Nakajima Ki-80-IIIc Lucy

[comrade harps]

Nakajima Ki-80-IIIc Lucy
a/c 9, Fujibayashi Nagato Hikōtai
Kamikosugi Air Base, Japan
May, 1946

An evolution of the successful Nakajima Ki-49 multi-role aircraft, the Ki-80 was designed to operate in bomber and torpedo-bomber roles. Longer-span wings were standard on the Ki-80 (except for the -II series, which has clipped wings for low-altitude operations), as was the more streamlined cabin, but the troublesome turbo-supercharger and cabin pressurization systems intended for the type only became available with the -III series late in the war. Although these difficulties prevented it from fulfilling its full potential, 1,117 Ki-80s were built. They operated with some success in bomber, anti-shipping and reconnaissance roles, with a late tilt at day bomber interceptor and night fighter duties; few were sacrificed in kamikaze missions until the March, 1946 invasion of Honshu. Belatedly recognizing it as different to the Ki-49, the Allies issued the Ki-80 with the code-name Lucy in late 1943, some six months after their first encounters with the type.




Their key features of the Ki-80-III series were their long-span wings, a pressurized cabin and turbo-supercharged Ha-112-II Ru engines. The first of the -III series to see frontline duties was the Ki-80-IIIa, a high-altitude reconnaissance type that entered squadron service in December 1944.

The -IIIb was a daylight bomber interceptor, armed with a pair of 30mm Ho-105 cannon firing forward from a ventral gondola, a turreted 12.7mm Type 1 Ho-103 machine gun and two obliquely angled, upward firing 20mm Type 1 Ho-5 cannon fixed in the central fuselage. Despite its good speed and high-altitude abilities, the type's effectiveness was limited by a combination of short warning times, the speed of the opposing B-29 bombers and an inadequate climb rate. During the B-29 attacks of February and March, 1945, no intercepts were achieved and production was halted in late February. Only 37 from an order for 60 were built and they were withdrawn from combat only 4 months after entering service. The type was placed in reserve for kamikaze action, but most of these were destroyed or damaged on the ground before Y-Day.




Because IJA test pilots were concerned about the optics of the Ki-80's cabin, the IJA had never seriously considered the Ki-80 for the night fighter role. However, this had not stopped Nakajima from continuing to propose night fighter versions, especially as many Ki-80 bombers were successfully conducting nocturnal intruder missions. With the failure of the Ki-80-IIIb as a daylight interceptor, they were quick to propose that the -IIIbs left on the production line be converted to night fighters. The IJA reluctantly agreed and 11 -IIIb airframes were partially completed and set-aside for future conversion, the remainder being completed as -IIId bombers.



Ironically, the Ki-80-IIIc night fighter program benefited from the IJA's reluctance to prioritize its development. Instead of hurriedly entering service with currently operational radars and navaids, Nakajima was instructed to install the new Ta-Ki 5 centimetric radar with a rotating dish on the first -IIIc, along with other new radio navaids and electronic warfare devices. Armed with only the turret 17mm machine gun, the aircraft flew from May, 1945, at first on daylight test flights before progressing to night trials. On the night of  1/2 July, the test crew mounted a successful mock interception of two USAAF B-29s firebombing Kure, prompting an urgent production decision.

Meanwhile, one of the failed -IIIb day fighters had been converted to carry the new 57mm Ho-401 cannon, this weapon replacing the paired 30mm cannon. Tests proved encouraging, so when the IJA ordered that the unfinished -IIIb day interceptors be completed as Ki-80-IIIc night fighters, they specified that the type carry both the nose-mounted Ta-Ki 5 radar and the Ho-401 cannon, in addition to some of the other new radio navaids being tested and the -IIIb's angled 20mm Ho-5s. The Ta-Ki 5 radar was installed on the 57mm-armed IIIb by mid-July to test the effect of firing cannon on the radar equipment, which, after some vibration dampening modifications were installed, proved to be negligible. The way was now open to complete all 11 former -IIIb airframes to a common standard as Ki-80-IIIc night fighters, the order be issued in late July, 1945.



