Author Topic: Apophenia's Offerings  (Read 905397 times)

Offline Logan Hartke

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #250 on: April 02, 2012, 12:08:52 PM »
That looks great, and surprisingly un-Japanese.

Cheers,

Logan

Offline finsrin

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #251 on: April 02, 2012, 01:28:44 PM »
That looks great, and surprisingly un-Japanese.

Cheers,

Logan

Agree.   The Japanenseness seems all gone to me.

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #252 on: April 02, 2012, 04:55:21 PM »
I know.  That's what got me the first time I saw it.
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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Offline Doom!

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #253 on: April 02, 2012, 10:42:25 PM »
Amazing what a difference a new paint scheme makes, very nice!
Doom!
Jeff G.

Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #254 on: April 03, 2012, 08:28:40 AM »
Thanks for the links Jeffry. That Stanley seat looks ideal ... and the timeframe is perfect for what I had in mind :)


If you are working on this project in 1/48th scale you are in luck, Squadron Mail Order offers a resin 1/48th scale Stanley seat in their True Details product line. 
"Every day we hear about new studies 'revealing' what should have been obvious to sentient beings for generations; 'Research shows wolverines don't like to be teased" -- Jonah Goldberg

Offline apophenia

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #255 on: April 03, 2012, 12:14:21 PM »
Thanks folks. I've kept the 'Japaneseness' for this one. Following from Greg's suggestion that the Japanese may be operating aircraft alongside their British allies.
_________________

Kawasaki developed the Ki.45 To-Go attack variant of the Toryu when delays to the Ki.66 divebomber project became unacceptable. One squadron of the Japanese Combined Force's Ki.45 To-Go was 'lodged' with RAF Coastal Command's North Coates strike wing.

The To-Go illustrated has been repainted at an RAF maintenance depot (the pealing finish due to the nature of the Japanese aluminum alloy use to build the plane). The RAF-style squadron codes were a nod to neighbouring 236 Squadron, RAF. The serial would have been applied during the repaint for RAF record keeping.

JN 014 was lost in December 1942 during a strike on German shipping off the Dutch coast.

[BTW: this was based on a blank by 'AAP'. Dunno who he is but he's good.]
Froglord: "... amphibious doom descends ... approach the alter and swear your allegiance to the swamp."

Offline apophenia

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #256 on: April 03, 2012, 12:15:17 PM »
If you are working on this project in 1/48th scale you are in luck, Squadron Mail Order offers a resin 1/48th scale Stanley seat in their True Details product line.


Thanks Jeffry but this one's strictly pixels for me.
Froglord: "... amphibious doom descends ... approach the alter and swear your allegiance to the swamp."

Offline Tophe

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #257 on: April 03, 2012, 12:25:21 PM »
I've kept the 'Japaneseness' for this one. Following from Greg's suggestion that the Japanese may be operating aircraft alongside their British allies.
Kept the roundel, but in a RAF camo, this is weird and funny... or crazy, gently crazy I mean ;)

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #258 on: April 03, 2012, 04:33:07 PM »
Love it.
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #259 on: April 03, 2012, 04:49:22 PM »
That Ki-45 is great!!!

Offline apophenia

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #260 on: April 04, 2012, 05:38:45 AM »
Cheers guys! I'm imagining Ki.45 fighters as long-range escorts for the To-Go. Divebombing seemed a little passé for 1942 land-based aircraft so I deleted the wing divebrakes. (I'm guessing that the RW Ki.66 would've been completely restressed for divebombing anyway.)

The Ki.45 To-Go would've been employed more as a conventional attack aircraft for bomb (or possibly torpedo?) runs on light surface shipping. Over time, the To-Go would have been eclipsed by more flexible, straightforward Ki.45 fighter-bomber variants.

As for the air element of the Japanese Combined Force, that worked surprisingly well despite the mixed crews with differing cultures from the IJAAF and IJN. And of course, these WWII units were the progenitors of the unified Imperial Japanese Air Force that we know today  ;D

Kept the roundel, but in a RAF camo, this is weird and funny... or crazy, gently crazy I mean ;)

Yes, I went for an RAF look but retaining the Japanese hinomaru. Camouflage is as per contemporary Beaufighters. Other RAF touches were the yellow surround for the fuselage hinomaru and the fin flash. The latter I took from USAAF MTO aircraft (but added a rising sun banner above it for fun!).
Froglord: "... amphibious doom descends ... approach the alter and swear your allegiance to the swamp."

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #261 on: April 04, 2012, 05:53:43 AM »
Can't wait to see what you do next.  Maybe a desert based one?
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline apophenia

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #262 on: April 04, 2012, 10:56:32 AM »
How'dju know  :D
----------------------

New Zealand was the first Commonwealth country to order the Kawasaki Type 2 escort fighter. The RNZAF had a requirement for a long-range strike fighter and the Ki-45 seemed to fit the bill. Ordered for the RNZAF, the type was named the Kea as part of their practice of naming combat aircraft after indigenous birds.

The first overseas unit to receive the Kea was No. 487 (NZ) Squadron. A New Zealander-manned RAF squadron, 487 was formed at Norfolk alongside Combined Japanese Force squadrons. After training, 487 deploying to Malta in September 1942. Stationed at Luqa, the Keas acting in an anti-shipping role as well as strikes against land targets in Sicily.

