Although fighter and ground attack versions of the Dinah were developed, it was as a high-altitude photographic reconnaissance aircraft that the Ki-46 was most successful. Indeed, it was so successful that Germany tried to acquire manufacturing rights from Japan.

The Ki-46 first flew in November 1939 . The top-speed of 540 km/h was 60 km/h slower than required, but it was still faster than the latest Japanese fighters! New engines were attached during 1941, and the Dinah reached its required speed of 600 km/h. The Mark III Dinah which is the one I will be modelling here, had further improved engines, and a more stream-lined cockpit area, giving it a speed of 630 km/h.

The aircraft was first used over China, but the most successful missions were those flown over British Malaya before the Japanese invasion. Its high-altitude capabilities and long range meant that the Dinah could cover the entire Pacific theatre with almost no opposition.

The Dinah became vulnerable to fast-climbing Allied fighters at the end of the conflict, but still made many reconnaissance missions over the large American air-bases in the Mariana Islands at the end of the war.

Specifications:

Crew: 2 (pilot and observer)
Length: 11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)
Wingspan: 14.70 m (48 ft 2¾ in)
Height: 3.88 m (12 ft 8¾ in)
Empty weight: 3,263 kg (7,194 lb)
Loaded weight: 5,050 kg (11,133 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 5,800 kg (12,787 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Mitsubishi Ha-102 Army Type 1 14-cylinder radial engine at 1,080 hp
Maximum speed: 604 km/h (326 knots, 375 mph) at 5,800 m (19,000 ft)
Cruise speed: 400 km/h (217 knots, 249 mph)
Range: 2,474 km (1,337 nmi, 1,537 mi)
Service ceiling: 10,720 m (35,200 ft)
Climb to 8,000 m (26,250 ft): 17 min 58 sec
Guns: 1× rearward-firing 7.7 mm (.303 in) Type 89 machine gun