Why Did the International Resin Modellers Association©SM®TM Choose Jet Aircraft From China as the First IRMA Kits?　

Some IRMA©SM®TM Members and site visitors have been asking this quesiton and it has become significant enough that we felt it deserves an answer. To be perfectly honest, they were put at the top of our production list because of the number of requests and the feasibility for production. Also, most felt that China has not been given due credit for its early jet aviation history.

Several nations are given their place historically for jet aircraft development by order of flights (first 10):

1. Germany-1939 (Heinkel He-178), 2. Italy-1940 (Caproni-Campini N.1), 3. Great Britain-1941 (Gloster E28/39 Squirt), 4. U.S.A.-1942 (Bell X/P-59A Airacomet), 5. Soviet Union-1943 (Berezenyak/Isaiev BI-6-lll) , 6. Japan-1945 (Nakajima J9N1 Kikka), 7. France-1946 (Sud Ouest S.O. 6000 Triton), 8. Sweden-1947 (Saab J-21R), 9. Argentina-1947 (Instituto Aeronautica I.Ae.27 Pulqui), 10. Switzerland-1948 (F+W Emmen N-20.1 Arbalete).

And by order of build (first 10, not always successful):

1. Romania-1910 (Coanda 1910), 2. France-1935 (Payen-Melot Pa-22/1R Flechair), 3. Germany-1939 (Heinkel He-178), 4. Italy-1940 (Caproni-Campini N.1), 5. Great Britain-1941 (Gloster E.28/39 Squirt), 6. Hungary-1941 (Varga RMI-1 X/H), 7. U.S.A.-1941 (Lockheed L-133), 8. Soviet Union-1942 (Sukhoi Su-VRD), 9. Japan-1945 (Nakajima J9N1 Kikka), 10. Sweden-1947 (Saab J-21R).

Others are also noted such as:

1. Czechoslovakia-1946 (Avia S92), 2. Yugoslavia-1948 (Ikarus S.451M Miazni), 3. Canada-1949 (Avro C-102 Jetliner), 4. Australia-1950 (Government Aircraft Factory GAF Mk.1 Pika) and the 5. Netherlands-1950 (Fokker S.14).

However, everyone seems to overlook China, be it the Nationalist Republic of China or the Communist People’s Republic of China. Thus, we chose the Gloster CXP-1001 for IRMA Kit No.1©SM®TM in part because there have been numerous requests for this aircraft and in our research we discovered that the Chinese government did participate in the design of this jet to be built and serve specifically in China as early as 1946.

The CXP-1001 has met with a positive reception among IRMA©SM®TM Members and site visitors, especially in the Republic of China on Taiwan. Both runs sold out immediately. It is a great "What if?" Model and did reach production status. It also serves as a point of patriotism for the Republic of China as well as a bit of contention for the United Kingdom (at that period).

The Hong Zhuan-503 or Shenyang JJ-1 was selected for IRMA Kit No.2©SM®TM because this was the first truly indigenous jet aircraft for China. When the Soviet Union abandon the People’s Republic of China, China proved it was capable of conceiving, producing and designing its own aircraft independent of any outside help.

The JJ-1 has also been met with a high success rate by members of IRMA©SM®TM and site visitors selling out almost immediately after the announcement it was available. It is anticipated that if visitors are ever allowed from the People’s Republic of China, this kit too will serve as a patriotic symbol (clever little marketing devils, aren’t we?).

At this point, IRMA©SM®TM has given China its due and so our remaining nations on the list are: 

Romania for the Conada 1910 - flown in France, not designed or perceived there, 

Brazil for the Heliconair HC-I, II of about 1950,

Netherlands for the Fokker F-26 Phantom concept design of 1946,

Switzerland for the Flug & Fahrzeugwerke Altenrhein P-16 of the 1950s,

Hungary for the Varga RMI-1 X/H, the world’s first turboprop design of 1941,

Canada for the Avro C-102 of 1949, the first jet design of Canada,

Italy for the Caproni-Campini CC7 Toscano of 1943, first jet bomber design,

France for the Leduc 016 of 1946, a subsonic ramjet,

United Kingdom for the Vikers-Armstong Viking-Nene of 1948, world’s first jet transport,

Soviet Union for the 1948 Chyetverikov LK (RK-1), first Soviet jet flying wing,

And any other jet aircraft we can research from other nations that have not been produced in 1/72 before. The lesser known, the better!

-Zane R Nobbs, copyright International Resin Modellers Association©SM®TM, 2010

Models by Zane R Nobbs

Photos by Zane R Nobbs & Al Maciejewski