phantom II
Master at Arms
Tried to post this earlier but things went awry
Will try to figure this out tomorrow
Ok, I'm back . I pulled this out from Wikepedia for those of you that do not have any back ground on the subject matter .
The Ki-61 was the last of the fighters powered by the DB-601 or its foreign derivatives, and it was soon overshadowed by fighters with more powerful engines. By the time it first flew in December 1941, one year after the Macchi C.202's first flight and three years after the first Bf 109E, the engine was already underpowered compared to the new 1,120 kW (1,500 hp) inline or 1,491 kW (2,000 hp) radial engines being developed (and already nearing the mass-production stage) to power the next generation of combat aircraft such as the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. Moreover, the inline Ha-40 engine proved to be an unreliable powerplant.[12][13]
The DB-601 engine required precise and sophisticated manufacturing; the Ha-40 was lighter by roughly 30 kg (70 lb) and required even higher manufacturing standards. Reaching these standards proved difficult for Japanese manufacturers, an issue further complicated by the variable quality of materials, fuel, and the lubricants needed to run a sensitive, high-performance engine. The Japanese equivalent of the more powerful DB-605 engine was the Ha-140, which was fitted onto the Type 3 to produce the Ki-61-II high-altitude interceptor.[12][14]
Compared to the Ki-61-I, the Ki-61-II had 10% greater wing area, used more armour and was powered by the Kawasaki Ha-140 engine generating 1,120 kW (1,500 hp). After overcoming initial fuselage and wing stability problems, the new interceptor reverted to the original wing and was put into service as the Ki-61-II-KAI. However, the Ha-140 engine had severe reliability problems which were never fully resolved, and around half of the first batch of engines delivered were returned to the factory to be re-built. A US bombing raid on 19 January 1945 destroyed the engine factory in Akashi, Hyōgo, and 275 Ki-61-II-KAI airframes without engines were converted to use the Mitsubishi Ha-112-II radial engine, resulting in the Ki-100. While the Ha-112 solved the problems encountered with the Ha-140, the new engine still had a major weakness: a lack of power at altitude, which diminished its ability to intercept high-flying B-29 Superfortresses relative to the Ki-61-II.[12][15]
During testing, the Hien proved capable,[16] but several shortcomings were subsequently revealed in operational service[citation needed], namely the armor protection that was insufficient against larger guns and a sub-standard engine that eventually led to a new engine being considered.[
This is a earlier production KI-61 . Not sure which . There seems to be a bit of confusion as we get to the end of the production as to wether the last airframe to test the inline engine was in fact a KI-61 II or a KI-61 III . Depends on who's article you read.
Ki-61-I-Otsu Second production fighter variant: Tailwheel retraction mechanism was unreliable, the aircraft was modified accordingly. Two 12.7 mm (.50 in) Ho-103 machine guns replaced the wing 7.7 mm (.303 in) machine guns.[12]
Ki-61-I-Hei: The Hei was built in conjunction with the Otsu variant, the wing machine guns were replaced by Mauser MG 151/20 cannons.
Ki-61-I-Tei Fighter variant with two fuselage mounted Japanese 20 mm Ho-5 cannon and two 12.7 mm (.50 in) wing mounted Ho-103 machine guns.
Ki-61-I-KAId: Interceptor variant with 2 × 12.7 mm (.50 in) machine guns and 2 × 30 mm (1.18 in) Ho-155 wing cannon.
Ki-61-I- w.c.e.s: Experimental aircraft with evaporation system, as used on the Heinkel He 100. It was the fastest Ki-61 built, achieving 630 km/h (395 mph).
Ki-61-II Prototype with 1,120 kW (1,500 hp) Ha-140 engine and first flown in December 1943.
Ki-61-II-KAI: Pre-production version which reverted to the Ki-61-I-Tei wing, a 220 mm (8.7 in) fuselage stretch, enlarged rudder, and Ha-140 engine; 30 built.
Ki-61-II-KAIa: Armed with 2 x 12.7 mm (.50 in) machine guns in the wings and 2 x 20 mm cannon in the fuselage.
Ki-61-II-KAIb: Armed with 4 x 20 mm cannon.
Ki-61-III Prototype: This version had a cut-down rear fuselage and a canopy design which was later used by the Ki-100-I-Otsu
Anyhow , I am interested in the last prototype with the bubble top , of which no other was produced . This airframe however led to the KI-100 which was a sucessfull airframe.
This is a nice drawing but suffers from ficticious markings since it did not see combat . I also think ( according to J. aircraft.com ) to be the wrong paint color for the time of production.
The color is referred to as Khaki brown, so I'm going with that . This picture shows what I believe to be the real aircraft.
Finaly , there is a good choice of this aicraft on the market in 1/72 .
Fine molds has also had their shot at it but it's rare, expensive and in my opinion lacking when compared with the Aoshima rendering .
Ok, so much for the intro . Can you tell I'm excited about this bird yet ?
The build starts with painting the side frames and the interior surfaces.
Floor and seat.
Next , the IP needed a lot of help since there were only depression and regular decals do not fit.
I took aacets sheet and punched out the dials and glued them in one at a time
Finaly all the places were assembled and inserted in the fuselage
Great fit on everything :woohoo:
If you look at the wing cannons, they look like toys . Out came the exacto, the dremmel and we fixed the throths.
