Volume 43 Number 10 Website: http://www.aerohistorians.org October 2009

Tamiya Kyofu (Rex) by Mark Rossmann

Kawanishi N1K1 Aircraft plane and the N1K1-J Shiden sea- Mitsubishi MK4D Kasei 14 radial by Mark L. Rossmann plane fighter, which first flew in May engine driving a pair of counter- of 1942. The Kyofu (Powerful Wind) rotating two-bladed propellers. The was fast, and powerfully armed. By production version started in spring the time this plane made it to the of 1943 and ceased production in History: Kawanishi N1K Kyofu field in 1943, Japans offensive ca- March of 1944 and was changed to (Rex) pabilities turned to defense and a 3 bladed Mitsubishi MK4E Kasei In 1940 the Japanese Navy ini- only 97 were built. First prototype 15, 14-cylindar radial air-cooled en- tiated a seaplane project, out of was a mid-wing monoplane with gine, creating 1530 h.p. Max speed which came the A6M2 Reisen sea- large floats, powered by a 1460 hp (Continued on page 3)

Page 1 TCAH Officers Airline Chatter by Terry Love Delta Airlines has cut the follow- President , Dave Nelson ing routes from their system due to Spanair, the Spanish charter lower demand – Atlanta to Seoul, Vice-President , Larry Donovan and leisure travel airline, will re- Cincinnati to Frankfurt, Atlanta to place 11 MD-82s and MD-87s with Shanghai, Atlanta to Cape Town, Secretary , Merrill Anderson Airbus A-320s next year as their Cincinnati to London, and New leases run out. York to Edinborough. Treasurer , Dave Hueffmeier Southwest Airlines lost out on a Delta Airlines painted its first ex- Historian , Tom Norrbohm bid for Frontier Airlines. But South- Northwest Airlines Airbus A-330 west is on the hunt for another air- and delivered it to the line on Sep- line to buy. Are we seeing a new tember 11, and it then entered ser- Newsletter Info aggressive Southwest Airlines? vice shortly afterwards. Article Submission Deadline: 22nd of each month. CSA, the Czeck Airline, lost Delta Airlines floated a stock $102.8 million in the first six months sale recently for around $500 mil- Editor of 2009. lion. Delta likes the Asian network Bob Arko of old Northwest Airlines so much, 6417 Rice Court Air India lost a whopping $1.03 that they want to expand its influ- Lino Lakes, MN 55014 Billion for the fiscal year that ended ence in Asia. Therefore, Delta is 651-481-8887h recently. They have too much ca- investing in JAL, Japan Air Lines, 763-496-6742w pacity for their markets. who has lost a lot of money in the [email protected] last couple of years, and is in des- JAL, Japan Air Lines, lost over perate need for cash. Delta is now Distribution Editor $900 million last year, and they pro- the largest single share holder in Rick Schmierer ject to lose at least that much this JAL. Merger? Probably not. Mesh- 1852 E. 39 Street year. Therefore, JAL plans to lay off ing of schedules? Probably. Minneapolis, MN 55407 about 5,000 more employees or 612-721-8787 about 10% of their workforce. Airbus, as of September 15, [email protected] has sold 147 airliners for 2009. Af- American Airlines has now re- ter deducting cancellations, the to- Send articles to: tired all of their Airbus A-300s. tal comes to 125. However, as of Bob Arko American had 35 of them at one September 15, Airbus has delivered 6417 Rice Court time. 320 airliners for the year. Rival Lino Lakes, MN 55014 Boeing has sold a net of 70 airlin- [email protected] Philippines Air Lines may cut ers, but they are generally larger in more than a third of its 8000 em- size than the Airbus airliners. Boe- Send Change of address notice to: ployees due to a sharp decline in ing has delivered 307 airliners Dave Hueffmeier travel. through September 15 of this year. Boeing will deliver between 480 th Airbus delivered its 4,000 A- and 485 aircraft this year. 320 family aircraft to TAM – the Brazilian Airline. TCAH This Month Boeing received 11 new orders The monthly meeting will be held for the Boeing 737-800 the first Saturday October 10, at Fleming week of September, but 2 orders for Field, South St. Paul, beginning at the Boeing 777 were cancellations. 1:30 pm. Vendor baiting will begin Boeing did not disclose what air- about 12:30, so come early. lines were involved. So far this year, Boeing has received 161 new orders and 91 cancellations for a net gain of 70 orders. Orders last year and the previous year were well into the 400s. Picture your model someplace in the Newsletter! Embraer delivered its 600 th Em- braer 175 to LOT, the Polish Airline.

