Kawasaki Ki-102 a Kou “Randy”

[NARSES2]

Kawasaki Ki-102 a Kou "Randy"

Background – courtesy of "Avistar.org"

Derived from the Ki-96 twin-engine single-seat fighter, development of which was abandoned after three prototypes had been completed, the Kawasaki Ki-102b was intended as a two-seat attack fighter for primary deployment in the close-support role. Some assemblies of the Ki-96 prototypes were incorporated into the three Ki-102 prototypes, the first of which was completed in March 1944. A cantilever mid-wing monoplane with a conventional tail unit, retractable tailwheel landing gear and two Mitsubishi Ha-112-11 radial engines, the Ki-102 accommodated its two-man crew in separate enclosed cockpits in tandem, Completion of the prototypes was followed by the construction of 20 pre production aircraft and in October 1944 the type was ordered into production. With the Imperial Japanese Army still anxious to procure a twin-engine high-altitude fighter, Kawasaki modified six of the pre production Ki- 102s to serve as prototypes for such an interceptor. This differed from the attack fighter by having improved two-seat accommodation, a revised tail unit and Mitsubishi Ha-112-IIru engines with turbochargers.

Successful testing of this version in mid-1944 resulted in a high-priority production order, but problems with the turbocharged engine resulted in only about 15 being delivered to the army before the war ended. The design had also been revised to produce a night-fighter version under the designation Ki- 102c, but there was only time to complete two examples. These had increased wing span, a lengthened fuselage, redesigned tail surfaces, primitive AI radar, and armament comprising two 30mm Ho-105 cannon in the under fuselage and two 20mm Ho-5 cannon mounted obliquely in the fuselage to fire forward and upward. Ki-102b aircraft, which were allocated the Allied codename 'Randy', saw comparatively little service, some being used in action over Okinawa, but the majority were held in reserve in Japan.

The Kit

This is the Sword kit and I must say is a major improvement on previous kits of theirs that I've built. There hasn't been a problem as such with the earlier ones it's just that they were definitely of a limited run standard, albeit a good one. This kit on the other hand could be considered to be nearly mainstream. Fit is excellent. The plastic appears to be a tad harder than previous Sword kits I've built, thus the detail is a little finer. The sprue attachment points are definitely finer and far easier to clean up then on previous kits of theirs I've built. Would of been useful to have had resin wheels as the main ones are in two halves and needed a little putty. But all told a nice quick, easy build.

There was some psr needed on the wing centre section/fuselage join but not that much. Overall I was impressed with the fit of this kit. The interior fitted very well indeed and the rest has been good. Far better than their earlier tooling's

The only really odd area is the rear of the nacelle undersides where the turbo charger is (if it isn't a TC I apologise but I know nothing about engines). It's not so much a poor fit as I think the designer assumed the nacelles would be symmetrical when in reality they are not ? It looks a little odd but as there weren't many of these built and most that were, were the low level attack variant then it's hard to say for sure. Not many photos or plans of the appropriate area out there. So it's either wrong on one side, wrong on both or perhaps, although I doubt it, correct.  This also leads to the only slight fit problem encountered with the build. The way the rear nacelle piece is made to fit  means that one of the inlets to the turbo charger from the exhaust doesn't fit. The other is a superb fit, this one is a tad short. Not a problem though, fixed in a blink with a little bit of cut down styrene tube. I think the designer definitely got confused with this area of the aircraft. I am for sure

One final oddity. The real aircraft had a retractable tail wheel, but the kit doesn't have any undercarriage doors. The 3 view drawings on line however all appear to show the bay enclosed when in flight ? Odd, did they retract inwards ? Anyway  as I haven't been able to find a decent photo of this area I've left it as is. When/if I can find any evidence of them it will be easy enough to add them out of plastic card.

[NARSES2]

The model

The model represents an aircraft of the 3rd Chutai/3rd Sentai flown by Chutai C.O. Capt Fujitaro Ito, Kiyosu Airfield, July 1945. Capt. Fujitaro had shot down 13 USAAF bombers (inc. 9 B-29's) before moving on from his previous Ki-45 to this Ki-102. He then shot down a farther 4 B-29's in this aircraft, finishing the War with 17 kills. The kanji character on the tail reads "Kuzuryu", which in Japanese mythology is a nine headed dragon.

Paints used in the main are Tamiya with White Ensign Colourcoats used internaly. Transfers are from an Avi Print sheet "B-29 Hunters" and are from Capt. Fujitaro's Ki-45.

Thoroughly enjoyable build and I will be getting Sword's boxing of the ground attack "b" version of the aircraft and hopefully scratching a couple of the proposed guided missiles that were to be used in the defence of the Home Islands.

[rickshaw]

Nice.  Like it a lot, Chris.   

[Old Wombat]

Great job, mate!

[PR19_Kit]

I've never heard of that one before, but it looks great and you've made a super job of the model Chris. 

[Dizzyfugu]

Nice. I really like those rather obscure Japanese heavy fighters. Very elegant aircraft.

[jcf]

Nice Chris. 

[zenrat]

Looks very similar to the Ki-46.

Good job. 

[NARSES2]

Thanks gents 

Nice. I really like those rather obscure Japanese heavy fighters. Very elegant aircraft.

Me as well and there's quite a lot to choose from

Looks very similar to the Ki-46.

Yup. There's a few very similar looking twin engined fighters. It can get very confusing 

[Dizzyfugu]

Yup, e .g. the Ki-45 or the Ki-46. My favorite is the Ki-83, though - looks really like the Ki-102, but a bit larger, and it just looks fast and like the fighter business... 

[Dork the kit slayer]

Good one Chriss. Love the Japanese stuff.

[DogfighterZen]

Very nice indeed, great job! And that's a new one to me, love the shape, what a beauty!

[NARSES2]

Cheers gents 

Going to order the b version tommorow

[TheChronicOne]

Niiiice!! That looks great. This plane has a nice "shape" about it... not all bulky and stuff... it looks like it could cut a hole in the wind. Speaking strictly of the nose and twin engines, it kind of reminds me of an F7F.