Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: Greebo on April 12, 2013, 02:23:00 PM

Title: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: Greebo 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.


(http://www.gfg06.dial.pipex.com/screenshots4/50th_Sentai_Ki-43_SC1.jpg)

(http://www.gfg06.dial.pipex.com/screenshots4/50th_Sentai_Ki-43_SC2.jpg)

(http://www.gfg06.dial.pipex.com/screenshots4/50th_Sentai_Ki-43_SC3.jpg)
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: SmokinLoon 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
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: Mitsu 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?
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: lyric1 on April 13, 2013, 12:15:06 AM
 :aok
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: Mitsu on April 13, 2013, 03:24:18 AM
Shiny skins.

(http://www.ms-plus.com/images_item/19000/19575.jpg)
(http://www.ms-plus.com/images_item/2000/2346.jpg)
(http://www.ms-plus.com/images_item/7000/7298.jpg)
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: Greebo 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.
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: HighTone on April 14, 2013, 06:59:23 PM
Looks awesome. Thanks Greebo-san  :salute
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: Vudu15 on April 15, 2013, 04:25:43 AM
Paint looks great can't wait to fly it. :D
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: lyric1 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?

(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af142/barneybolac/Nakajima%20KI-44/j_ace017_zpsfa543606.jpg) (http://s1002.photobucket.com/user/barneybolac/media/Nakajima%20KI-44/j_ace017_zpsfa543606.jpg.html)

(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af142/barneybolac/Nakajima%20KI-44/OGAWA_zpscbf8377b.jpg) (http://s1002.photobucket.com/user/barneybolac/media/Nakajima%20KI-44/OGAWA_zpscbf8377b.jpg.html)

(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af142/barneybolac/Nakajima%20KI-44/ki44-70sentai_zps46333aa0.jpg) (http://s1002.photobucket.com/user/barneybolac/media/Nakajima%20KI-44/ki44-70sentai_zps46333aa0.jpg.html)

(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af142/barneybolac/Nakajima%20KI-44/OGAWAjpgA_zps7c2101e3.jpg) (http://s1002.photobucket.com/user/barneybolac/media/Nakajima%20KI-44/OGAWAjpgA_zps7c2101e3.jpg.html)

(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af142/barneybolac/Nakajima%20KI-44/jaaf_06_1_zpscfd55423.jpg) (http://s1002.photobucket.com/user/barneybolac/media/Nakajima%20KI-44/jaaf_06_1_zpscfd55423.jpg.html)

(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af142/barneybolac/Nakajima%20KI-44/Back_Cover_fs_zps4e4132c3.jpg) (http://s1002.photobucket.com/user/barneybolac/media/Nakajima%20KI-44/Back_Cover_fs_zps4e4132c3.jpg.html)

(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af142/barneybolac/Nakajima%20KI-44/65_2_zps7794b5ed.jpg) (http://s1002.photobucket.com/user/barneybolac/media/Nakajima%20KI-44/65_2_zps7794b5ed.jpg.html)

(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af142/barneybolac/Nakajima%20KI-44/48037_zpsaf76981d.jpg) (http://s1002.photobucket.com/user/barneybolac/media/Nakajima%20KI-44/48037_zpsaf76981d.jpg.html)

(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af142/barneybolac/Nakajima%20KI-44/48-037_zpsb9546176.jpg) (http://s1002.photobucket.com/user/barneybolac/media/Nakajima%20KI-44/48-037_zpsb9546176.jpg.html)

(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af142/barneybolac/Nakajima%20KI-44/1_fs-1_zpsc1c07909.jpg) (http://s1002.photobucket.com/user/barneybolac/media/Nakajima%20KI-44/1_fs-1_zpsc1c07909.jpg.html)

(http://i1002.photobucket.com/albums/af142/barneybolac/Nakajima%20KI-44/2_fs_zps86b12a8e.jpg) (http://s1002.photobucket.com/user/barneybolac/media/Nakajima%20KI-44/2_fs_zps86b12a8e.jpg.html)
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: Dragon Tamer 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
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: lyric1 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

http://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: Greebo on April 16, 2013, 01:40:51 AM
Thanks, but those are Ki-44 profiles Lyric1.
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: lyric1 on April 16, 2013, 02:30:17 AM
Thanks, but those are Ki-44 profiles Lyric1.

Doh :huh
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: Mitsu on April 16, 2013, 09:09:33 PM
What about 55th Sentai...Ki-43-II, Sep 1944.


