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".

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