Mitsubishi KI-46 "Dinah" - 1/48 Tamiya

[Aliktren]

Well here finally is my reveal thread for my Tamiya 1/48 Misubishi Dinah. I have had a great time building this aircraft, and brings my collection of completed models up to the heady heights of 5!

The Mitsubishi "Dinah" came about as the Japanese mobilised to counter the threat of fast Allied planes such as the Hurricane 1 for recon duties, prior to the declaration of War. In 1937 Mitsubishi where contracted to build a "Command Reconnaissance Aircraft" capable of 375 mph. Apart from this there was no other major design requirement other than the need for pilot and observer. The original aircraft, though put into production, was too slow and used as a trainer. As Mitsubishi designed better engines, the HA 102 was fitted and the aircraft finally achieved 375mph and was put on the front line as the "Army Type 100 Model 2 Command Reconnaissance Aircraft" in March 1941.
In the days before the war the Aircraft made sorties over China, the Philippines, Thailand, Burma, India, Malaya and the Dutch East Indies. some Ki-46 aircraft (now given the code-name ‘Dinah’ by the Allies) were based on the island of Timor, from where they made sorties as far south as Northern Australia despite issues with the Oxygen system and undercarriage.

Even the Luftwaffe liked it, so much they requested the rights, but this never came to pass.

By 1942, it had become obvious to the Japanese High Command that the next generation of Allied fighters, including the F4U Corsair and the Spitfire IX, would pose a threat to the Ki-46-II, due to their 400 mile per hour speed and climb performance. Mitsubishi were told to ‘improve the breed’, once again. This time the company undertook a radical redesign, and the type III was born.





Gone was the ‘traditional’ stepped windshield; instead a smooth, curved, glazed panel extended over the pilot’s seat (the only piece of armor plate in the whole aircraft), and gave the ‘Dinah’ an aerodynamic nose.




The faulty undercarriage was strengthened to carry the hefty fuel load (up from 367 to 417 imperial gallons). The whole fuel system was redesigned, with 5 unprotected tanks in each wing (included new leading edge tanks) and two enormous black rubber ‘bag’ tanks, one between the pilot and the observer, and the other directly in front of the pilot’s cockpit.



For the very longest missions, a 101 gallon drop tank could be carried underneath the fuselage. The observer’s 7.7mm machinegun – which had only offered token resistance, anyway – was eliminated to save weight.




Finally, the engines were changed for two 1,500 hp Mitsubishi Ha-112-II of 1,500 hp, which demanded slightly increased diameter cowlings. The effect of all these changes was to produce an aircraft with an endurance increased by one hour, and a top speed of 404 mph at 19,000ft

By 1943 the Allies, with better fighters and improved radar intercept techniques, were beginning to prey on the Ki-46 with increasing success. The Tachikawa company had been working on a replacement for the Ki-46, designated the "Ki-70", since 1939, but when the first prototype of the Ki-70 flew in 1943 it proved to be inferior in performance to the Ki-46, and the program was eventually abandoned.

In response to the failure of the Ki-70, Mitsubishi attempted to develop still another improved variant of the Ki-46, the "Ki-46-IV", which was a Ki-46-III fitted with Ha-112-IIRu engines. The Ha-112-IIRu incorporated a turbocharger, mounted in the lower rear portion of the nacelles and featuring an intercooler system.

Four prototype Ki-46-IVs were built, the first flying in February 1944. High-altitude performance was excellent, but the Ha-112-IIRu engines were troublesome, and priority for delivery of these engines was given to the Kawasaki Ki-100-II and Ki-102 fighters; there was no possibility of producing the Ki-46-IV in quantity. Similarly, another proposed follow-on to the Ki-46, the Mitsubishi "Ki-95", never got off the drawing boards.

The ‘Dinah’ was a significant reconnaissance platform for the Japanese, being comparable to some of the better Allied machines. It is salutary to note that only 698 P.R. versions of the DH98 Mosquito were built, and around 1,330 (including conversions) of the Lockheed F4/F5 Lightning, but no less that 1,742 of the Ki-46 were constructed, sadly in many ways, only one remains, in RAF Cosford (I really want to go now so I can see it!!)

I have loved building this as part of a group build, it has been very inspiring to see the other models coming together and the exceptional quality and precision everyone brings to their models, I hope in time I can build something to match, for now I will settle for the response of my son, who said he couldn't think of a better word than "fantastic!", that'll do . It has also been interesting to look into the background of the aircraft itself, a new skill and a new pleasure. So I will thank everyone in ISM for making this build very enjoyable for me.

[Thumboy]

Fantastic is the right way to describe this build alright and only number 5 you have done a great job and I look forward to seeing more of your builds

[shortCummins]

great build and I like the way you've 'restrained' the weathering, I've added this kit to my ever-growing wish list

[Slowthrill]

A Son never lies!!

Congrats on the build.
And thanks for the nice history lesson. It seems Japan was just too late when they made it streamlined and more powerful.. And losing the guns must have been a feeling i can't describe for the crew of this plane with spits around and all over them..

Nice one

[TonyCnyc]

Beautiful aircraft and job well done!

[UKguyInUSA]

Cracking clean build, Ali, she looks really good mate!

[Aliktren]

thanks all

[wally]

Nice looking aircraft. I like the smooth finish of your paint work and the diorama base is very atractive.