Tuesday, 17 December 2024

Questions about Ishibashi's Spad


プラモデルを作りたい人が聞いてる質問は、
石橋氏の飛行機の色は何色でしょうか?
また、写真の黄色の丸の部分は何でしょう?
Ishibashi Katsumi was a star pilot in Japan in the 1920s. After serving in the French Army as a flying officer in WWI, he returned to Japan and on August 25, 1920, bought three Spad XIIIs. At a cost of 11,700 Yen, the purchase went through the French Embassy and the three aircraft were on board the Russian warship "Maguryov" which had taken refuge at the end of the war in the Japanese port of Moji in the strait between Kyushu and Honshu. Ishibashi shipped the aircraft to the Nihon Hikoki Seisakusho (later Nakajima Aeroplane Co) hangars at Ojima Airfield near the Ohta factory. 
In November 1920, Ishibashi took part in the Second Airmail Competition from Osaka to Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurume ). The event was spensored by the Imperial Aviation Asociation and coming in first place, Ishibashi won the first prize of 11,000 Yen. During that competition, Ishibashi flew a Spad registered a J-TAEF. His other two Spads were registered J-TAFG and J-TAST.
Unfortunately, on August 18, 1921, a fire in the hangar destroyed all three of them. 
Undaunted, Ishibashi built his own version of the type by using salvaged parts and manufacturing drawings. Unable to replace the 220hp Hispano-Suiza engine, he bought a 180hp Hispano as a substitute. A larger fuel tank was installed in the under-fuselage of this single-seat aeroplane to extend the range for his planned competitions. This gave the aeroplane a much fatter appearance than the standard SPAD XIII.

Our good friend Yannis Trypitsis is asking:
"Regarding the plane's overall exterior color, is it: a) natural linen dope, b) very light green dope we meet on other Japanese planes of that period, or c) aluminum dope???
There is also a device or case of some sort (visible in the photos) attached to the right cabane struts, which I cannot guess what it may be.

Do other enthusiasts from the group, have any further information on that airplane?"

I would also add, does anyone know more about the "Russian warship "Maguryov" that we cannot seem to locate on the net?
The two attached photos are from the collection of the "Japan Aeronautic Association".

Thursday, 12 December 2024

Answer

A flight of Yokosho (Yokosuka) E1Y seaplanes. 
Correctly identified by David Brizzard and Marcus Z.
Here's a collection of photos of past posts and a few new ones.

A Navy Type 14-3 Reconnaissance Seaplane or Yokosho E1Y3 powered by a Lorraine-Dietrich 3 engine of the Kasumigaura Kokutai. The seaplanes in the clip were probably from the same unit.

A Takuma Kokutai E1Y3. 102 were built by Aichi between 1931-1934. It has a 4-blade propeller and a 450hp Lorraine 3 engine.

Two photos of a Yokosho E1Y probably an E1Y2 belonging to the Yokosuka Kokutai. Note the two blade propeller.

Photos from a vintage publication of a Navy Type 14-3 Reconnaissance seaplane or Yokosuka E1Y3, carried aboard the battleship "Kongo" as indicated by the katakana on the tail and fuselage.
Note also the beautifully colourised photo on top.
Bottom, is an early photo of the same seaplane without the red tail seen in the middle photo.

Yokosho E1Y Hokoku #6
Donated by citizens of Aichi Prefecture on July 10, 1932.

A photo of one of the experimental versions, the Yokosho E1Y2-D or Type 14 Reconnaissance Seaplane Model Kai-1-D. It was a completely different design than the rest of the E1Y series and was basically the prototype for the Type 90-3 Reconnaissance Seaplane or Kawanishi E5Y. Main differences were the Jupiter Model F8 450hp engine, installed for the first time, the extensive use of steel piping and the installation of a ventral machine gun position.
Data
Engine: Jupiter F-8, 450hp air cooled radial 9-cylinder
Hp during take-off: 520
Propeller: wood, fixed pitch, 2-4 blades, diameter: 3.55m
Span: 14.50m
Length: 10.552m
Height: 4.10m
Wing area: 55.00sqm
Weight: 1,800kg
Load: 1,200kg
Fully equipped: 3,000kg
Wing load: 54.5sqm
Power loading: 6.67kg/hp
Max speed: 96kt
Cruising speed: 70kt

