Something clean & simple this time, a bit more suitable for mobile users. Tachikawa Aircraft Co. undertook two late-war programs intended as bomber interceptors for the IJA under the "Ki-94" designation. As the B-29 "Superfortress" became a primary concern for the Japanese homeland, a high-altitude fighter capable of intercepting these machines was in order.

The initial Ki-94 design, later designated "Ki-94-I" was a unique twin-boom, single-engine/twin-propeller fighter with a centralized fuselage nacelle housing the cockpit and engine. The wing mainplanes were low-mounted with the booms emanating from their trailing edges. The single-seat cockpit was fitted at the center of the fuselage nacelle with the engine in the nose. The aircraft would be powered by one engine installation - a Nakajima Ha-211 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston type - while driving a twin-propeller arrangement: there was a four-bladed propeller unit at the nose and a second unit at the extreme end of the fuselage nacelle driven via an extension shaft (termed a "push-pull" configuration). Proposed armament was 2 x 37mm cannons along with 2 x 30mm cannons - a formidable frontal "punch" against any Allied bomber of the war. However, this design proved too complex for the IJA who preferred a somewhat more conservative approach, and the project never went beyond a wooden mock-up.

This is a very simple fighter build, without special functions (see below for controls). It’s in typical end-of-war livery; raw materials were so hard to come by that many Japanese fighters flew with bare aluminium finishes. Painting is kept to a minimum, with only some anti-glare black on the nose, yellow wing leading edges, and the typical “Aotake Iro” for interior surfaces –visible here only at the landing gear. Squadron markings (3rd AFHQ) are just for show of course, since the plane was never actually built. I did give the poor guy two victory marks, though… ;)

The plane has a mock engine smoke effect (switch off with AG8 if you find it annoying), custom landing gear with simulated wheel wells, working automatic cowl flaps, and… ehm… there’s actually nothing really remarkable about it I’m afraid.

It’s easy to fly & land, performs moderately well as a fighter (gets shot down 70% of the time when dogfighting my Thunderbolt, but does and admirable job at shooting down my B-29) and also works for slow low-level bombing runs and ground attacks with the 37mm cannons.

Controls are few;

VTOL : flaps
Trim : trim
AG1 : nose wheel unlock for taxi
AG2 : lights
AG8 : switch off engine smoke effect

Have fun..!