NZ139 was a Kea Mk.IIB, the first of the 'long-beaked' Keas. This variant introduced the US 37mm Browning M4 in place of the lower-velocity Japanese Ho 203 autocannon. The defensive armament was also increased through the use of an armour-protected twin gun mount. While in Malta, 487 experimented with twin, belly-mounted 37mm guns but these proved too heavy for the airframe. Twin belly bomb racks remained the standard fit until wing-rack 60-lb rocket projectiles were introduced.

[BTW: the crucifixes under the cockpit are symbols for missions over Italy not victories!]
« Last Edit: April 04, 2012, 10:58:19 AM by apophenia »
Froglord: "... amphibious doom descends ... approach the alter and swear your allegiance to the swamp."

Offline Silver Fox

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #263 on: April 04, 2012, 11:03:07 AM »
Very convincing!
 
It does need a 'Malcolm Hood' though. :)

Offline apophenia

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #264 on: April 04, 2012, 11:13:18 AM »

It does need a 'Malcolm Hood' though.

Good idea! I did raise the hood for visibility but didn't go 'clear blown'. Ironically, the Japanese weren't noted for their plastic work back then. So, just like the Mustang's Malcom hoods, a UK retrofit then.
Froglord: "... amphibious doom descends ... approach the alter and swear your allegiance to the swamp."

Offline Logan Hartke

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #265 on: April 04, 2012, 11:38:00 AM »
Interesting thing about Japanese aircraft to keep in mind when considering the dull, pragmatic aspects of non-Japanese users is that they were made very specifically for the Japanese.  My father and I were discussing this recently in the context of one of our hypothetical "best of" scenarios.

Japanese aircraft were incredibly high performance for their day, the equivalent of most Western designs.  This is even more incredible when you look at the hp their engines produced and their all up gross weight.  How did they manage that?  Well, as they say, "there's no such thing as a free lunch".  Japanese design philosophy eschewed such "luxuries" as self-sealing fuel tanks, armor, and basically anything else that prevented the aircraft from becoming a ball of fire if anyone dared to light a cigarette nearby.  They had almost zero (no pun intended) ability to absorb enemy fire.

Does this mean that they're totally unsuitable for combat?  By no means.  But, if used by the British, Australians, or almost any Western military, they would be brought up to Western standards with such protection.  They still would have been comparable, but you have to factor in the speed, altitude, and range penalties that would most certainly be brought upon by these modifications.

I didn't mean to say these are totally implausible, just that they wouldn't be as "zippy" as the same planes in Japanese service.

Anyway, they look great, so by all means continue!

Cheers,

Logan

Offline elmayerle

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #266 on: April 04, 2012, 12:23:58 PM »
I suspect we might see some engine upgrades somewhere along the way to restore performance.  You have to wonder how a Ki-100 would do with a R2800 fitted, as an example.

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #267 on: April 04, 2012, 04:20:59 PM »
Love the desert bird! 
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline The Big Gimper

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #268 on: April 04, 2012, 06:30:36 PM »
Thanks guys! Here's another oldie ...

If you had not identified the A/C as a Harvard, I'd be still scratching my head on what it was.
Work in progress ::

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Offline JP Vieira

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #269 on: April 05, 2012, 01:40:33 AM »
Very good

Offline apophenia

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #270 on: April 05, 2012, 09:52:48 AM »
Thanks lads.

Logan: well said. In the RW, there's no advantage without trade-offs. We know what happened to the performance of P-36s and P-39s when they suddenly needed RAF levels of protection. Same would've happened to the Japanese airframes.
Froglord: "... amphibious doom descends ... approach the alter and swear your allegiance to the swamp."

Offline apophenia

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #271 on: April 07, 2012, 01:07:36 PM »
NZ107 was a Kawasaki Kea Mk.IC of 488 (New Zealand) Squadron flying from Malta. In March 1943, 'F' for Freddie was on an 'Intruder' operations over Sicily when fuel contamination started the engines spluttering. The crew pressed home their attack on Palermo airfield and then turned for home.

Once out to sea, the engines began running even rougher. The crew began jettisoning all non-essential equipment including personal weapons. Just after unshipping the navigators K gun, NZ107 was intercepted off Trapani by CR.42s of 4° Stormo CT. With no way to fight, the crew were escorted into Borizzo Airfield to surrender.

Freddie was repainted in Regia Aeronautica markings for flight tests. The heavily touched-up paintwork was typical of Keas operated in night schemes where covering chips and peeling was vital. Italian wing roundels and tail cross were applied along with a black recognition stripe.

NZ107's tail wheel was locked down suggestion a hydraulic problem. That may explain why the aircraft was written off in a wheels-up landing by a visiting Luftwaffe TO in late April 1943. She was then staked-out as a decoy. The ruse was apparently successful since NZ107 was destroyed by strafing P-38s during the invasion of Sicily.
Froglord: "... amphibious doom descends ... approach the alter and swear your allegiance to the swamp."

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #272 on: April 07, 2012, 03:10:50 PM »
Winner!
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline upnorth

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #273 on: April 07, 2012, 06:08:41 PM »
Those are some great variations on the theme.!
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Offline apophenia

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Re: Apophenia's Offerings
« Reply #274 on: April 08, 2012, 12:48:35 PM »
Thanks guys! The linky below is for my April Fool's GB entry:
http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=1037.msg14631#msg14631
Froglord: "... amphibious doom descends ... approach the alter and swear your allegiance to the swamp."