Sword 1/72 Aichi B7A2 Ryusei (Grace) Kit First Look

By Dave Manter

First Look

This large aircraft, designated Navy Experimental 16-Shi Carrier Attack Bomber, was a mid-wing monoplane of inverted gull-wing configuration, a section of outer wing panel folded to fit carrier lifts.

The fuselage and tail unit were conventional, for a crew of two. Defensive armament consisted of two Type 99 Model 2 cannons in the wing roots and one flexible 13mm Type 2 machine gun mounted in the rear cockpit.

In June of 1944, IJN Taiho, the only Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft carrier then large enough to operate the B7A Grace in its intended role, was sunk during the Battle of the Philippine Sea before enough B7As were available. Thereafter, the B7A was operating from land bases.

The Sword Kit of the Japanese Aichi B7A2 Grace consists of 65 styrene parts molded in grey, 6 styrene parts molded in clear and 3 parts molded in resin. All parts feature really nice details and are molded very well. The cockpit is well detailed. The panel lines are fine and the rivet detail is in scale.

The instructions are well written and will be easy to follow. Paint colors are called out during assembly.

The kit gives you the option of building the bomb bay open or closed. You get the option of either arming the aircraft with bombs or a torpedo.

Decals are provided for three aircraft and are printed perfectly. All aircraft are IJN Green over grey. The options are:

• 5th Squadron/752nd Naval Air Group, NAS Katori, Chiba-Perfecture Japan, May 1945
• Yokosuka Naval Air Group, NAS Yokosuka, Kanagawa-Perfecture Japan, April 1945
• 5th Squadron/752 Naval Air Group, NAS Katori, Chiba-Perfecture Japan, April 1945

Overall this looks to be a great kit of a unique aircraft. Recommended!

My sincere thanks to Squadron Mail Order for this review sample!