Hello
I'd like to make a new Request again, this time, i would like to propose Kawanishi J6K Shinpu. its an unfortunate Japanese Fighter-Interceptor that lost in fortune againts her own Sister, N1K Shinden.
HistoryKawanishi J3KThe Kawanishi J3K1 was a land based interceptor designed for the Japanese navy, but that was abandoned early in the design stage.
The J3K1 would have been a fairly standard radial engined fighter, powered by the Mitsubishi MK9A engine. The J3K1 was developed during 1942, but at the same time Kawanishi were producing a land-based version of their N1K1 Kyofu (might wind) floatplane fighter, the N1K1-J Shiden (violet lightning).
This was seen as the more promising design, and so work on the J3K was suspended at an early stage. When work resumed in 1943 the engine had been changed and the aircraft was given the new designation J6K1 Jinpu (Squall).
Kawanishi J6K JinpuNew situation appeared in summer 1943, Nakajima Co. was working on a new generation of engines, NK9 Homare 40-series with improved high altitude performance. In this case on 1st August 1943 Gijutsubu ?gave new ideas to Kawanishi Co. to fulfill the requirements of 18-shi Rikujo Sentoki.
Plane was expected to achieve a top speed of 667 km/h (370 knots) and time to 10 000 meters altitude lower than 18 minutes.
Project was named J6K1 with a code name Jinpu.
The constructor responsible for the project was engineer Sakae Totsuka, and all works were leaded by engineer Toshiharu Baba. New plane was a classic low-wing fighter with a full-metal construction. It was similar to previous design, J3K1.
But with new additions and changes later it became more similar to N1K2-J Shiden Kai. To power this plane Kawanishi have chosen Nakajima Homare Model 42, at that time called Homare Kai 201-Gata. In Navy code names it was known as NK9A-O (Ha-45-42). Engine had two stage, 3 speed supercharger and had a take-off power of 2200 HP at 3100 RPM. To give a proper cooling designers installed additional fan creating proper air flow around the engine. Engine had 2030 HP output at 1000 m, 1810 HP at 5500 m and 1600 HP at 10 000 meters.
Kawanishi used a Sumitomo VDM propeller with 3.5 m diameter.
What is impressive is range of the plane, due to extraordinary amount of fuel it could carry - 1430 liters. With this the expected time in the air was around 5 hours and 30 minutes.
In the first project there were two variants of armament - first containing four 20 mm Type 99-2 cannons and two 13.2 mm Type 3 MG's and second containing two Type 5 30 mm cannons and two Type 3 MG's. The pictures of the first wooden model from June 1944 confirm that first variant was the chosen one.
However, the modified model from July 1944 seem that the armament was upgraded to six 20 mm cannons. Anyway, the amount of ammo for both 13.2 MG's and Type 99-2 20 mm canons was 200 shells (so overall 400 rounds for MG's and 1200 for cannons).
What is interesting that at this stage of project Navy made a decision to introduce a new guns. The old Type 99 cannons had many disadvantages, the main was low muzzle velocity and low rpm. To fix this a new design was introduced,
20 mm 18-Shi 1-Gata cannons.
The construction was similar to Type 5 cannon which led to RPM increase (600 RPM), while new ammunition was also used. New cartridge (20x98) was 3 mm shorter than Type 99 but in the same time the explosive charge was same, while the amount of propellant was increased by 50% - giving 900 m/s muzzle velocity. First model of this gun was prepared in January 1944, unfortunately due to works in the same time on Type 99-2 Model 5 it wasn't introduced to a serial production (Type 99 was in production for more than 4 years and it was obvious that new variant would require so much changes in production lines than completely new design).
The blueprints were ready in late 1943 and on 1st February 1944 engineers began building a wooden model. 6 days later the representatives of Gijutsubu saw the thing for the first time. Kawanishi was putting a lot of efforts in a design and so on 3rd April the preparations for the prototype began. Official inspection of a wooden model occurred 2nd June and 4 days later the corrections were done. Except of changes in armament the shape of rudder and canopy was changed, also behind pilots head and in front of it two 70 mm armored glass plates were added.
The tides of war were changing and Imperial Japanese Navy expectations also, J6K1 from long range offensive fighter (tosen) now had to become an interceptor (Kyokusen). Unfortunately Gujusho (Armament Ministry) made a decision in July to hold the design works and focus only on Shiden Kai. Despite that the calculations and wing tunnel tests leading to very optimistic performance, plane was supposed to reach 685 km/h at 10 000 m altitude and should be able to climb there in 13 minutes and 20 seconds.
And so 18-Shi Rikusen never reached a prototype stage .. but i hope this outstanding japanese fighter could reborn and reincarnate here in IL-2 if anyone interested and willing to create it
PICTURES AND DRAWINGSGeneral Layout
Comparation with another 1946-ish Japanese Planes
Historical Photos
Mock-Up
Mock-Up
Cannons and Machine Guns
Homare Engine
Homare Engine
Mock Up
Wing Fillets
Tail Section
Gun Camera
Fuselage Interior Section
Inner Section of Wings
Cannons and Machine Guns
Cannons and Machine Guns
Landing Gear
Cockpit Layout and Photos
Cockpit Instruments :
1. Ignition Switch
2. Indicator (FK-3 radar)
3. Zero-shiki compass type 2
4. Oxyge flow meter type 2
5. Pressure gauge (detail obscurity)
6. Landing gear position indicator
7. Fuel gauge
8. 1-Go exhaust gas thermometer
9. Rev counter type 1
10. Turn indicator
11. Speed indicator type 3 modification 2
12. Clock (the latter period type)
13. Fuel selection lever
14. 1-Go cylinder Head Temperature Gauge
15. 1-Go manifold air pressure gauge type 3
16. Gyro horizons type 2
17. Sensitive altimeter type 3
18. Passage meter
19. Inclinometer type 2
20. Power supply
21. Fuel gauge
22. 2-Go oil pressure gauge type 4 (methanol)
23. 15-shi Defi Racer Gauge
24. Ku-1-shiki romote indication compass type 3?
25. Degrees of ascent and descent type 2
26. Supply air thermometer
a. Unclear knob
b. Unclear lever
c. Unclear lever
d. Hand pump (detail obscurity).
Thats all the informations i could give for now, i'm so sorry for the big, detailed and oversized pictures, but i think it really worth it for anyone who interested to make this flying beast. i hope somebody here interested to recreate and reincarnate this super fighter in the IL-2 Universe
have a nice day, cheers
*PS
Sources :
http://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/175149-j6k1-jinpu-squall/http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,17054.0.html
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Topic: Kawanishi J6K Jinpu, Advanced Fighter-Interceptor of Japanese Navy (Read 6565 times)
