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[SAS~Poltava]

I think I have a pretty interesting project for our aircraft cloners: the Kokusai Ki-76 "Stella"!



It was a artillery spotting and liaison aircraft much used by the JAAF (including for ASW work), so it really fills a gap gaming wise in IL-2. It was inspired by the Fieseler Fi 156 Storch, but designed independently in Japan. And I also think that the Fieseler Fi 156 Storch can be used as a basis for an aircraft.



About the aircraft: as mentioned the development of the Ki-76 was inspired by the early successes of the Storch. So in 1940 Nippon Kokusai Koku Kogyo was ordered to design a similar aircraft to act as an artillery spotter and liaison aircraft. The Ki-76 was designed by Kozo Masuhara, without access to one of the German aircraft (but presumably with some technical support). The 240hp Argus inline engine of the Storch was replaced by a more powerful Hitachi Ha-42 nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, and the slotted flaps of the Storch were replaced with more sophisticated Fowler flaps.



The Ki-76 made its maiden flight in May 1941, the month before a copy of the Storch finally reached Japan. In comparative tests the Ki-76 out-performed the Storch in everything but landing distance, one of the more important abilities of the aircraft. Flight trials were completed by November 1942 and the aircraft entered service as the Army Type 3 Command Liaison Plain. The Ki-76 was used with the artillery units of the Japanese Army until the end of the war. It was also used on the Japanese Army's own aircraft carrier, the Akitsu Maru, where it served as an anti-submarine aircraft, although without much distinction.



At first glance the Ki-76 looks very similar to the Storch, but there are three distinctive differences that can be used to tell the aircraft apart. The first, and most obvious, is the use of the radial engine. The second is the landing gear. On the Storch the main undercarriage legs were straight, and contained very lengthy springs. On the Ki-76 the main legs bend slightly just above the wheels. Third is the cockpit canopy. On the Storch the glazed area is wider than the fuselage, giving the crew an excellent view directly down. On the Ki-76 the glazed area is the same width as the fuselage.



Engine: Hitachi Ha-42 nine-cylinder radial engine
Power: 310hp at take-off, 280hp at 6,560ft
Crew: 2 - pilot and observer
Wing span: 49ft 2 9/16in
Length: 31ft 3 3/8in
Height: 9ft 6 5/16in
Empty Weight: 2,447lb
Loaded Weight: 3,373lb
Max Speed: 111mph
Service Ceiling: 18,470ft
Range: 466 miles
Armament: One flexible rear-firing 7.7mm Type 89 machine gun
Bomb-load: Two 132lb depth-charges

As I see it (but I'm a complete NOOB when it comes to 3D work) it takes two things to make a Ki-76 out of the Fiesler Storch:

1.) Put a radial engine on it.
2.) Shorten the under carriage somewhat.

I hope to think of myself as not being of the "gimme, gimme, gimme"-type, being happy over each and every single aircraft that's made available to us. But this one looks to good to be overlooked 

And I DON'T think it has to be flyable. An AI aircraft will do very nicely, as something to escort, or something to attack, or just something to adorn the air...

[SAS~Malone]

not a bad request, although the 3d work required to modify the Storch is substantial....
nevertheless, maybe someone will pick it up. 
oh, and making it flyable would be an easy thing to do, compared to the 3d work...

[Ranwers]

[SAS~Poltava]

Well, I see now that the job has already been done, by Skipper and Ranwers. This variant with the cowling will do the job very nicely:



What it needs is just a Japanese skin! And perhaps it's own slot. With a load-out of two small bombs.

(See https://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,10212.msg108944.html#msg108944.)

[Piotrek1]

+1, I know it's an old thread but the idea in my opinion it is still very interesting.