Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series HA3901 Japan Kawasaki T-4 Trainer “Blue Impulse”, 2010

Die-cast metal. Superb detailing in 1/72 scale. Pre-painted with pad applied markings. Fully assembled. Weapons that are not permanently attached. Comes with crew figures Display stand included. Option to display model with wheels up or down. Minimum use of plastic.

The Kawasaki T-4 is a subsonic intermediate jet trainer used by the JASDF. In November 1981 Kawasaki was awarded the contract to produce 220 T-4s with the actual final production number being 212. The aircraft was designed to replace the Lockheed T-33 and Fuji T-1. The first prototype flew on July 29, 1985 with the first production aircraft flying in June 1988 and delivery of the first T-4 to the 31st and 32nd Flying Training Squadrons, 1st Air Wing 3 months later.

The Blue Impulse is the 11th Squadron, 4th Air Wing of the Japan Air Self- Defense Force and the national aerobatic demonstration team. They formed in 1960 and originally named Tenryu but changed to Blue Impulse. Their first aircraft were 6 F-86 Sabres and in 1982 after 545 demonstrations they moved to the Matsushima Air Base and began using the Mitsubishi T-2. The T-2 was used for 175 demonstrations until 1996 when they switched to the Kawasaki T-4. They maintain 9 aircraft of which 2 are spares.

Specifications for the Kawasaki T-4 Number Manufactured - 212 Entered Role - 2 seat intermediate jet-trainer Crew - 2 X pilots in tandem Dimensions Length - 42 ft. 8 in. (13 m) Wingspan - 32 ft. 7 in. (9.94 m) Height - 15 ft. 1 in. (4.6 m)

Weight Empty - 8,360 lb. (3,790 kg) Maximum Take-Off - 16,530 lb. (7,500 kg)

Performance Engines - 2 X Ishikawajima-Harima F3-IHI-30 turbofans producing 3,250 lb. (16 kN) of thrust per engine. Maximum Speed - 645 mph (1,038 km/h) Range - 900 nm (1,670 km) Service Ceiling - 49,800 ft. (15,200 m)

Armament 2 X Hardpoints for ASM-2 long-range anti-ship missiles AA-4 Air-to-air missiles Gun Pods Training Bombs (free-falling) 70-mm unguided rockets