To bring the -IIIc to combat readiness, the IJA created the Fujibayashi Nagato Hikōtai, named after a famous Ninja master who was said to possess supernatural powers of stealth and invisibility. The unit's first kill, a B-29 on a night mining operation, came on 15 September,  the unit receiving the last of its 10 allocated Ki-80-IIIcs in December (one IIIc being retained by Nakajima for research and development purposes). In November, the unit installed captured American AN/ARA-8 homing radios into some of the planes (including a/c 9 seen here) in order to vector onto the navigation lead-ship B-29s emitting the USAAF's Uncle Dog navigation signals to their bomber brethren.  Combined with the Ta-Ki 5 radar, this enabled the -IIIc crews to intercept B-29s far out to sea on their return journeys to base.

Although hampered by a deteriorating command and control network, a lack of fuel and spares, frequent airfield attacks by day and patrolling Allied fighters by night, by war's end, Fujibayashi Nagato crews were credited with shooting down 16 aircraft. Post-war analysts put the figure at a still impressive 13, mostly USAAF B-29s but also including 1 USAAF P-61 Black Widows, 2 USN PB4Y-2 Privateers, a USMC PBJ-1H Mitchells and a USMC PF-1C Black Pearl. By Y-Day, only 3 Ki-80-IIIcs were airworthy, as, although only 3 was shot down, several were damaged by air attacks and some were cannibalised for spares after landing accidents. Devoid of sufficient fuel to fly, the Fujibayashi Nagato Hikōtai was disbanded on 3 May, 1946.



The Ki-80-IIIc modelled here, a/c 9, is depicted as it was found and photographed by American GIs as they occupied Kamikosugi Air Base on 29 May, 1946. It was found under camouflage over 2 miles from the airfield. Contrary to the surrender terms, the plane had not been disarmed and its propellers not removed. It was adorned with 5 kill markings, all of which were later confirmed: as 3 USAAF B-29As, a USN PB4Y and a USMC PBJ-1H.   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

[comrade harps]

This is an old Matchbox Ju-188 that I collected at Model Expo last month for $10. I remember building of of these as a teen and have always had a soft spot for the Ju-188's elegance.

Here's the mods and sources:
- Beaufighter engines (also Matchbox, left over from the PFC-I Black Widow conversion). Machbox Ju-188 props retained.
- Air intakes over Beaufighter's engine exhaust attachment areas are from various Spitfires.
- Cockpit detailed with parts from Airfix Ju-88 Mistel kit (made as the Ki-49 lower portion of a Japanese Mistel) and from Italeri A-26 Invader kit.
- Bk50 cannon rescued from long-gone Matchbox Me 410.
- 20mm cannon from unfinished Cyber-Hobby F6F-5N Hellcat.
- Turbo-superchargers left over from my triple engined P-38 build.
- The little fairings over the trurbo-supercharge front-ends is from the Airfix Ki-46 Dinah kit.
- One of the main wheels was badly molded, so these are from ex-P-38 too.
- The nose radome is from Italeri P-51D drop tanks.

Because the kits comes with the lower cabin windows molded as part of the fuselage (they are not transparent), I started off with a desire to explain this. Hence the big nose cannon (very Japanese, by the way) and it evolved from there.


I hope you enjoy this plane as much as I do.

[Librarian]

I just love the take on a Japanese /German maritime camo on an aircraft I've always liked. Could always try a Mistel Kamikaze combination too. Really nice . Its when I see what can be done with certain aircraft that I keep toying with the idea of a switch to 1/72. The 188 in 1/48 is pricey and a bu**er to construct the canopy .

[Dizzyfugu]

OMG - that must have been loads of work to make ANYTHING from the horrible Matchbox Ju 188. GREAT WORK, and so many changed details! 

I like the paint scheme very much, very original, and the thimble radome on the nose. Looks so odd but natural at the same time.

LOVE IT! 

[TallEng]

+1 for the camouflage 
And I particularly like the back story 
I wish I could do one half as good.

Regards
Keith

[zenrat]

Wouldn't a Japanese Mistel be a Yadorigi? 

Supurb build Comrade and your back story is just excellent.

[comrade harps]

Thanks for the positive responses. I'm really proud of this one. Everything fell together really nicely.

Btw, here's the Japanese Ki-49/Ki-115 Mistel: http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,37796.0/highlight,nakajima+tsunami.html

[NARSES2]

That is class Comrade 

[Dizzyfugu]

Hmmm, I have one or two Italeri Ju 188s stashed away. Maybe...? 

[PR19_Kit]

The original silk purse out of a pig's ear conversion, or something like that.