Page 2 (Continued from page 1) and up to 264 lbs of bombs. History: Kawanishi N1K2-J Shi- 304 mph at 18,700 ft., ceiling den Kai (George) 34,645 ft., and range 1,036 miles. It is recognized this fighter With the short comings of the Armament was 2 20-mm cannon, 2 matched the capabilities of the Hell- original design, the Shiden Kai took machine guns and up to 132 lbs. of cat and Corsair when in the hands to the air in December of 1943, bombs. of experienced pilots. It is noted sharing the same engine as its predecessor, but was different in a lowering to the wing system, to shorten and simplify the and the tail wheel. The redes- ign created an exceptional aircraft that the Japanese Navy accepted immediately as its standard fighter and fighter-. Major produc- tion began in June of 1944. With the increase in U.S. bombing raids only 415 of this version could be built. Production version was pow- ered by a Nakajima NK9H Homare 21, 18–cylinder cylinder radial air cooled engine creating 1,990 hp. Max speed 369 mph at 18,375 ft., ceiling 35,300 ft., range, 4881 miles. Armament was 4 20-mm cannons, 1100 lbs of bombs.

Construction: N1K Kyofu Sea- plane is a Tamiya kit no. 61036. that Lt. Kinsuke Muto engaged a (Built 2005) History: Kawanishi N1K1-J Shi- dozen Hellcats in February 1945, It was built OOB and as with all den (George) downing 4 of them and driving the Tamiya kits they are well thought The Kawanishi Shiden may be rest off. out and went together very straight the only case in history of a land based combat aircraft derived from a seaplane. This was a privately developed aircraft which was fast, well protected and heavily armed. It was among the few Japanese planes that could compete on the same level as the Corsair and Hell- cat. The Shiden (“Violet Lightning”) were built to the tune of 1,435 dur- ing the last two years of the war, but were used sporadically. Since this was a private venture the Japa- nese military was reluctant to ac- knowledge the virtues of the plane, even with its initial problems with landing gear and engine. Once ironed out the plane went into pro- duction in mid 1943. Production version was powered by a Naka- jima NK9H Homare 21, 18–cylinder cylinder radial air cooled engine creating 1,990 hp. Max speed 363 mph at 19,335 ft., ceiling 41,010 ft., range 1,581 miles. Armament was 4 20-mm cannons, 2 machine gun (Continued on page 4)

Page 3 (Continued from page 3) designed with a great fit. The inte- snug them down. forward. As noted a very nice dolly rior is adequate and the kit builds to is included along with the mounting a nice scaled version of the aircraft. Conclusion: This series of air- ladder for the climb to the cockpit . Lower wings and upper wings craft kits is relatively easy to con- Painting: Tamiya synthetic Lac- sprayed separately then matched. struct. If you like Japanese aircraft quer spray-paints AS-2 Light Navy Body sprayed separately then the this series of aircraft were fun to Grey and AS-1 Navy Green. wings were matched to the body. build providing a unique history of a Decals: From the kit and repre- Painting: Tamiya synthetic Lac- specific aircraft type. sent No. 103, “Ohtsu” Kokutai. De- quer spray-paints AS-2 Light Navy cals adhered fine to the Tamiya Grey and AS-1 Navy Green. References: For all aircraft, paint, using Solve Set to snug them Decals: From the kit and repre- “Rand McNally Illustrated Guide to down. . sent No. 45, “343rd Air Group”, re- World War II Airplanes – Volume 2” and each of the kits decal infor- mation’

established at the Matsuyama Air Construction: N1K1-J Shiden Base 12/44, fighting to the end of is an Otaki kit. (Built 1987) the war. Decals adhered fine to the It was built OOB and as with all Tamiya paint, using Solve Set to Otaki kits the interior was lacking detail. However, the exterior works up well providing a drop tank and 3 sets of decals. The fit was good with minimal filler and sanding, in- structions in Japanese, but the pic- tures can be followed if care is taken. Painting: Tamiya acrylic Light IJN Navy Grey and IJN Navy Green hand painted with a brush. Decals: From the kit and repre- sent No. 151, “341 st Air Group”, fighting in Iwo Jima, Formosa and the Philippines, where the unit was destroyed. Decals adhered fine to the Tamiya paint, using Solve Set to snug them down.

