Kawasaki VT-1 Tanegashima (Whirlwind)

[Bungle]

After World War II, the Cold War prompted top United States Army and Navy to study VTOL operations. It was envisaged to protect task forces, convoys or any fleet, even without aircraft carriers, by placing VTOLs on any ship. These fighters would be housed within a conical protective housing, saving limited deck space available aboard ships. They would provide first line of airborne defense and reconnaissance capability, before more aircraft could be scrambled to help.[1]

In May 1951, Lockheed and Convair were awarded contracts in the attempt to design, construct, and test two experimental VTOL fighters that would be suitable for use by the Armed forces. Although contract stipulations stated that each manufacturer have two fighters, each was only able to construct one, with Lockheed producing the XFV, and Convair producing the XFY, nicknamed the "Pogo".

In 1951 Convair was awarded a contract to design, construct and develop the concept of VTOL fighters for the US armed forces. Three years later Convair wheeled out the XFY-1 Pogo for tethered tests. The Pogo was unfortunately a troublesome little craft and even though test flights followed in 1955 the difficulty of landing the Pogo caused concern. The USAF lost interest in the concept in November 1956 but despite this the 'Pogo' concept found favour on the other side of the Pacific.

Japanese company Kawasaki Heavy Industries bought the only prototype in 1957 along with the commercial rights to develop the Pogo further. With space a limitation on the home lands of Japan the concept of VTOL was looked upon very favourably. Japan needed an interceptor and it needed it  fly from small airfields and so the Kawasaki VT-1 Tanegashima (Whirlwind) made its debut in 1961.

Between 1961 and 1967 145 Tanegashima's entered service, only one lost to a landing incident. During their career they proved an adequate interceptor against the threat of piston reconnaissance incursion. The Tanegashima was replaced by the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter.

[Bungle]

Same as above but experimenting with a black background....

[PR19_Kit]

I do like that, very well done, and ACE Japanese markings! 

Where did you get the ladder from though? I've never seen one like that anywhere.

[Bungle]

Thanks Kit, I'm in a bit of a Japanese faze at the moment so the GB fell in to my ninja way of thinking !

The ladder it self is from the Zvezda Siege Machines set the rest is florist wire and bits out of the spares box with inspiration from this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Convair_XYF-1_Pogo.jpg

Kit itself is the 1/72nd Kopro (KP) kit.

[PR19_Kit]

That's very useful, thanks a lot.

I'd like a ladder like that for my RW Pogo and for my Conavir-Hawker Osprey too. Quite what my LHS will think of me asking for a Siege Machine kit I have no idea. 

[Bungle]

Said kit comes with two ladders so I have one spare.... yours for the taking, in fact you can have the battering ram and the boiling oil caldron as well !  I used ebay and ask for it to be sent in a plain brown package in case any one saw it. 

[PR19_Kit]

Hehehe, the mind BOGGLES! 

I think I'll pass on the boiling oil etc, but I'll take you up on the offer of the spare ladder, thanks so much. 

[NARSES2]

Lovely stuff 

[GTX]

 

[Taiidantomcat]

Gotta go Pogo 

[PR19_Kit]

Apropos our exchange of postings about ladders a few days ago, I got home on Saturday to find one of those red and white 'We tried to deliver a parcel' thingies, and I've just gone down to collect it........... 

Thanks SO much Bungle, Mrs PR19 says she's looking forward to using the boiling oil vat to ladle out our daily ration of fatty acids and I'm going to use the battering ram to try and knock some sense into the cat's head.

Faint hope of the latter of course, but the ladder will come in VERY usefull, thanks again. 

[Bungle]

My pleasure   

[Weaver]

Nice one Bungle - that looks really good!

Makes you wonder where things would have gone next if VATOL had been operationally proved like that......

[PR19_Kit]

Makes you wonder where things would have gone next if VATOL had been operationally proved like that......

Here perhaps? 

[Pablo1965]

Original idea!  One day we will do a GB of the Pogo