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. The United States gave the aircraft the name Baka (Japanese for “idiot”). It was a manned flying bomb that was usually carried underneath a Mitsubishi G4M “Betty”, Yokosuka P1Y Ginga “Frances” (guided Type 22) or planned Nakajima G8N Renzan “Rita” (transport type 43A/B) bombers to within range of its target; on release, the pilot would first glide toward the target and when close enough he would fire the Ohka’s rocket engine and guide the missile towards the ship that he intended to destroy. The final approach was almost unstoppable (especially for Type 11) because the aircraft gained tremendous speed. Later versions were designed to be launched from coastal air bases and caves, and even from submarines equipped with aircraft catapults, although none were actually used this way. It appears that the operational record of Ohkas used in action includes three ships sunk or damaged beyond repair and three other ships with significant damage. Seven US ships were damaged or sunk by Ohkas throughout the war. Conceived by Ensign Mitsuo Ohta of the 405th Kokutai, and aided by students of the Aeronautical Research Institute at the University of Tokyo, Ohta submitted his plans to the Yokosuka research facility. The Imperial Japanese Navy decided the …
Video Rating: 4 / 5
In this how-to video from Model Railroader magazine, Managing Editor David Popp shows you some easy techniques for laying derailment-free N scale track on your model train layout. David shows how to cut flex track, work with Peco rail joiners, solder rail joiners, file the joints until they’re smooth, and add feeder wires. Using these techniques on your N scale layout will keep your trains running smoothly and on the track. Most of David’s techniques will work on HO or O scale model railroads also. Then he shows some trains in operation on his N scale Naugatuck Valley New Haven layout.
Video Rating: 4 / 5