Construction: N1K1-2 Shiden Kai is Hasegawa kit #J5. (Built 2005) It was built OOB and is well

Page 4 Kawanishi N1K George MODEL X-1 Kawanishi, X-1 flight trials revealed by Peter Starkings The original intention was to serious engine and undercarriage Reprinted from ‘JAS Jottings’, make as few alterations as possible problems with overall performance Vol. 5, No. 4, 1999 to the N1K, apart from replacing falling below expectations. Even so, Used with permission floats with a retractable they strove to overcome these undercarriage. This in itself difficulties and three more slightly presented a major design challenge modified prototypes were Editor’s Note: Gary Wenko, and as the N1K/X- l mid-wing completed by July 1943. through him Peter Starkings, have configuration meant long u/c legs Meanwhile, a series of events had kindly granted permission for TCAH which somehow had to be made begun in their favor. Even before to reprint material originally pub- shorter on retraction to fit available starting the X-1 flight trials and lished in JAS Jottings, The Quar- wing space. Kawanishi had no learning the true extent of their terly Magazine of Japanese Avia- experience of retractable troubles, Kawanishi were already tion SIG/IPMS(UK). JAS Jottings is undercarriages anyway, but they redesigning the aircraft to correct no longer published. This article solved the problem by enclosing perceived shortcomings (see N1K2- nicely complements Mark part of the conventional oleo leg in J later). The potential there Rossmann’s kit review . what was effectively an outer oleo fortunately captured the Navy's tube. Varying pressure in that attention and in the Spring of 1943 lengthened the leg on u/c extension they agreed to sponsor this work, BACKGROUND and shortened it on retraction. cancelling the J3K and J6K Ingenious, but it was to prove projects. The Kawanishi N1K1-J Shiden troublesome. (Violet Lightning) land based fighter There is little doubt that worries was unique in that it was developed More trouble also came from over quickly resolving increasing from the N1K Kyofu (Mighty Wind) fitting the X-1 with a Nakajima problems with the Raiden floatplane fighter. The Kyofu was 1,820hp Homare 11 engine driving prompted the Navy's change of built in response to a 15-Shi a four bladed propeller, in place of heart. As these increased they even ' specification issued in September the N1K s Mitsubishi 1,460hp Kasei went so far as to accept one 1940 for a floatplane fighter to 14 engine. On the other hand, prototype X-1 in July 1943 for test cover amphibious operations in changing combat operation purposes. Service pilots confirmed remote Pacific Island areas without from hand (N1K) to fully automatic Kawanishi's findings and also airfields and where full scale carrier (X-1) greatly improved handling complained of poor workmanship support could not be justified. characteristics. Armament for good measure. However, three Although many problems arising comprised two fuselage mounted factors were to rescue the X-1 from from its advanced design had been 7.7mm Type 97 machine guns and oblivion. Firstly, the war situation overcome by the time the Pacific two 20mm Type 99 Model 1 drum demanded an increased number of War broke out some 14 months fed cannons in underwing interceptor fighters to match the later, prototype construction had gondolas. performance of U.S. Corsairs and barely started. Nevertheless, Hellcats; secondly, in spite of Kawanishi engineers were already Despite ongoing development shortcomings, the X-1 had a top preparing design studies for a problems with the N1K prototype, speed slightly faster than the landplane version of it, reckoning which did not fly until May 1942, the current A6M5 and an overall that, with relatively few changes, X-1 prototype made its maiden performance better than the estimated performance justified its flight a mere seven months later. troublesome slightly faster Raiden; development. But the Navy were not impressed lastly, Kawanishi were in any event because they had already accepted developing a Navy sponsored The Navy were not convinced, the Mitsubishi J2M2 Raiden as redesigned version of it. but Kawanishi management were their first land based interceptor and they decided to go ahead with fighter in October 1942. Also, Shortly after their X-1 tests the the project as a private venture, adding insult to injury, they then Navy decided to bite the bullet and designated Model X-1 Experimental also instructed Kawanishi to design also sponsor that as an interim step Land-based Fighter. It is fortunate a new interceptor fighter (J3K) to pending completion of the they did so because, through their specification 17B-Shi in competition redesigned version. They assigned foresight, a later production variant with Mitsubishi (J4M), followed by a staff to take responsibility for was destined to become one of the derivative of it (J6K) to specification development of what then became best JNAF fighters. 18B-Shi in early 1943. known as the N1K1-J and N1K2-J Interceptor Fighters. If that were not enough discouragement already to (Continued on page 6)

Page 5 removed, perhaps to offset drop long, complex u /c resulted in an (Continued from page 5) tank weight. Some sources suggest almost completely new aircraft.

