Author Topic: 50th Sentai Ki-43  (Read 8295 times)

Offline Greebo

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50th Sentai Ki-43
« on: April 12, 2013, 02:23:00 PM »
This Ki-43 was flown by Sgt. Major Chikara Kotanigawa who flew with the 2nd Chutai of the 50th Sentai in Burma during 1942. The real aircraft was a Ki-43 I, but this is considered an acceptable substitution in AH for our Ki-43 II. All Ki-43 Is and IIs were left unpainted bar the factory bar markings and the anti glare panel, Ki-43 IIIs were factory painted. In the field the Is and IIs were usually given a full or partial covering of one of several shades of green or a green/brown scheme on their upper surfaces. Because no primer was used this rapidly wore away in the tropical climate of Burma.

On 15 December 1942 50th Sentai launched a raid on the RAF base at Chittagong in India. Near the base Kotanigawa was one of several pilots that latched onto the tail of a pair of RAF Hurricane Mk IICs. The RAF pilots dove for the deck and started weaving between the trees. They knew the Ki-43 I lacked a reflector sight and that their pilots were forced to peer into a telescopic sight to aim, a risky proposition when dodging greenery. This tactic proved effective when Kotanigawa's aircraft clipped a tree and forced to belly land. He was captured alive after a struggle but later committed suicide while in captivity.






« Last Edit: April 12, 2013, 02:25:10 PM by Greebo »

Offline SmokinLoon

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Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2013, 02:55:23 PM »
Niiiiiice.   :aok  That yellow lightning bolt will light up nice in a P40C's gun sight.   :D 

Job well done as usual.   :salute
Proud grandson of the late Lt. Col. Darrell M. "Bud" Gray, USAF (ret.), B24D pilot, 5th BG/72nd BS. 28 combat missions within the "slot", PTO.

Offline Mitsu

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Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2013, 10:20:32 PM »
It's mine! :lol

I really love green camo hayabusa.
Thank you Greebo. it's just excellent. :salute

BTW Do you have a plan of making shiny Ki-43 skin?

Offline lyric1

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Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
« Reply #3 on: April 13, 2013, 12:15:06 AM »
 :aok

Offline Mitsu

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Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
« Reply #4 on: April 13, 2013, 03:24:18 AM »
Shiny skins.




Offline Greebo

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Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
« Reply #5 on: April 13, 2013, 03:51:13 AM »
I can skin a shiny Ki-43 pretty easily as I have already done all the bare metal stuff for the default skin. I think it would need to be an operational fighter rather than a training aircraft. Also I'd like to have a WW2 photo of the aircraft. I hate working from profiles and paintings, you just end up copying some other artist's mistakes. I haven't checked my Ki-43 books, but IIRC most, if not all, the bare metal Ki-43 photos I saw in them were training aircraft. It might be a while before I can skin it as I'm working on default stuff for the next version and that takes priority.

Offline HighTone

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Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
« Reply #6 on: April 14, 2013, 06:59:23 PM »
Looks awesome. Thanks Greebo-san  :salute

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Offline Vudu15

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Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
« Reply #7 on: April 15, 2013, 04:25:43 AM »
Paint looks great can't wait to fly it. :D
"No odds too great"

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Offline lyric1

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Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
« Reply #8 on: April 15, 2013, 11:40:46 PM »
I can skin a shiny Ki-43 pretty easily as I have already done all the bare metal stuff for the default skin. I think it would need to be an operational fighter rather than a training aircraft. Also I'd like to have a WW2 photo of the aircraft. I hate working from profiles and paintings, you just end up copying some other artist's mistakes. I haven't checked my Ki-43 books, but IIRC most, if not all, the bare metal Ki-43 photos I saw in them were training aircraft. It might be a while before I can skin it as I'm working on default stuff for the next version and that takes priority.

I think this guy fits the bill.
Question on the colour of the tail emblem though. Some profiles show it yellow others red?





















« Last Edit: April 15, 2013, 11:43:13 PM by lyric1 »

Offline Dragon Tamer

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Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
« Reply #9 on: April 16, 2013, 12:02:58 AM »
One of these days, lyric is going to have to show us how he does that. Skin looks great by the way  :aok

Offline lyric1

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Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
« Reply #10 on: April 16, 2013, 12:04:51 AM »
One of these days, lyric is going to have to show us how he does that. Skin looks great by the way  :aok

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Offline Greebo

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Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
« Reply #11 on: April 16, 2013, 01:40:51 AM »
Thanks, but those are Ki-44 profiles Lyric1.

Offline lyric1

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Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
« Reply #12 on: April 16, 2013, 02:30:17 AM »
Thanks, but those are Ki-44 profiles Lyric1.

Doh :huh

Offline Mitsu

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Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
« Reply #13 on: April 16, 2013, 09:09:33 PM »
What about 55th Sentai...Ki-43-II, Sep 1944.



Offline lyric1

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Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
« Reply #14 on: April 16, 2013, 11:08:50 PM »
Not sure if this aircraft is bare metal or not I did find a profile showing another aircraft of this group that did see combat that is bare metal.

Can't find any information at all about this pilot either.
Sgt major Hirohata Tomia

http://s478.photobucket.com/user/mokyme/media/JAAF%20Aircraft/ki-43_59-sentai_hirohata-tomio_1943.jpg.html