Sword – SW72152 – Aichi B7A2 Grace

Description:

The Aichi B7A2 Grace was an advanced Japanese carrier-based torpedo and dive bomber developed late in World War II. Designated as the Navy Carrier Attack Bomber Ryusei (Shooting Star), it was intended to replace both the Nakajima B5N Kate and the Aichi D3A Val by combining their roles into one powerful and versatile aircraft. The B7A2 featured a sleek design with a large radial engine, long fuselage, and inverted gull wings that helped accommodate its large payload while maintaining good aerodynamic efficiency. It was also equipped with folding wings, allowing it to operate from aircraft carriers, though its large size pushed the limits of Japanese carrier hangar decks.

Performance-wise, the Grace was impressive: fast, agile for its class, and capable of carrying either bombs or torpedoes. Powered by the Nakajima Homare engine, it reached speeds around 350 mph (565 km/h), making it one of the fastest aircraft of its type at the time. It also had a range and payload capacity well suited for long naval missions.

However, despite its promising performance, the B7A2 was hampered by Japan’s deteriorating war situation. Only a limited number were produced—around 100 to 110 units—mainly because the aircraft carriers it was designed for were either sunk or unavailable. As a result, most B7A2s operated from land bases and saw limited combat late in the war. Its late arrival, combined with material shortages and production challenges, meant the Grace never fully realized its potential, but it remains a symbol of the highly capable aircraft Japan was developing near the end of the conflict.

Kit is a straight kit with plastic parts and decal sheet with two markings. Thanks god it include also a paint mask for the complex canopy of the Aichi B7A. Include a torpedo as payload option. Kit is an update with new decal of the 2013 kit Sword – 72069 – Aichi B7A2 Ryusei Kai (Grace) which is largely Out of Production.