there was already drop tank Wings were moved down to the MODEL 11 (N1K1-J) provision on Model 11, in which bottom of the fuselage and a A reliable summary of N1K1-J case the machine guns might have conventional retractable type u/c development is difficult because of been removed to simplify fitted: The fuselage itself was made varying information given in English production or improve performance. slimmer and 0.46M longer with a and Japanese reference sources, Unfortunately it is virtually revised shape tailfin: The Homare 21 lack of variant photos (especially impossible to differentiate between engine was retained in spite of its reliably captioned) and variant Models 11 and 11A from photos (as shortcomings as it was now a Navy production figures. The following captioned!) because machine gun standard type: A more streamlined information is based on the most ports do not seem to have been cowling was fitted to the first consistent details found within the blanked over on the latter. prototype (see P.10), but the Model sources. 11 cowling was retained thereafter

MODEL 11B (NIK1-Jb) for production standardization, Manufacture of more prototypes This variant was introduced although with an internal oil cooler and some pre-production aircraft probably in early 1945 and featured and a shallow ventral air intake for commenced almost immediately new strengthened wing sections it: Armament was as described after Navy involvement. Kawanishi outboard of the undercarriage under Model 11B and definitely and naval personnel worked hard to identical to those on Model 21. Each without fuselage machine guns as correct deficiencies and improve housed two 20mm Type 99 Model 2 the outlets were blanked over! successive prototypes, culminating belt fed cannons within the wing in a "definitive" N1K1-J by the end of and each was fitted with a 250Kg Whilst Model 2 incorporated 1943. Compared to the X-1 this had capacity bomb rack. parts common to the Model 1 where a 1,990hp Homare 21 engine fitted The wing gondolas were possible, it had some 30% less in in a modified cowling with a larger dispensed with and, according to total and was easier to build and top lip intake and new lower lip some sources, it was now that the maintain. The prototype first flew in intake, an external oil cooler behind fuselage, machine guns were also December 1943 and was handed and below the left side cowling gills removed! This might seem more over to the Navy four months later. and individual exhausts. An logical given the additional Seven more prototypes were ready additional 20mm type 99 Model 1 firepower and extra weight of the by June 1944 and, even before cannon and a 60Kg bomb rack were new cannon and additional completion of service trials, full added just outboard of each gondola ammunition carried for them, but scale production of Navy Intercep- mounted cannon. The resultant then what was the difference tor fighter Shiden Kai Model 21 (N aircraft was then formally between the -J and -Ja? Another 1 K2-J) was authorized. Kawanishi authorized for quantity production unexplained mystery with the -Jb is had already begun tooling up in an- as Navy Interceptor Fighter Shiden the squared off tailplane tips of late ticipation of this, but a series of Model 11(N1K1-J), Allied code production examples, a feature not teething troubles experienced dur- GEORGE. incorporated on Model 2. ing remaining service trials again

necessitated modifications to be By then, however, some 70 MODEL 11C (N1K1-Jc) made to early production aircraft on aircraft had already been produced A small number of Model 11B the assembly line. Consequent de- and output was gaining momentum aircraft were converted to lays were made worse by Allied in spite of difficulties ensuring that specialized fighter- with bombing of component suppliers so all aircraft were retrofitted where racks for two 250Kg bombs under that quantity production did not start necessary to the "definitive" each wing. until December 1944. standard. This was exacerbated by continued further minor changes EXPERIMENTAL MODELS The first 100 production aircraft arising from engine and A handful of Models IIB for use had a broad chord fin, thereafter undercarriage problems on suicide attacks were fitted with a narrow chord, but with a similar experienced during initial pilot ventral pannier housing a 250Kg rudder. There were two Model 21 training and familiarization, also by bomb and six air to ground variants: introduction of the Model I 1A in unguided rocket bombs. One Model 1944. 11 was fitted with a solid propellant MODEL 21A (N1K2-Ja)

rocket booster under the fuselage. This variant was fitted with MODEL 11A (N1K1-Ja) racks for two 250Kg bombs under On this main production variant MODEL 21 (N1K2-J ) each wing as on Model 11C. there was provision for a 400L drop Redesign of Model 11, primarily tank under the fuselage and the two undertaken to obviate need for the (Continued on page 7) fuselage machine guns were

