At the start of the 20’s it was realized in Japan that racing planes could be
of great interest, therefore the first plane in the country designed for that
purpose was built by Kawanishi and designated K-2. It was to be powered
by a six-inline Hall Scott rescued from another plane.
By 1921
the result of the endeavor was a very pleasing, modern –for the time- little
plane of refined lines that showed promise. It was made mainly of wood and had a
low cantilever wing of constant chord.
The
little fin/rudder area apparently gave a bit of trouble under some circumstances
and minor problems precluded the building of more machines. The only K-2 built
didn’t enjoy much development, but the plane flew with wire-rigged wings and
later received airfoiled wing struts. Wheels had their spokes
exposed or covered, depending on the photos. At least two props can be seen on
photos. The little plane eventually reached an unofficial speed of about 250 kph,
not bad for the about 220 hp of the engine and for 1921.
The
boxy radiator, right on the face of the pilot, puts a sort of funny note to the
design.
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The model
followed my present building trend of creating a wood core for the
fuselage and solve the rest by raising the wages of the brownies, pixies,
elves and the like that take care of my models during the night, helping
with the building process (that may explain the case to some that wonder
about the rate of production of the local hangar).
I used the
wood shapes to Mattelize a vac copy of the fuselage, and although the wood
fuselage was ready to go, I opted instead for the thin vacufomed shells.
An interior was enclosed and then the spine of the fuselage was made using
styrene sheet as per photos. A system of slot and tongue was employed to
secure the rudder, again as per photos. Spars traversed the fuselage to
anchor wings and stabs and brass “Strutz” and Contrail plastic
airfoiled struts solved the landing gear and wing strutting. The prop was
hand-carved as usual from a popsicle stick and the spinner made from sprue
rod. Two tones of aluminum paint were used to differentiate the metal
cowling from the rest of the model.
Minute in 1/72 but
with a definite racy appearance, the sort of art deco lines of the K-2 seem to
make by themselves a statement about speed.
Thanks to Vance the
Luminescent, Ron, The Shinichis, and other kind fellow aviation friends for the
help with data about the plane.
Gabriel Stern
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