ruzlkampf Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 Hello All, Been out collecting parts/plans/and information today, for this new project I got going on. A bit on the obscure side, eh?! My friend 'rotodriver' has inspired me to try my hand at one of those 'whirly-gig' contraptions. Now, I'm not really into helicopters too much....but a WWII Japanese gyrocopter can be quite entertaining? Oooooh, my! The more I get into this, the cooler it gets. I like that. Here's a little back-ground. In 1939, the Japanese bought a Kellet KD-1A from the U.S. They crashed it, and couldn't put 'Humpty-Dumpty' back together again...so they glued it semi-back together again and copied it. Here's a pic of a Kellet KD-1A that I visited today at the museum in Chino.(just north of here) They also had one of the two surviving J8M1's left in the world,...I had to make the pilgrimage. Now the Japanese had 2 different versions of this. The KA-1 with a license-built version of the 8-cylinder German Argos engine, and the KA-2 with some kind of radial. Here's some generic plans of the KA-1 that I'm going to use. OK, now I can hear ya'll mumbling "yeah, but what does the darn thing LOOK like ya flippin idiot?!", so here's a profile in color of a KA-1. Cool, huh?. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruzlkampf Posted May 24, 2009 Author Share Posted May 24, 2009 Here's pics off the box art for a 1/48th scale kit from AZ Models(?) of the KA-1. See that carrier in the back-ground? One of 6 'escort carrier' conversions the Imperial Japanese ARMY (yep, that's right!) operated in the ASW role. Getting more interesting, huh? They even had a dipped/towed sono-buoy apparatus...one of the first....to help track subs. I'm still delving into info on that. These gyro-copters are credited with sinking at least one US sub during the war. The KA-1; The real-deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruzlkampf Posted May 24, 2009 Author Share Posted May 24, 2009 Here's a view of it in flight. Now here is the KA-2 version, with a radial engine. More box art of the same kit above, but with the different motor. Don't have any pics of operational KA-2's with that front cowling in place, but it sure does look cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruzlkampf Posted May 24, 2009 Author Share Posted May 24, 2009 Here's some pics of the real-deal. Haven't decided which of these versions I'm going to do yet, as it depends on what kind of 'donor motor' I can get my grubby little hands on. If I can't whup up a decent radial, I'll make it the inverted V-8. I'll be starting on this after the week end, as I won't be able to enlarge my plans until then. Hmmmpf, guess I'll have to start on the one remaining Japanese AC in the stash until then. A Ki-61. These should conclude my entries in this GB, as I should be able to finish em off before the dead-line in August with no prob. More pics as things progress! Russ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 You never cease to amaze me Russ! What an esoteric subject. Check out Brad Cancian's build of the AZ kit over on ARC: http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index....howtopic=156058 It's a masterful piece of modelling, even if it isn't scratch built. Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgbooyv8 Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 Well Russ, That's gonna be interesting! Good luck with your scratchbuild project. That AZ model will come in very handy to get that all-important 3D feel of the subject, I think. Cheers, Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allok Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 Something a little more obscure. No kidding... Very cool. The other thing I noticed, no guns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azgaron Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 Russ, how wonderful! Another of your very interesting projects! Cool! Cheers, Azgaron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vvwse4 Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 Is there a doctor in the house?? This will be fun too watch. Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wingman777 Posted May 24, 2009 Share Posted May 24, 2009 Russ, you busted me flat buddy, I thought you would go forth with the 1/32 Ho-229. This Japanese gyro is a significant piece of aero history and I know you can pull this off. I"ll look through the stash for parts that might help like umm....my moms old egg beater? (chuckle, har har....) I see portions of it that look like a Stearman, a German Storch and the Spirit of St. Louis. Should be fun, I can't wait to view the progress shots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erwin Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Go for it ! A very interesting subject. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big matt Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Man, that's kooky! You have to have a guy chucking a flaming molotov cocktail out of that thing. Awesome! Go Russ go! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erwin Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 You have to have a guy chucking a flaming molotov cocktail out of that thing. Hmmm...didn't the Japanese call that a "Hirohito-cocktail" ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert Boillot Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Hi Russ, Again a great subject that I am sure you will zip though ... And you keep the flame alive on this GB (and not only this one of course...) with an exotic subject that brings a change from the Tonys, Georges, Zekes and al being built here (definitely not a criticism of my other very talented fellow modellers...it's just that I like the odd subject vs the mainstream one ) Whilst I am going forward and -mostly- rearward on my Hansa project, for which an update is long overdue, I will keep company to you soon with another offbeat subject, the Ki-86 Cypress aka licence-built Bücker Jungmann, built during my "off-home" times. Keep on the entertainig postings! Look forward to them ! Hubert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruzlkampf Posted May 27, 2009 Author Share Posted May 27, 2009 Hey everybody!!! Well, I got side-tracked for a bit, cuz after reading how LSP Kevin was highly touting a Mac computer....I got one!!! Whoohoo! Wanted to get started on this today, but I've been scaling the learning curve on setting up my new 24" IMac. Oooooh, it's sweet.....just wish I could figure out how to turn it OFF! Blast....I hate reading directions. Thanks for the kind words Hubert! I kinda bounce around between GB's because I don't want everybody to think I'm trying to 'showboat' and hog the stage by posting so much. I just like building models, that's why I'm here! Wheeeew, can't wait to see more of your scratch-built projects....anything custom is cool. Dadgummit Matt, where in tarnation do you come up with these 'unique visualizations"? Don't encourage him Erwin, he's got a deviant mind that clacks and whirs with sordid ideas,...and he'll lead you astray. Bad influence....bad. (must admit that 'gasoline in a saki bottle' scenario has potential ,.....no bad....bad...very bad.) Ahem, I will have the plans enlarged by tomorrow and should have some pics of this started....IF I can figure out how to post pics with the new computer. Doooh. Love the job the guy on Kevin's link did with his kit. Sheesh, it's got to be what....10 inches long in 1/48th? Whoa. Nice link Kevin, I'll be referring to those often. Gotta go and figure out how to shut this machine off now, I'll post some pics when I figure out how. Later! Russ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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