Ah ha! Alternative history. Well now, this is a very interesting subject. Several years ago I purchased a Zoukei Mura "Shinden". Can you imagine this crazy looking Imperial Japanese airforce aircraft if it actually made it into real action. What if? And that's a big what if, (Alternative History) the Japanese mass produced this push pull conceptual aircraft into full on production in the late 1930's only to be used in the sneak attack of Pearl Harbor of where Mrs. Toshi and I hail from, on December of 7, 1941 Sunday 7:00am! Wow!!!
Zoukie Mura also sold a aftermarket set with PE that changed the "Shinden" kit into, you really want to know? A jet fighter! It looks absolutely something from the Robotech universe in which the Japanese excelled in this storm that has taken the world over twice in the anime genre!
Talk about alternative history. Lol! From what I've read, after the fall of the Japanese Empire all military equipment were boxed up and shipped back to the US. Somewhere in the Smithsonian Institute (Just like the ending of one of the Indiana Jones movies where the "Ark of Covnent" sits in a highly classified store house) sits a "Shinden" that's slowly falling apart due to neglect and age.
Growing up in Honolulu, Hawaii, I recall as a youth seeing in science magazines, National Geographic, PBS Television in that a new type of aircraft with no mention of the "Shinden" was being built. Can anyone say Push Pull? LOL! Alternative History you say! Lol!
Your friend's, Toshi & Ezra
P.S. This sir is a very cool subject to create a discussions on! Thank you very much sir for creating such an opportunity and allowing FSM Forum members to join in on the rhetoric and expanding on something I believe strongly in; "Imagination". For without that, one could never invent something for mankind, for the cause of good use or bad use.