Ki-84 Windscreen

[Widewing]

After flying the Ki-84 a bit, I noticed that the windscreen cross- brace appeared to be too low, encroaching on foward vision. So, I went to my book shelves and began going through various volumes checking photos and line drawings.

My initial thought was confirmed. The cross-brace is, indeed, too low. Based upon these photos and line drawings, I corrected the windshield in Photoshop. This is a minor issue, but it does have a negative effect on vision.

Below are two images. The upper image shows the windshield the way it does appear, the one below it, the way it should appear. The last image is of the AH2 Ki-84 exterior. Even that shows the cross-brace up out of the line of sight.






My regards,

Widewing

[frank3]

Also the Japanese must have had a heck of a good eyesight for those gauges are hardly readable!

[Krusty]

The problem is NOT the brace. THe brace is correct.

The problem is how the wide angle is showing what we "see".

If you push your head position forward you will see more of what you expect to see, HOWEVER, you lose the upwards and sideways views.

Think of the HurrII. If you leave it default it "looks" right, but if you push your head position back you see a lot more useful things. I think it's just a compromise on the default head position, the perspective of the 3D "camera" and the position of said "camera". The 3D model itself is perfect, what we see is 100% subjective.

[Widewing]

Originally posted by Krusty
The problem is NOT the brace. THe brace is correct.

The problem is how the wide angle is showing what we "see".

If you push your head position forward you will see more of what you expect to see, HOWEVER, you lose the upwards and sideways views.

Think of the HurrII. If you leave it default it "looks" right, but if you push your head position back you see a lot more useful things. I think it's just a compromise on the default head position, the perspective of the 3D "camera" and the position of said "camera". The 3D model itself is perfect, what we see is 100% subjective.

I'm afraid I have to disagree. Below you see a drawing of the Ki-84 from the head-on view. You will notice that the cross-brace will not interfere with forward vision.

Even if it is a 3D issue, it should still be corrected. I don't think it's a 3D issue at all, just incorrect.



My regards,

Widewing

[Krusty]

No, because you see the "top" of the canopy (including the brace) is warped up and around to simulate peripheral vision. Look at how the top stretches up and around with a greater curve than it really has. It's all about the camera perspective. Trust me. You can make things look very different with different lenses (like a fisheye wide-angle on your 35mm camera, vs a long narrow-angle zoom, if you look at the same cockpit with these two lenses one will look more "flat" and one will look more splayed out (like what we see in the Ki cockpit)

It's all perspective. Specifically, the perspective HTC coded into our cockpit view. I for one like it, because it we had the flat perspective we'd have horrible visibility.

[Bodhi]

The two lateral braces that support the top fwd windscreen brace have a formed joggle.  The upper brace should fit were the joggle is.  It is wrong in both WW's and the AH2 pics.

[Widewing]

Originally posted by Krusty
It's all perspective. Specifically, the perspective HTC coded into our cockpit view. I for one like it, because it we had the flat perspective we'd have horrible visibility.

The perspective is wrong, period.

That piece of glass on top is in reality 30% smaller in area than the bulletproof glass in front. It appears 30% larger from the inside view. Moreover, the linear frame should be parallel to the thrust line. AH2 shows it angling down too towards the nose.

Here's an excellent drawing to use for reference:



And a good photo too:



There's a ton of evidence, especially photographic that shows that the Ki-84 windshield, viewed both externally and especially viewed internally is not correct. Again, I emphasize that this is a very minor issue. However, HTC has always been keen on getting these details right. Their correction of the P-51B landing gear is a typical example of their willingness to nail down the seemingly insigificant details.

As a part-time photographer who supplements my income selling photos commercially, I have a reasonably good understanding of perspective. The perspective seen from the inside of the Ki-84 looking forward is simply incorrect. Furthermore, the frame is too thick. Again, examine the photo and drawings.

My regards,

Widewing

[Widewing]

Originally posted by Bodhi
The two lateral braces that support the top fwd windscreen brace have a formed joggle.  The upper brace should fit were the joggle is.  It is wrong in both WW's and the AH2 pics.

The problem is that the "joggle" is too low. I moved the brace up where it should be but did not relocate the bend or adjust the rail angle relative to the thrustline.

My regards,

Widewing

[Bodhi]

Originally posted by Widewing
The problem is that the "joggle" is too low. I moved the brace up where it should be but did not relocate the bend or adjust the rail angle relative to the thrustline.

My regards,

Widewing

I disagree, the joggle is located approximately midpoint of the length of the former.  Even sitting in the cockpit, that is going to be apparent.  Either way, it is moot till somoeone provides a pic of the front view out of a KI-84.

[Mitsu]

Widewing, it seems you're right.

[Widewing]

HTC, thanks for improving the forward vision!

My regards,

Widewing

[Mitsu]

Thank you for quick reaction, Pyro & NATEDOG!

And I love new default head position.