The
Photographs
The
collection at RAF Cosford is special in many respects and a place I always
wanted to visit. The Kawasaki Ki-100-Ib and the Mitsubishi Ki-46-III
"Dinah" are the only examples of their type in existence and were the
focus on my interest. In particular the Dinah is one of the only multi-engine
Japanese WWII aircraft anywhere. Coincidentally both aircraft share the same
powerplant, the 1,500-hp Mitsubishi Ha-112 radial. The collection includes
another example of Japanese WWII aviation technology--an MXY "Okha".
Because there are examples of this piloted bomb in a number of collections
including NASM, it was of considerably less interest to me.
The
cockpits of both the Ki-46III and Ki-100-Ib are well photographed in Mikesh's
fine book Japanese Aircraft Interiors
1940-1945. What I have found difficult to locate are detailed photographs of
the exterior of these machines for modeling reference and the photographs I have
taken were intended to fill that gap. They are numbered 1 through 27; text for
each is similarly numbered for reference:
01_ki-100
This is the view that meets anyone walking into Hangar two at Cosford. It is
clear that the curators understand the rarity of the Ki-100 and Ki-46 as they
occupy the front spot while Spitfire, Hurricane and Thunderbolt are relegated to
less prominent real estate. I was stopped in my tracks. The fighter is
spectacular, finished in markings of the 244th Sentai.
02_ki-100
Wheel well of the Ki-100 features a simple bar contact that would meet the tire
and pull the cover shut. Mikesh notes that the pilot was expected to tap the
brakes immediately after liftoff to stop the spinning tire from contacting this
bar and damaging it. Many Ki-100 photographs show the well in a dark color.
03_ki100
Wheel strut. Mikesh notes that operational Ki-100s had natural metal main gear
struts, not painted as depicted here.
04_ki100
Exact rear photograph to establish correct dihedral for Hasegawa's fine 1/48
scale ki100-Ib or the ARII 1/48 ki-100-Ia.
05_ki100
Private pilots will be interested to know that the rudder-control cable coupling
and the trim-tab arm-link on the Ki-100 are almost identical in weight, length,
and angle to that of a Cessna 172 Skyhawk. Note spokes and solid rubber tail
wheel.
06_ki100
Port rudder, Note the tail light, fairing and rivets. Finish on this late war
fighter is quite good.
07_ki100
Mikesh's cockpit photos are great, this shot is intended to show the relative
transparency of the 60-year-old plexi.
08_ki100
On the port wing root there is a "step" walkway for climbing up to the
cockpit. This is raised about 3/32" and textured in squares that are molded
into the aluminum. The exhaust ejector stubs and cowlflap mechanism are pretty
well depicted here.
09_ki100
Port flap, torque tube and linkage. This appears as unfinished aluminum.
10_ki100
Hardpoint for droptanks/bombs.
11_ki100
View directly into the oil cooler scoop. I doubt that operationally the
hexagonal screen was painted the same color as the underside camouflage.
12_ki-100
The spinner on the Ki-100 is large as is the prop. It reminds me of standing in
front of a P-40. The Hucks link is on the tip, still in use
and not featured on the Ki-61. "Tony" code name belonged to the
Ki-61 not the Ki-100 as it often incorrectly appears in magazines and older
books. The A/C was unknown to the TAIU until after VJ day and never assigned a
code name by McCoy.
13_ki100 Close up of starboard tire, brake fluid hose.