(http://www.1999.co.jp/itbig05/10051683t2.jpg)
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: lyric1 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
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: Torquila on April 17, 2013, 06:52:09 AM
Thanks, but those are Ki-44 profiles Lyric1.

Lol, had to laugh at this one.
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: Greebo on April 17, 2013, 10:14:42 AM
I vaguely recall seeing a photo of a bare metal aircraft in squadron colours in one of my books, but the text mentioned it was a hack used for target towing. We do have training N1K skins in the game and IIRC the justification was they may well have seen combat, what with all the US aircraft over Japan in 1945. Ideally though, I'd still prefer something that was part of a combat squadron. If I can't find a decent WW2 photo of a non-training bare metal Ki-43, then I may have to go with the 55th Sentai one. I don't have time to do the research on this at the moment though.

I have a profile of the Ki-43 with the bird emblem, but it is mottled green on top.
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: Mitsu on April 17, 2013, 07:58:48 PM
We do have training N1K skins in the game and IIRC the justification was they may well have seen combat, what with all the US aircraft over Japan in 1945. Ideally though, I'd still prefer something that was part of a combat squadron.

Agreed. I'd like to see non-training skins too.

and thank you for reply. :salute
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: Gixer on April 18, 2013, 06:15:58 AM
Great work Greebo, look forward to using new skins.  :salute


<S>...-Gixer
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: Greebo on April 19, 2013, 06:46:53 AM
I've found a photo of a bare metal Ki-43 that might do. It is from the Kumagawa training school. However in the text it states the unit's instructors would use these aircraft to attack B-29s and this particular aircraft appears to have a flight leader's stripe on the vertical tail. It also has white home defence bands on the wings and fuselage which should make a good contrast with the bare metal.
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: Shifty on April 20, 2013, 11:52:24 AM
Looking good Greebo!  :aok
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: Mitsu on April 23, 2013, 08:57:23 PM
I'd like to see...Capt. Shigeo Nangou, Commander of 2nd Chutai, 59th Sentai.

(http://cb1100f.b10.coreserver.jp/f59_nangou_.gif)

(http://en.valka.cz/files/ki43_865.jpg)

(http://cb1100f.b10.coreserver.jp/nangou_pic_.gif)

(http://cb1100f.b10.coreserver.jp/nangou_taii_00.gif)

He was 15 victory Ace in the New Guinea.
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: Greebo on April 24, 2013, 05:41:17 AM
I can do that for you Mitsu, it will probably be a while before I have time though. Is there any other history for this pilot and are the stripes red or blue for the 2nd Chutai?
Title: Re: 50th Sentai Ki-43
Post by: Mitsu on April 24, 2013, 08:25:47 PM
Thanks, Greebo-san.

History of Nangou:
http://www.warbirdcolors.com/get_aces.asp?J

http://books.google.co.jp/books?id=i1nOLCXhh98C&pg=PA59&lpg=PA59&dq=Nango+Shigeo&source=bl&ots=w6QdnQh4-c&sig=b_AlqUAnqCGkxbTx1h8QyWaA7Hc&hl=ja&sa=X&ei=eoR4UZ_8Ds2diAfLy4DIDQ&ved=0CHYQ6AEwDA

About Stripes:
http://www.aviationofjapan.com/2009/01/hasegawas-hayabusa-part-three.html

The red is believed.
This page might help you...

Quote
Watanabe-san had interviewed veteran Hitoshi Kawamura, a lieutenant in the 59th Sentai's maintenance section. Kawamura-san had joined the unit as maintenance leader in the 1st Chutai at Bandoeng, Java in February 1942. In March 1943 he was promoted to armament officer assigned to the Sentai Hombu (HQ) and remained in this capacity throughout the 59th's operations in New Guinea, coming into contact with Nango's aircraft constantly. When the Sentai withdrew to Manila for R&R in October 1943 it acquired 34 aircraft, enough to assign a personal aircraft to each pilot. Nango's assigned aircraft was S/N 6010.

The blue stripes painted on the fuselage represented the position of "senior officer assigned to the Sentai Hombu" (i.e. Executive Officer). The red tail stripes of the 2nd Chutai were retained however, because Nango had previously been the 2nd Chutai leader and his aircraft continued to be maintained by the 2nd Chutai maintenance personnel. A photograph of the aircraft around this time shows it about to sortie with a single drop tank carried under the port wing. Nango was killed in action on 25 January 1944 and is believed to have been downed in air combat by 1st Lt Robert M DeHaven of the 7th FS, 49th FG.