The feature that fired me up in this issue is a four and a half page article with three pages of great 1:48 scale drawings of the Kawasaki Ki.78, Ken-3 by Kouji Abe and Keith Davidson. This pretty little bird was built for high speed research with the thought that in the course of this research they might go for the world's air speed record set at 469 mph in April of 1939 by Messerschmitt. Design studies began at Gifu in the autumn of 1939; but due to constraints imposed by the war, the one-off airplane was not completed until December 1942. Only 33 flights were made by the Ki.78 before work on the project was suspended. On the 31st flight, the highest speed of the program, 435 mph, was reached at an altitude of 3,527 meters.
I was extremely disappointed to read Messrs. Abe and Davidson statement that the airplane was painted a semi-gloss medium grey. I really wanted it to be orange as has been commonly assumed for many years. Oh well.....
The main Ki.78 article is followed by reviews of the Raccoon and MTS 1:48 scale resin kits of this subject. I recently bought the Planet Models 1:72 scale resin kit of the Ki.78 from Internet Modeler advertiser Roll Models, hoping to paint it orange, and I will review it for a future issue.
Four other features plus an editorial and notices complete this issue.
Membership in this SIG is 15 pounds Sterling, 22 dollars US, 25 Euros, 3000 Yen or 220 Swedish Kroner. IPMS membership is not required but is recommended. Contact the SIG leader, Anders Bruun, or check their website.
