Kawasaki Ki-100
 
Topics:
Ki-100Ib info help needed
very late war Ki-100II's (New)
Thorpe's blue Ki-100 (New)
 
Ki-100Ib info help needed
 
Posted By: Ronnie Murray <ronnie.murray@ncmail.net>
Date: Friday, 28 December 2001, at 7:00 p.m.
 
I read once where a certain Chutai or flight group of these fighters had an unusual paint scheme. They had a shade of blue on topside and NMF undersides. If anybody can share more information, especially about the specific markings on the planes, spinner colors, numbers etc...I'd appreciate it. I'm building the Otaki/ Arii kit which is not a bad kit. Just wanted to liven up the very predictable paint schemes I already have on the "Rising Sun" shelf.
 
Re: Ki-100Ib info help needed
 
Posted By: Bob T. <bobki100@webtv.net>
Date: Sunday, 30 December 2001, at 1:00 a.m.
 
In Response To: Ki-100Ib info help needed (Ronnie Murray)
 
Ronnie, Don Thorpe's Japanese Army Air Force Camouflage & Markings, has a profile of a Ki100b with a blue upper and natural metal lower. Spinner has a red tip and natural metal rear. A/c is from the 5th Sentai, with a #37 on the rudder. Also has a white fuselage band in front of the empennage.
 
very late war Ki-100II's
 
Posted By: Ronnie Murray <ronnie.murray@ncmail.net>
Date: Wednesday, 1 May 2002, at 3:40 p.m.
 
To avoid doing another Japanese fighter in a green paint scheme, I'm going against the grain. I've seen Ki-44's,
Ki-61's and Ki-84's portrayed in all metal finishes. Though I've never seen photos of Ki-100's in metal finish, I feel
that there were some. Every Ki-100 can't be accounted for in photos. Late in the war the paint was probably one of
their least concerns. Leaving it off the paint would make the plane lighter and reduce the time to get it out of the factory 
and on to the runway. Does anyone here have comments to make on this "theory" of mine?
 
Re: very late war Ki-100II's
 
Posted By: Ronnie Murray <ronnie.murray@ncmail.net>
Date: Wednesday, 1 May 2002, at 3:45 p.m.
 
In Response To: very late war Ki-100II's (Ronnie Murray)
 
I am aware of the reports of "blue" Ki-100's from the 3rd Chutai and am considering this paint scheme but one of my
modeling buddies says he "seriously doubts that it existed". I disagree, I think that after seeing so many F4U's and F6Fs
over water, they understood the advantage of the blue paint and started their own version of it. Can anyone mention any
other "advances" or conversions that may have been used on the late war Ki-100II's if the war had continued another
few months? Perhaps a four bladed prop or differnet guns?
 
 
Posted By: Peter <f14peter@yahoo.com>
Date: Friday, 3 May 2002, at 11:28 a.m.
 
In Response To: Re: very late war Ki-100II's (Ronnie Murray)
 
In Thorpe's book on the IJAAF, he shows a color profile of a blue Ki-100, which I believe has since been proven to be a bit speculative.
 
That said, it's just too interesting to pass up so years ago I build an Otaki Ki-100 in blue over natural metal. It really looks cool with the hinomarus on the blue paint. I just may do the same on my Hasegawa. I agree 100% with Bill, build it how YOU like.
 
I do find it interesting that a country with such a naval tradition and committed to a carrier based air arm like Japan never officially adopted some sort of blue scheme. In every area of operation, with the exception of China, flying over water had to represent a significant amount of flight time. The early, overall grey/green was apparently an effort at air-to-air camoflage but all other schemes evolved into attempts to camoflage an aircraft against the terrain, be it land or water. The other carrier operating countries of the time, USA and Great Britain, both had blue (Or variations thereof) as a major portion of their camoflage schemes.
 
Re: very late war Ki-100II's
 
Posted By: Mike Goodwin <Mike.Goodwin@bigfoot.com>
Date: Thursday, 2 May 2002, at 6:05 a.m.
 
In Response To: Re: very late war Ki-100II's (Ronnie Murray)
 
A four bladed prop would not be needed unless the Ki-100-III (!) was given a more powerful engine, such as an Ha-45 (perhaps from a Ki-84.) That would be a cool "what if?" conversion. It might then need a bigger fin.
 
Re: very late war Ki-100II's
 
Posted By: Bill Leyh <hawk81@pacbell.net>
Date: Wednesday, 1 May 2002, at 9:26 p.m.
 
In Response To: Re: very late war Ki-100II's (Ronnie Murray)
 
Hey, paint it however you like. That's half the fun of modelling. I'm always coming up with what-ifs and hypothetical paint schemes. Enjoy yourself.