Next is assembling the engine mouts and mouting the engine in th fuselage
I think this will straighten the picture snafu and bring this up to date
Cheers, Christian
Will try to figure this out tomorrow
Ok, I'm back . I pulled this out from Wikepedia for those of you that do not have any back ground on the subject matter .
The Ki-61 was the last of the fighters powered by the DB-601 or its foreign derivatives, and it was soon overshadowed by fighters with more powerful engines. By the time it first flew in December 1941, one year after the Macchi C.202's first flight and three years after the first Bf 109E, the engine was already underpowered compared to the new 1,120 kW (1,500 hp) inline or 1,491 kW (2,000 hp) radial engines being developed (and already nearing the mass-production stage) to power the next generation of combat aircraft such as the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. Moreover, the inline Ha-40 engine proved to be an unreliable powerplant.[12][13]
The DB-601 engine required precise and sophisticated manufacturing; the Ha-40 was lighter by roughly 30 kg (70 lb) and required even higher manufacturing standards. Reaching these standards proved difficult for Japanese manufacturers, an issue further complicated by the variable quality of materials, fuel, and the lubricants needed to run a sensitive, high-performance engine. The Japanese equivalent of the more powerful DB-605 engine was the Ha-140, which was fitted onto the Type 3 to produce the Ki-61-II high-altitude interceptor.[12][14]
Compared to the Ki-61-I, the Ki-61-II had 10% greater wing area, used more armour and was powered by the Kawasaki Ha-140 engine generating 1,120 kW (1,500 hp). After overcoming initial fuselage and wing stability problems, the new interceptor reverted to the original wing and was put into service as the Ki-61-II-KAI. However, the Ha-140 engine had severe reliability problems which were never fully resolved, and around half of the first batch of engines delivered were returned to the factory to be re-built. A US bombing raid on 19 January 1945 destroyed the engine factory in Akashi, Hyōgo, and 275 Ki-61-II-KAI airframes without engines were converted to use the Mitsubishi Ha-112-II radial engine, resulting in the Ki-100. While the Ha-112 solved the problems encountered with the Ha-140, the new engine still had a major weakness: a lack of power at altitude, which diminished its ability to intercept high-flying B-29 Superfortresses relative to the Ki-61-II.[12][15]
During testing, the Hien proved capable,[16] but several shortcomings were subsequently revealed in operational service[citation needed], namely the armor protection that was insufficient against larger guns and a sub-standard engine that eventually led to a new engine being considered.[
This is a earlier production KI-61 . Not sure which . There seems to be a bit of confusion as we get to the end of the production as to wether the last airframe to test the inline engine was in fact a KI-61 II or a KI-61 III . Depends on who's article you read.
Ki-61-I-Otsu Second production fighter variant: Tailwheel retraction mechanism was unreliable, the aircraft was modified accordingly. Two 12.7 mm (.50 in) Ho-103 machine guns replaced the wing 7.7 mm (.303 in) machine guns.[12]
Ki-61-I-Hei: The Hei was built in conjunction with the Otsu variant, the wing machine guns were replaced by Mauser MG 151/20 cannons.
Ki-61-I-Tei Fighter variant with two fuselage mounted Japanese 20 mm Ho-5 cannon and two 12.7 mm (.50 in) wing mounted Ho-103 machine guns.
Ki-61-I-KAId: Interceptor variant with 2 × 12.7 mm (.50 in) machine guns and 2 × 30 mm (1.18 in) Ho-155 wing cannon.
Ki-61-I- w.c.e.s: Experimental aircraft with evaporation system, as used on the Heinkel He 100. It was the fastest Ki-61 built, achieving 630 km/h (395 mph).
Ki-61-II Prototype with 1,120 kW (1,500 hp) Ha-140 engine and first flown in December 1943.
Ki-61-II-KAI: Pre-production version which reverted to the Ki-61-I-Tei wing, a 220 mm (8.7 in) fuselage stretch, enlarged rudder, and Ha-140 engine; 30 built.
Ki-61-II-KAIa: Armed with 2 x 12.7 mm (.50 in) machine guns in the wings and 2 x 20 mm cannon in the fuselage.
Ki-61-II-KAIb: Armed with 4 x 20 mm cannon.
Ki-61-III Prototype: This version had a cut-down rear fuselage and a canopy design which was later used by the Ki-100-I-Otsu
Anyhow , I am interested in the last prototype with the bubble top , of which no other was produced . This airframe however led to the KI-100 which was a sucessfull airframe.
This is a nice drawing but suffers from ficticious markings since it did not see combat . I also think ( according to J. aircraft.com ) to be the wrong paint color for the time of production.
The color is referred to as Khaki brown, so I'm going with that . This picture shows what I believe to be the real aircraft.
Finaly , there is a good choice of this aicraft on the market in 1/72 .
Fine molds has also had their shot at it but it's rare, expensive and in my opinion lacking when compared with the Aoshima rendering .
Ok, so much for the intro . Can you tell I'm excited about this bird yet ?
The build starts with painting the side frames and the interior surfaces.
Floor and seat.
Next , the IP needed a lot of help since there were only depression and regular decals do not fit.
I took aacets sheet and punched out the dials and glued them in one at a time
Finaly all the places were assembled and inserted in the fuselage
Great fit on everything :woohoo:
If you look at the wing cannons, they look like toys . Out came the exacto, the dremmel and we fixed the throths.
Next is assembling the engine mouts and mouting the engine in th fuselage
I think this will straighten the picture snafu and bring this up to date
Cheers, Christian