Kawasaki Ki-61 Tony (oz2717)

About this Plan

Kawasaki Ki-61 Tony (Hien). Control line scale Japanese WWII fighter model. McCoy .09 engine shown.

Quote: "Slick World War Two Control Liner Scaled 3/4 Inch to Foot, by Walter A Musciano.

The only Japanese single seat fighter to be powered with an inline liquid cooled engine during World War II was the Kawasaki Ki-61. This plane was used by the Japanese army virtually throughout the war in New Guinea, Rabaul, China and Philipines and over Japan intercepting B-29 bombers. The Ki-61 is generally considered to be the Japanese Army's counterpart of the Japanese Navy's vaunted Zero. The US recognition nickname for the Kawasaki Ki-61 was 'Tony,'

The 3,120 'Tony' fighters that saw service were powered by a twelve cylinder, Vee type engine of 1175 horsepower, designed Ha-40. This was undoubtedly a German design built in Japan under license. In fact, the entire treatment of cowling and exhaust stacks gives Tony a typical German rather than a Japanese appearance.

Maximum speed was 348 mph with a gross weight of 7650 lbs. The craft could climb to 16,400 feet in seven minutes. Armament consisted of two 20 mm cannon mounted in the wings outside of the propeller arc and two heavy calibre machine guns buried in the cowl. This was one of the few Japanese planes that was well armored.

An air cooled engine version was also produced in limited numbers during the closing years of the war. This was the Ki-100. Reports indicate that the Ka-wasaki Ki-100 could meet US Mustangs on equal terms and the better pilot usually won.

The Tony is beautifully proportioned for control line sport flying and this 3/4 inch to the foot scale model can be powered by a glow plug or diesel engine from .09 to .19 cubic inch displacement. Standard two line control system it shown; however, the Stanzel Mono-line control system can be installed if desired. The clean, uncluttered lines and absence of struts or rigging makes this Tony a pleasure to own and fly.

As is customary with our vertical keel fuselage construction, the wing is built first. Begin by cutting the spar and ribs to shape end cementing these together. The 3/32 sheet lower covering should be assembled to form the correct chord distance from standard 3 in balsa sheets. When the covering has been assembled and cut to shape it can be cemented to the bottom of the ribs and spar. Start with the spar and work the covering to-wards the leading and trailing edges of the ribs. Use plenty of cement and hold the covering in place with pins until the cement is dry.

Bend the wire landing gear struts to shape being certain to make one left- and one right-hand strut. Sandwich the upper portion of the struts between two rectangles of plywood. Drill small holes and firmly sew this assembly together. Use plenty of cement. When dry, the landing gear is cemented to the wing spar, ribs and lower covering..."

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, text and pics, thanks to pit.

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