Mitsubishi G4M1 "Betty" in 1/172 scale

[Larry R.]

As I read the background, development, and operational use of the Betty, I found it a quite intersting a/c.





The Japanese design philosophy of combat a/c was very different from that of the U.S. and its allies. The Betty, for example, was very different from the B-25 Mitchell.

[Flying Officer Kyte]

A very well constructed aircraft Larry.
Rob.

[flash]

... The Japanese design philosophy of combat a/c was very different from that of the U.S. and its allies...

They didn't always need to come back ?

[Larry R.]

They didn't always need to come back ?

From my reading (primarily the excellent Osprey reference book), the Japanese wanted their combat planes to be as light as possible so they could fly fast and with a long range. On the Betty there were no heavy gun turrets, machine guns were the Japanese version of the British Lewis (a single crew member operated both waist gun on early Bettys). However the tail gun was a 20mm. No self sealing fuel tanks; in fact, the wing skin served as the fuel tank walls. No armor protection for the cockpit. And there were no bomb bay doors (there were bomb bay covers which the ground crew could install to make the plane a bit more streamlined when it flew recce missions). One might think of the Betty as a "bare bones" design.

As vulnerable to enemy attack as the Betty was, it was effective, especially as a torpedo bomber.

[mikeemagnus]

Impressive work Larry

[Diamondback]

From my reading (primarily the excellent Osprey reference book), the Japanese wanted their combat planes to be as light as possible so they could fly fast and with a long range. On the Betty there were no heavy gun turrets, machine guns were the Japanese version of the British Lewis (a single crew member operated both waist gun on early Bettys). However the tail gun was a 20mm. No self sealing fuel tanks; in fact, the wing skin served as the fuel tank walls. No armor protection for the cockpit. And there were no bomb bay doors (there were bomb bay covers which the ground crew could install to make the plane a bit more streamlined when it flew recce missions). One might think of the Betty as a "bare bones" design.

As vulnerable to enemy attack as the Betty was, it was effective, especially as a torpedo bomber.

Similar philosophy to the Luftwaffe bomber force about "speed is armor," just taken to the next level.

[OldGuy59]

Really nice work. This post took me down memory lane, looking at cards and firing arc research. This plane and the G3M 'Nell' had some interesting options. The cockpit window alternate MG option was an eye-opener.