After the Yokosho (Yokosuka) E1Y Reconnaissance Seaplanes were retired from service with the IJNAF, a number was released to civilian operators and some of them were converted to carry three to four passenger while the pilot still remained in the open cockpit. They were usually used for sightseeing, commercial or photo flights and others.
One such converted E1Y1 was operated by Nihonkai Koku Kaisha (Japan Sea Air Company) and received the civilian registration J-BEHH. The attached photo, is quite rare. Note the overall blue colour of the fuselage.
The "Japan Sea Air" was a very small airline founded in July 1931 by the major of Kinosaki, Hyogo prefecture Nakajima Kyutaro(?) and operated at least two aircraft one Mitsubishi MC-1 equipped with floats flying from Kinosaki to Osaka and later from Kinosaki to Matsue, Shimane prefecture and the converted E1Y1. The airline merged with other smaller ones to form Dai Nippon Koku (Imperial Japanese Airways).

In the 1942 movie "Nankai no hanataba" (Japanese title: 南海の花束, English title: Bouquet in the Southern Seas), a Yokosuka E1Y of Nippon Hikoki K.K., registration J-BFHJ, appears briefly.

A second Yokosuka E1Y, registration J-BFHA, also makes a brief appearance, with a Kawanishi E7K1 facing the camera.

AFAIK Choroszy is the only model manufacturer that has released kit(s) of this Japanese seaplane type.

Tuesday, 10 December 2024

Quiz


Can you identify the type of these Japanese seaplanes taking off and flying in amazing precision in this short clip taken in 1934?
この昭和9年(1934年)の映像に出てくる飛行機は、どんな水上機でしょうか?

Friday, 6 December 2024

Holiday Season Gift Ideas #3 - "Kawasaki Ki-61-II Kai Hien 6117 Uncovered"


The book covers extensively the restoration of the specific "Hien" offering a plethora of information on the type. It also includes the best available copy of the IJNAF color standards, a.k.a. Kariki 117.
The text is in Japanese AND ENGLISH!
Size is 257 × 280 mm, 304 pages full of photos and illustrations.
This "coffee-table" book is big and heavy but of the highest quality and should not be missing from the libraries of all Japanese aviation fans.
A great holiday season gift!
Price: $US 75.00 (Postage NOT included)
Send over an email if interested with your name and delivery address (to calculate postage): arawasiorder@gmail.com

Thursday, 5 December 2024

Holiday Season Gift Ideas #2 - DNK Publications

We have presented in the past a number of Dai Nippon Kaiga publications, here's a rundown on the currently available ones.
If you're interested to purchase any of the titles, send over an email with your name and delivery address (to calculate postage): arawasiorder@gmail.com

The paintjob of the Japanese Navy Aircraft
Price: 30$US

The Imperial Japanese Navy Interceptor Shiden N1K1-J series
Price: 28$US

Hayabusa Fighter Group
(The Pictorial Brief History of the 50th Sentai)
Price: 21$US

HIEN FIGHTER GROUP
(A Pictorial History of the 244th Sentai, Tokyo's Defenders)
Price: 24$US

64 SENTAI
Price: 14$US

NANKAI NO UMIWASHI-TACHI
The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Groups in the Southwest Pacific Theater
Price: 33$US

The I.J.N. Carrier Bomber SUISEI D4Y Series photo & illustlated #1
Price: 29$US

The I.J.N. Carrier Bomber SUISEI D4Y Series photo history #2
Price: 29$US

KAIGUN SENTO DAI 812 HIKOTAI - Nihon Kaigun Yakan Sentoki-tai "Fuyo Butai" Ibun (The Legend of I.J.N Night Fighter SQ "Sen-To 812" with photo & illustrated)
Price: 40$US

IJAAF Aces Biography
Price: 40$US

A History of IJN's Night-Fighter Units
Price: 35$US

Wednesday, 4 December 2024

Holiday Season Gift Ideas #1 - T-Shirts!

Really cool T-shirt designs by OSABETTY'S are available exclusively from ARAWASI!!! Great holiday gifts!
Price for each t-shirt is: $US 30.00 (Postage NOT included)
Send over an email if interested with your name and delivery address (to calculate postage): arawasiorder@gmail.com
DO NOT FORGET to indicate exactly the t-shirt design, color and SIZE!

