Going to the canopy…
Ki-51 had two types of canopy, the early and the late one.
Because I was building this model as the prototype that my grandfather flied, it should hava the early type canopy off course. But the Nichimo’s kit was as a late type, and additionally, I wanted to make the canopy open, so I had to make some modification on that.
The kit’s canopy was rather thick and had a bad transparency, so I bought faclon’s supreme canopy set.
But I had a big problem…
According to my first guide book “Maru’s Mechanism of Military Aircfaft Toryu/Type 99 Assault/Tactical Reconnaissance”, the early type canopy was “the door type”, and “it was opened like BF109”. But there was no photos remained, so I didn’t know the exact way that the canopy opened for a long long time.
When I got the Arawashi’s excellent guide book “Eagle Eye Series,No.1”, I found the (maybe)only photo that shows Ki-51’s early canopy as its opened status, and I exactly know the characteristic way to open it at last ! It was not the same as BF109.
I made the hinges for canopy with 0.3mm brass wires and 0.4mm pipes.
Adhered.
It can be opened ! 😀
It might be a bit less realistic, but it is simply fun isn’t it !? 🙂
Seat and headrest.
Started the tip light and landing light work.
Light test !
Oil cooler intake
Scratch-built the early type prop spinner.
Engine test !
Used a Hasegawa’s Zero prop. Both was the same type, Sumitomo-Hamilton prop.
Started the rear part of canopy.
Painting on the tip lights.
The rear part of canopy was devided into two pieces.
Can slide into.
Vertical rudder and elevator(can work)
The cover of the landing gear had a inspection window for gear shaft.
And there was inspection windows on the tail as well.
Ki-51 had so many windows! 😀
At last, masking canopy !!!
To avoid any unexpected transparency, painted in silver.
Before it, painted with the internal color on surface so that the silver can’t be seen from inside. 😉
Antenna strut.
Continuing work on the rear part of canopy.
It can slide into. 🙂
And goes to the final paint…
For a long time, I was not sure about in what color the prototype Ki-51 was painted.
As you may know, later in WW2, the Japan’s navy prototype aircraft was painted in something like orange, but what about the army before WW2…? I couldn’t find any information about it on Maru’s guide book nor Arawashi’s guide book.
By chance, I got a Gakken’s excellent book “The perfect guide of Japan army aircraft 1910-1945”, and found the description by Mr.Sunao Katabuchi saying that the color of army aircraft at that time was “Kai-Ryoku syoku”(grey green) including prototype.
The book says that “the color had a modern feel”, so I decided to add a bit blue to Tamiya’s grey green XF-14 acrilyc color.
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