Kawasaki Ki-56 II Kai

[63cpe]

The Kawasaki Ki-56 Soukei (Japanese: 一式貨物輸送機, "Isshiki-kamotsu-yusōki", "Type 1 Cargo Transport Aircraft") was a twin-engined transport aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. The Allied code name was "Thalia". The Ki-56 was developed from the Lockheed L-14 Super Electra.
In 1938, Lockheed exported 30 Model 14-38 passenger aircraft to Japan. Between March and July 1938, 20 of these were delivered to the Tachikawa Hikoki K.K. for resale to Nihon Kōkū K.K. The remaining 10 aircraft were delivered directly to Nihon Kōkū and were used by this company and its successor Dai Nippon Kōkū on routes between China and Japan. Tachikawa, who had signed a license agreement with Lockheed for licensed production of the L-14, submitted a proposal to the military for the development of an improved version of this aircraft. Because the military was desperate for transport aircraft in China, this proposal was well received and Tachikawa was commissioned to produce a version with Mitsubishi Ha-26-I radial engines, the Tachikawa Ro-shiki yusōki, Type Ro cargo aircraft (sometimes incorrectly referred to as " Lo"). Despite the greater weight, the increased power made the Type Ro 20 km/h faster. However, the flight characteristics did not meet the expectations of the army, Kawasaki, which also produced the aircraft, was commissioned in September 1939 to develop an improved version, the Ki-56.
Under Takeo Doi's leadership, the fuselage was lengthened and the flaps redesigned. The engines were also replaced by Nakajima Ha-25 engines and the cargo hatch was enlarged. Despite its larger size, the Ki-56 was ultimately 52 kg lighter than the L-14 when the first prototype was completed in November 1940. During test flights at Tachikawa it was found that the Ki-56 had significantly improved flight characteristics and series production was started. Initially the same production line was used as the Type Ro, but Kawasaki stopped production in December 1941.

IMG_7289 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

IMG_7294 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

In late 1941, Takeo Doi began further development of the Ki-56 to further improve capacity and speed. For example, the fuselage was redesigned and given a single horizontal stabilizer instead of a double tail of the Lockheed L-14. It also included a redesigned nose, with a fuel tank ahead of the pilot and a new canopy, smoothly faired from the extreme nose of the aircraft, eliminating the "step" of the earlier versions.

IMG_7283 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

The engines, Ha-102 engines, which were Ha-26s fitted with a two-speed supercharger, were housed in close fitting cowlings developed by the Aeronautical Research Institute of the Tokyo Imperial University to reduce drag and improve pilot view. While increasing fuel capacity and reducing empty weight. This version, designated Ki-56-II, first flew in March 1942. It met the speed requirements, and was ordered into production, with deliveries starting in July.

IMG_7285 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

To keep the unarmed K-56's save from attacks from new introduced fighters like the P-38, F6-F and Spitfires increased speed was required. With the introduction of the Ki-56-II in July 1942, The Japanese Army instructed Kawasaki to produce a further improved version, the Ki-56-II. This had more powerful, fuel-injected Mitsubishi Ha-112 engines.

IMG_7297 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

The new version first flew in December 1942, demonstrating significantly higher speed (530 km/h at 6,000 m (19,700 ft)). The performance of the Ki-56 II Kai even proved superior to that of the aircraft intended to replace it, which as a result did not enter production.

IMG_7289 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

In an attempt to yet further improve the altitude performance of the Ki-56, two prototypes were fitted with exhaust driven turbosupercharged Ha-112-II-Ru engines. This version first flew in February 1945, but only one prototype was built.
Kawasaki factories made a total of 252 examples of all versions during 1938–45.

IMG_7287 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr
IMG_7292 by Buddy Holly, on Flickr

This used to be a wrecked 1/80 monogram DC-3. Re winged with 1/72 Hudson wings engines and undercarriage. For the cockpit a 1/32 P-51 canopy (cut down) was used. The tail was replaced by an Ilyushin DB-3 unit.

More pictures here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jetsonsspecial/albums/72157719497590731/with/51316888702/

Hope you like it and enjoy your sunday.

David aka 63cpe

[Tophe]

This is an unusually pretty nose for a transport!

[comrade harps]

A spectacular kitbash that looks just right 

This is an unusually pretty nose for a transport!

Not the same as a Curtiss C-36 canopy and nose, but I can see where the inspiration came from (that and the Ki-46 Dinah).

[zenrat]

As usual.

[PR19_Kit]

A kitbash par excellence!