Aichi M6A1 "Seiran" & I-400 Submarine
Available Sizes: M / L / XL / XXL
Color: White / Black


Mitsubishi A6M3 "Zero-sen"
Available Sizes: M / L / XL / XXL
Color: Off-white
Design color: Monochrome / Sepia


Nakajima Ki-43-I "Hayabusa" 64 Sentai
Available Sizes: M / L / XL / XXL
Color: White


Mitsubishi A6M Carrier Zuikaku
Available Sizes: M / L / XL
Color: Black, two design options on the back


Mitsubishi G4M1 MisawaKu
Available Sizes: XL
Color: Navy blue

Kawanishi H8K "Emily"
Available Sizes: M / L / XL
Color: White / Gray


Aichi E16A "Zuiun" 634ku
Available Sizes: M / L / XL
Color: White / Gray


Mitsubishi J2M "Raiden" 302ku
Available Sizes: M / L / XL / XXL
Color: Off-white / Black


Mitsubishi F1M (Pete)
Available Sizes: M / L / XL
Color: Navy blue


Kawasaki Ki-61 "Hien" 244 Sentai
Available Sizes: XL
Color: Army green / Navy blue / Off-white


Kawanishi N1K2-J "Shiden-kai" 343ku
Available Sizes: L / XL
Color: Army green / Black

Wednesday, 27 November 2024

Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah" & Tachikawa Ki-54 "Hickory" Kengun (Kumamoto) Airfield 一〇〇式司令部偵察機 & 一式双発高等練習機 輸送機型の丙型 健軍 - video



A color (not colorized) clip featuring a Mitsubishi Ki-46 "Dinah" Model 3 and a Tachikawa Ki-54 "Hickory" transport found at the end of the war in Kengun Airfield (Kumamoto).

The NARA photo below shows both aircraft and more importantly the tail marking of the Tachikawa Ki-54 "Hickory". Unfortunately the unit it belonged to has not been identified.

Although more Ki-46 Model 3 "Dinahs" can be seen in the photo closeup below, none seem to have any visible tail marking. The only one with a tail marking that seems to be a "hinomaru" is a Mitsubishi Ki-46 Model 3 Kai Fighter with two machine guns on the nose. Again, the unit has not been identified.

UPDATE: Watanabe Yoji, in "Nihon Boku-sen", p. 190, features a photo of members of the unit saying goodbye to Chofu Airfield, Tokyo, and departing for Kengun. According to the caption, the relocation took place on July 25, 1945, when the photo was taken. Only six "Dinahs" were left behind in Chofu and all together 12 planes reached Kengun in two groups. They only managed to perform a couple of patrol flights around Okinawa before the war ended. So, based on this information we can conclude that the "Dinah" in Kengun, indeed belong to the 17 Dokuritsu Hikotai.

Tuesday, 26 November 2024

Mitsubishi A6M Zero in Atsugi 零式艦上戦闘機 第三〇二海軍航空隊 厚木- video


This Mitsubishi A6M had a tail marking "ヨD-125" (YoD-125) and belonged to the 302 Kokutai. Note the small mark on the tail above the unit marking and also note that the original tail marking has been roughly wiped out. A photo of the same plane during wartime can be found on page 130 of the book "Tatakau Zero-sen".
Can you identify the model?




Monday, 25 November 2024

Mitsubishi Ki-67 "Hiryu" (Peggy) 170 Sentai Kengun (Kumamoto) Airfield 四式重爆 第百七十爆撃隊-熊本 - video


A color (not colorized) clip featuring Mitsubishi Ki-67 "Hiryu" (Peggy) bombers belonging to the 170 Sentai, found at the end of the war in Kengun (Kumamoto) Airfield, Kyushu.

Saturday, 23 November 2024

Heads Up! - IJAAF Aces Biography by DNK


The very latest release by Dai Nippon Kaiga (DNK) is dedicated to the biographies of IJAAF Aces. It's basically the well-known Hata/Izawa publication but it's full of photos of (almost) every ace and their aircraft and also, more importantly, of color illustrations of the aircraft. There is also a number of photos not included in the original Hata/Izawa publication. Although all in Japanese, this is a most interesting publication and very inspiring for modellers.

Title: "Nihon Rikugun Sentokitai 2 - Ace Retsuden"
(The Imperial Japanese Army Fighter Group 2 - Ace Biographies)
Author: Hata / Izawa
Artwork: Ninomiya Shigeki
Published by: DNK, 2024 p/b
Pages: 208
Photos: 287b/w
Profiles: 80
Size: 21X26cm

The publication is in-print.
Price: $US 40.00 (Postage NOT included)
Send over a PM or email us if interested with your name and delivery address (to calculate postage): arawasiorder@gmail.com