that time, it was surely a craft that rose above even the most ambitious of ideas.
Photograph Provided By: AIREVIEW
But the moment was already too late, and its development was unable to proceed without delays. It become more and more difficult to source
materials and components. Add to that the shortage of skilled workmen, and the resultant succession of failures in the development of the
engine, the time and labor involved with the equipping and maintenance of the machine guns, and faced with the continuing pressure of heavy
bombing by formations of B-29s, at last the end of the war came about.
( Contents )
If only the Shinden had been able to fight...
As the last and strongest fighter craft that the Japanese Navy thought to deliver to the world as its final trump card, the Shinden continues to
give us such imaginings and suppositions.
The following is a chronicle of the details relating to the manufacture and development. We would be delighted if it helps fuel your imaginings of
the incredibly unique fighter aircraft called the 'Shinden'.
1st Section Actual Aircraft Specifications / Engine /

Cockpit / Machine Guns・・・・・・・・・・・・・3 Development Progress of Test Production 'Shinden' Specifications
Development Unofficially Announced: Feb, 1944 Style: Land Based Aircraft / Year of Production: 1945
Development Officially Announced: May, 1944
2nd Section Assembly Information・・・・・・・・・・・・・・5
Crew: One
Basic Research Started: Jul, 1943 Completed: Jan, 1944 Number Produced: Two
First Wind Tunnel Tests and Actual Size Glider Tests carried out at the Navy's Produced By: Kyushu Aircraft KK, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka
First Technical Depot. Engine: Ha.43-42 Type (MK9D Modified)
3rd Section Assembly Explanation Project Started: Feb, 1944
Mitsubishi Industries 18-Cylinder radial air cooled propulsion,
2,030HP liftoff output
Propeller: Sumitomo VDM constant speed (propulsion) 6 blade
Wooden Form Inspection: First: Jul, 1944 Second: Sep, 1944 propeller
3 - 1 Engine ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・6

Design Drafting: Started: May, 1944 Completed: Nov, 1944
In November, 1944 and February, 1945, a German technician from Henschel & Aircraft Performance
3 - 2 Cockpit ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・11
Son visited because of this craft. After considering his opinions and with mass
production considered to be the main objective, drafting of modified designs was Maximum Speed: 405 Knots (750km/h) /Altitude: 8,700m 240 Knots
begun, however these were only about 80% complete when the war ended.
(444km/h)
3 - 3 Main Structure / Machine Guns・・・・・・・14

Various Testing Wind Tunnel Tests: Oct, 1944 Altitude: 3,000m Cruising Speed /Ascending Speed: 750m per minute
Cruising Altitude: 12,000m
Engine Cooling Tests: (by partial testing apparatus based on designs) May,
3 - 4 Equipping the Engine・・・・・・・・・・・・・19
1945
Aircraft Dimensions
Firing Tests: (by partial testing apparatus based on designs) Aug, 1945
3 - 5 Body Panels・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・24 Strength Tests: Started: Mar, 1945 Completed: Aug, 1945
Wingspan: 11.11m / Total Height: 3.92m
Total Length: 9.66m / Wing Area: 20.5m2
3 - 6 Landing Devices・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・27

Manufacture Started: Oct, 1944
The strength test apparatus and crafts one and two were started almost at the
Weight

3 - 7 Wings & Final Outfitting・・・・・・・・・・・30
same time with virtually no space between them.
Empty Weight: 3,645kg / Loaded Weight: 4,928kg
Structural Inspection: First: May, 1945 Second: Apr, 1945
Transport of 1st craft to airfield: (Mushiroda Airfield, Fukuoka) Jun, 1945 Armament
4th Section Coloring ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・34 Inspection of Completed Craft: Jul, 1945 Guns: Type 5 30mm fixed machine guns x 4 (60 bullets each)
7.9mm fixed guns for training x 2 camera gun x 1
Although the craft was transported to the airfield on June 15th, several flaws Bombs: 60kg (#6) x 4 or 30kg (#3) x 4
were found in the fuselage and engine, which required roughly a month to fix,
meaning the final inspection was carried out after that.
5th Section Parts List・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・38 Test Flight: Aug, 1945
(End)
August 3rd: First Test Flight
August 6th: Second Test Flight
August 8th: Third Test Flight
2. ZOUKEI-MURA INC. PRESENTS SUPER WING SERIES® no.01 1/32 J7W1 Imperial Japanese Navy Interceptor Shinden ZOUKEI-MURA INC. PRESENTS SUPER WING SERIES® no.01 1/32 J7W1 Imperial Japanese Navy Interceptor Shinden 3.

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1-1.

Actual Aircraft Specifications

1st Section Actual Aircraft Specifications / Engine /

3 - 1 Engine ・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・6

3 - 3 Main Structure / Machine Guns・・・・・・・14

3 - 6 Landing Devices・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・27

5th Section Parts List・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・38 Test Flight: Aug, 1945

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