Page 6 (Continued from page 6) glare panel. MODEL 21 (N1K2-K) MODELS 41 (N1K3-A) and 42 A small number of N 1 K2-J (N1K4-A) AeroMaster transfer sheets aircraft were fitted with a rear Carrier borne versions of provide a variety of tail codes, also cockpit equipped with dual controls Models 31 and 32 (designated some fuselage stripes and large for pilot training, designated Navy Models 41 and 42, respectively) figures. Yellowhammer Models (in Type Fighter Trainer Shiden Kai were also proposed. Model 41 got 1/48th scale only) provide a smaller Rensen Model 21 (N1K2-K). no further than the project stage, number of alternatives for all of but one prototype Model 42 was these as well as a tail code for the UNSOLVED PROBLEMS built. Production plans were above mentioned , 6th prototype. Very shortly after N1K2-J subsequently abandoned after production had been authorized, decimation of the Japanese carrier Kawanishi engineers turned their fleet in late 1944. REFERENCES attention to the two principal #1-Famous Fighters of WWII, remaining problems. These were FINALE Green (1962) #2-Profile center of gravity location adversely Notwithstanding the Shiden Kai's Publ.213, (1968) affecting some maneuvers and excellent performance in normal #3- FAOW 2 (1971) continued unreliability of the combat situations, it was ineffectual #4-KKF Monthly 2174-1/'75 Incl. Homare 21 engine, which they in helping combat the growing B-29 and 3/'85 proposed tackling with new Models menace because of its poor rate of #5-Japanese A/C Pacific War, as follows: climb. Two proposals were put Francillon (1979) forward in 1945 to remedy this by #6-Maru Mechanic 43 (1983) MODEL 31 (N1K3-J) installing yet more powerful #7-Wydawnictwo Suisei N1K 1 /N 1 Model 31 had the fuselage engines: K2-J (1991) section in front of the cockpit #8-Model Art 304 (1991) lengthened by six inches, thus MODEL 25 (N1K5-J) #9-KKF Illustrated 68/'93, 83/'95, moving the Homare 21 engine An N1K2-J airframe was fitted 991'98 forward by a similar amount. At the with a 2,200hp Mitsubishi MK9A # 10-Asahi Journal l /4 (1993) same time opportunity was taken to engine enclosed in a new cowling. #11-FAOW 53 (1995) increase armament by fitting two One nearly finished prototype was #12 Delta MAS, UN Shiden Kai. 13.2mm Type 3 machine guns in destroyed in mid 1945 during B-29 the additional fuselage space raids. available. The Model is recognizable from cowling gun UNKNOWN DESIGNATION ports, the increased distance The second proposal was between exhaust outlets and wing similar, but using a 2,200hp leading edge and an additional supercharged Homare 44 engine. vertical slot in front of the cockpit. This was still at the planning stage in August 1945. English sources state that two prototypes were completed in late 1944, but that Model 31 was not put COLORS AND MARKINGS into production. Japanese sources Although production Shiden seem to suggest that either 201 aircraft were initially finished green/ were produced or that it was grey, the majority of them and most, produced after the 201st Model 2, if not all, of the Shiden Kai seem to the latter implying a production total have been green/natural metal. of around 224. Further information Unfortunately, photos show Shiden and photographs are still being wearing tail codes only, but Shiden sought to clarify these Kai can be seen with fuselage contradictions. stripes in various colors and, unusually, the individual aircraft MODEL 32 (N1K4-J) number repeated in large figures on This was similar to Model 31, the fuselage Hinomaru as well. but powered by a 2,000hp Homare Modellers seeking a more 23 engine with low pressure fuel flamboyant example should injection. Two prototypes were consider the N1K2-J first or sixth completed in late 1944, but it was prototypes, which were finished not put into production. overall orange with a black anti-

Page 7 Directions to the Club Meeting Location Where: South St. Paul Municipal miles toward the Fleming Field Airport, a.k.a. Fleming Field, lo- airport terminal building. cated on the southern extremity of If coming from east Twin Cities on South St. Paul, south of I-494, west westbound 494: fo Concord Street and East of High- • Exit at the 7th and 5th Avenue way 52. exit (Exit No.65) • Turn left (South) on 7th Ave and If coming from the western Twin go approximately .6 miles to a 4- Cities going east on 494: way Stop sign. This is South • Exit at the 7th and 5th Avenue Street W. To your left front there exit (Exit No.65) will be a small strip mall; to your • Turn right (South) on 7th Ave and right there will be an Amoco sta- go approximately .6 miles to a 4- tion. way Stop sign. This is South • Turn left (East) at the 4-way Stop Street W. To your left there will onto be a McDonald’s; to your right • South Street W and go approxi- front there will be a Walgreen’s. mately .4 miles. Along the way • Turn left (East) at the 4-way Stop you will encounter two more onto Stop signs—the third Stop sign • South Street W and go approxi- (Henry Avenue) will be a “T” in- mately .6 miles. Along the way tersection. At the “T” intersection you will encounter three more on your left will be homes and on Stop signs—the third Stop sign your right softball fields. (Henry Avenue) will be a “T” in- • Turn right (south) onto Henry tersection. At the “T” intersection Ave. and go approximately .2 on your left will be homes and on miles toward the Fleming Field DRAW DECALS your right softball fields. airport terminal building. • Turn right (south) onto Henry The terminal is on the right with park- Ave. and go approximately .2 ing available.

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