Scratch-built 1/72 Kawanishi K-2 racer

From the archive (2010):

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 different 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.

I used the carved wood master 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.