Ki-61 and Ki-100 Aces

[Skyraider3D]

Happy New Year all!

Last year I completed the illustrations for Osprey's Aircraft of the Aces #114 on Ki-61 and Ki-100 Aces, written by Nicholas Millman of http://www.aviationofjapan.com. Since the book has meanwhile been published, I'd like to show you a few samples.

Research by Nick and myself.

All images © Osprey Publishing.

Ki-61-I Otsu of the 78th Sentai:


Ki-61-I Tei of the 244th Sentai


Detail of the score board:


This graphic gives you an idea of the amount of research that goes into each profile:


Ki-61-I Hei of the 56th Sentai:


Colourful Ki-100-I Otsu of Akeno's 111th Sentai:


Ki-100-I Otsu of the 5th Sentai:


A close-up of the tail unit and "Nine-headed Dragon" inscription:


A Ki-100-I Ko of the 59th Sentai with P-51 victory marking under the cockpit and 3rd Chutai markings on both vertical and horizontal tail planes:


Sample line drawing of a Ki-100-I Otsu:


For those who are on Facebook, I have an artwork page at https://www.facebook.com/AviationArt.Aero and a group dedicated to the Ki-61/100 at https://www.facebook.com/groups/Ki61Tony/

Many thanks for looking!

Ronnie Olsthoorn

Edited January 4, 2016 by Skyraider3D

[JohnT]

Ronnie

I bought a copy to help and enthuse a Ki-61 build I have in mind. The Tei above in fact.

It's a very good book and shone a bright light into a dark corner of my ignorance. Thoroughly recommend it. Before I had not realised what a potent fighter the Ki-100 was and basically it's a Ki-61 Hein with a new engine.

It's not an expensive purchase and should be on the shelf! And I am not on commission either

[stevehnz]

I've kits to do the whole family so a copy of this is a must to my mind. Thanks for sharing those with us.

Steve.

[sroubos]

Lovely stuff Ronnie, will have to get myself a copy of this.

[MikeR]

I have a copy, as well as Nick's Ki-44 aces one, and can thoroughly recommend both books.

Mike.

Edited January 4, 2016 by MikeR

[Skyraider3D]

Thank you very much gents!

By the way, these illustrations aren't 3D renders (like most of my other work), but 2D mouse-drawn illustrations. This saved about half of the production time, but unfortunately it does mean I don't have a 3D model to play with now. Next project will be 3D again.

[Paolo6691]

I have the Ki-44 book and I enjoyed very much, this one and the Ki-27 are on my list of books to buy.

Very nice artwork Ronnie

Cheers

Paolo

[AWFK10]

I agree with all the other comments. I have a copy of the Ki-61/Ki-100 book, which is excellent, and as a result I've ordered the Ki-44 one.

[dragonlanceHR]

You *really* need to have these profiles printed as a separate album. As much as I like the Osprey Aces series, the books are too small, especially for such well researched and detailed work.

Vedran

The milimeter brigade

[Skyraider3D]

Thanks guys!

You *really* need to have these profiles printed as a separate album. As much as I like the Osprey Aces series, the books are too small, especially for such well researched and detailed work.

The profiles I make are a lot bigger than they are printed, so indeed a lot of detail goes unseen. Probably the most extreme detail are marks made by hands and fingers on the edges of the fuselage hatch on some of the dustier examples (like profile 8), thus where the dust has been wiped away!

Currently the only way to see the profiles full-size is to purchase a print through http://www.aviationgraphic.com/52_ronnie-olsthoornalthough I have yet to add the Ki-61s (and most Ki-44s and Ki-27s!). It will happen, at some point. If you'd like me to add a particular one on short notice, please let me know.

Edited January 6, 2016 by Skyraider3D

[Navy Bird]

Thanks for sharing these - the new Ki-61 & Ki-100 Aces book is on order!

Cheers,

Bill

[dragonlanceHR]

Currently the only way to see the profiles full-size is to purchase a print through http://www.aviationgraphic.com/52_ronnie-olsthoornalthough I have yet to add the Ki-61s (and most Ki-44s and Ki-27s!). It will happen, at some point. If you'd like me to add a particular one on short notice, please let me know.

Thanks Ronnie,

I can wait. That explanatory graphic of Kobayashi's A/c would be my favorite. Underside was Yellow-Green #7 mixed with white as on Ki-43-III's?

Vedran

The milimeter brigade

[Skyraider3D]

Underside on all Ki-61s and Ki-100s was bare metal. Topsides started receiving Yellow-Green #7 at some point during the Ki-61-I Tei (Ki-61-Id) production run; i.e. all short-nose Ki-61s were produced in bare metal. Any camouflage was added by depots or in the field.

I'll try and add the Kobayashi profiles soon. They're indeed the most popular ones.

[Skyraider3D]

@dragonlanceHR the first kobayashi prints are now available through Aviation Graphic.

I will try and have cn/ 5262 added soon too.

Also, Nick Millman has posted a very kind review on his blog: http://www.aviationofjapan.com/2017/12/aviation-prints-by-ronnie-olsthoorn.html

[Scooby]

On 2016-01-06 at 1:53 AM, dragonlanceHR said:

You *really* need to have these profiles printed as a separate album. As much as I like the Osprey Aces series, the books are too small, especially for such well researched and detailed work.

Vedran

The milimeter brigade

One of the reasons I like buying electronic versions is I can enlarge as much as I like on my tablet.

 

As well, I can read in bed without needing to turn on a light.

[Scooby]

Ronnie, thanks for sharing, I like the inside education on how you research the prints.

[Antoine]

Many thanks for sharing those, Ronnie.

[stevehnz]

Likewise, those are a treat, I've long admired your work, as to ownership, its definitely a one of these days things but I can't agree with Nick, there would still be finger wagging.

Steve.

[72modeler]

On ‎1‎/‎4‎/‎2016 at 8:19 AM, MikeR said:

I have a copy, as well as Nick's Ki-44 aces one, and can thoroughly recommend both books.

Mike.

Yep, me too! I echo what Mike has said! The whole series is very well researched where colors and markings are concerned- they are great modeling references, especially for IJA/IJN aircraft.

the other Mike

[Dimmy]

On 11.12.2017 at 4:38 AM, Skyraider3D said:

first kobayashi prints are now available through Aviation Graphic.

Preparing for the upcoming Tamiya's Ki-61 Tei (1:72) I begun to search for nice decal/profiles. While browsing your illustrations for "Ki-61 and Ki-100 Aces" I found profile #19 Ki-61-I Tei ‘87’, 244th Sentai, Akeno, Japan, April 1945 (see att. pic.) Could you please share the source for this profile?

 

 

Image source: (с) Google Books 

Edited December 12, 2017 by Dimmy
bigger pic

[Skyraider3D]

Thanks very much for the kind comments, gents!

 

 

@Dimmy, one photo of "87" has appeared in a few Japanese books. I've attached a scan of one.
You can just make out the fuselage stripe. Because of its faintness it's sometimes suggested this stripe was an overpainted white stripe that still vaguely shows through the camouflage paint. A rather weird interpretation, if you ask me, but kind of prolific for some reason. Given Kobayashi's senior position, this stripe would have been blue. Both the stripe and the camouflage paint simply ended up looking near-identical on black & white film.

 

 

 

[Dimmy]

Skyrider3D, thank you very much for a photo and info! I have Japanese book "Pictorial History of 244th Sentai" with almost all available photos of Kobayashi planes but unfortunately photo of '87' is missed.

I agree with you that fuselage stripe on '87' is rather same blue colour as on Tei '62' also from April 1945.  

 

Edited December 12, 2017 by Dimmy