Author Topic: Ki-98  (Read 22876 times)

Offline Frank3k

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Ki-98
« on: May 08, 2013, 11:46:35 AM »
This is the Meng 1/72 Ki-98:



Typical Meng kit - excellent fit and a very easy and fun build. Highly recommended. This is after about a leisurely hour of building:



The only addition so far has been a PE seat, harness & seat belt, rudder pedals (which will be invisible) and some plastic rod behind the seat to represent an early ejection system:



I should add a headrest.

This is the kit supplied instrument panel. Just paint - no decals) and some extra dust, which I'll remove):



The kit offers Japanese, Thai and Manchukuo markings. I'll probably go with French, though, since they were known to have flown the Ki-98 in Indochina (no, really! Would I lie?)

Oh yeah, the cool orange and black skull and cross-bones are from some flannel pajamas that Lisa is making me. I needed some clean flannel to use with my micromesh plastic polishing kit, so she cut some squares from left over material.
« Last Edit: May 08, 2013, 11:48:53 AM by Frank3k »

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #1 on: May 08, 2013, 02:32:47 PM »
Love the post war French idea. :)

Jealous that this isn't available in 1/48 :icon_twisted:
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Offline Dr. YoKai

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #2 on: May 08, 2013, 10:01:06 PM »
 The French markings sound pretty cool - that's a dark blue finish over all, right?

Offline Cliffy B

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #3 on: May 08, 2013, 10:51:09 PM »
Love twin boom pushers!!!  Popcorn is ready, you may proceed!  She going to have any ordnance or fly clean?


"Radials growl, inlines purr, jets blow!"  -Anonymous

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Offline Frank3k

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #4 on: May 09, 2013, 05:45:30 AM »
I was going to go with a natural metal finish or light gray overall, but  the dark blue may be an option. I'll look up French aircraft from the period.

It'll definitely get guns in the wing booms and either drop tanks or gravity bombs.

Offline Buzzbomb

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #5 on: May 09, 2013, 10:25:38 AM »
Should be interesting how this finishes up.. whatever the final scheme.

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #6 on: May 09, 2013, 04:20:22 PM »
Nice looking details, Frank!

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Offline Frank3k

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #7 on: May 13, 2013, 04:59:49 AM »
Major construction is finished. It needed very, very little gap filling and most of that was done with Mr. Surfacer.
I was going to go with a prop, but after goofing around with some parts, I'm torn:

with intakes:


using the existing intakes:


Original 4 blade prop:


Offline Cliffy B

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #8 on: May 13, 2013, 05:07:59 AM »
She's looking great man!

Are you debating "jet vs prop" or "in flight vs on the ground"?

I personally like the prop as it gives more of a throwback quality but if you want to go with cutting edge then the jet certainly works.  Either way you go though those intakes you fabricated (at least from that angle) look way too big in both length and thickness IF you stay with the prop.  They still might be a bit thick (as in away from the body) for a jet and might disturb the airflow too much.  Either way I like the addition of the scoops as those tiny intakes while probably better aerodynamically, just plain look inadequate so some sort of scoop would be a nice touch but think smaller than the current one you have.

Just my 2 cents  :)
"Radials growl, inlines purr, jets blow!"  -Anonymous

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Offline raafif

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #9 on: May 13, 2013, 05:27:22 AM »
ze jet version looks better to me ! :)

Offline Dr. YoKai

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #10 on: May 13, 2013, 06:41:06 AM »
 All aircraft look better in flight.

That said, I like the "radial's-intakes-are the jet's intakes" scheme best. The bigger scoops just mess with the lines of the fuselage
to my eye. One other evil thought occurs to me - you could (1) split the staibilizer, then (2) reverse the rudder halfs, left outer becoming right inner, and vice versa, allowing you to mount the tailplanes outboard of the booms, completely clear of
the jet efflux. or not. it looks pretty cool the way it is.

Offline finsrin

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #11 on: May 13, 2013, 07:14:12 AM »
I'm split between middle-bottom pictures.
For jet can you enlarge intakes a bit w/o those larger scoops ?

Offline father ennis

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #12 on: May 13, 2013, 09:03:20 AM »
I think.it looks better with the prop. It just "looks right" !!!
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Offline apophenia

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #13 on: May 13, 2013, 09:26:58 AM »
If it comes to a vote, I'm with Cliffy and father ennis on the prop  ;)
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Offline arkon

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #14 on: May 13, 2013, 11:12:42 AM »
props to the prop
the paper gods demand sacrifice

Offline Old Wombat

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #15 on: May 13, 2013, 02:23:04 PM »
Yeah, the "jet" intake isn't right but not having one wouldn't allow sufficient inflow for the turbine.

You could go a 4th option, which would be to keep the original intakes & add flatter intakes below & forward of them, say in line with the cockpit tub.

That said; I do like the streamlined shape of the prop-job.

:)

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Offline Frank3k

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #16 on: May 14, 2013, 12:05:14 AM »
Thanks for the suggestions. The prop is really fragile (I bent a blade just playing with it) so I went with the jet option. I like the idea of a clean, streamlined fuselage, so I closed off the vents (or exhausts) at the rear of the plane.

 I think there are enough intake vents in the front; there are four extra vents along the bottom, in line with the other vents. Compared to the DH Vampire's intakes,  these vents seem to provide a similar or even larger intake area.

I'm working on a back story and I'm trying to think up a good color scheme:
1 - All metal
2 - gray overall
3 - light blue overall (RLM 76ish, basically bluer than the all gray option)
4 - dark blue
5 - sand and green

I'm  having a hard time finding era appropriate (late 40s - early 50s) French color schemes that are not just French Navy blue or all metal.

Re: Ki-98
« Reply #17 on: May 14, 2013, 08:22:58 PM »
You could add a larger intake on the belly, in place of the existing ventral oil cooler.



My 2 cents.

Chris
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and something to shoot at?"

Offline Frank3k

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #18 on: May 14, 2013, 11:30:12 PM »
You could add a larger intake on the belly, in place of the existing ventral oil cooler.

I may do that, since there is a precedent - the Nene powered Vampires had a supplemental intake.

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #19 on: May 15, 2013, 05:46:27 AM »
I vote for keeping it sleek. OK so there's not the big intake we're all used to, it'll look wicked fast!

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Offline Frank3k

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #20 on: May 15, 2013, 12:27:06 PM »
Here's what it looks like with the rear vents blanked off:



Top view:


With drop tanks (just test fit) and the auxiliary intake (the kit oil cooler intake, moved forward):



You can also see the holes for the extra guns at the front of the wing pods. I'll add some barrels at the end.

I just found a side view of a RR Nene engine. I scaled it to 1/72 and printed it out. It would have fit perfectly in the Ki-98!
« Last Edit: May 15, 2013, 12:52:13 PM by Frank3k »

Offline finsrin

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #21 on: May 15, 2013, 02:57:05 PM »
Looking good jet powered.   :)
Like that you sized engine fit.  Thatz what I do too.
Revell 1/100 F-16 scoop or similar on bottom is possibility.

Re: Ki-98
« Reply #22 on: May 17, 2013, 10:07:42 AM »
That looks good.


Chris
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with a uniform to wear,
a fast aeroplane to fly,
and something to shoot at?"

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #23 on: May 18, 2013, 06:08:03 AM »
Wow is that every looking good, Frank!

I'd say you've totally managed to capture the essence of this GB and the paint's not even on yet!

Brian da Basher

Offline ysi_maniac

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Re: Ki-98
« Reply #24 on: May 18, 2013, 11:34:13 AM »
WOW :-* :-* :-*