[To Become a Fighter Pilot]
Red Dragonfly. The image is of a fluffy, peacefully flying insect, but this is the nickname for an aircraft designed for training to board combat aircraft such as fighters. It is painted orange to stand out in the sky, which is why it is called that. The cockpit has two seats: the front seat is for the instructor, and the rear seat is for the trainee. The front and rear control sticks are connected. By the way, when it comes to red dragonflies, the larger Navy Type 93 is well known. Model kits of various scales are also released by different companies. Yes, "Red Dragonfly" is not the name of a specific aircraft but a general term for orange-painted training aircraft. Among them, the Army Type 95 Model 1 (乙) is especially notable for its sleek design. It was made into a product because it looks cool!
**Actual Aircraft Data**Wingspan: 10.32 metersTotal length: 7.52 metersEngine: Hitachi Ha13 (350 horsepower)
[Model Features]
The design concept is "Anatomy." During the design process, I was able to obtain the actual aircraft manual published in Showa 13 (1938). The manual includes drawings of the Type A, which was prototype before the Type B, but aside from the fuselage length and main landing gear mechanism, almost complete data was available. I personally learned a lot from it. Based on the knowledge gained from this book, I wanted to create a kit that embodies that information.
First, the propeller rotation direction: viewed from the pilot, it rotates clockwise. The slipstream from the propeller causes the aircraft to tend to turn left. To counteract this, the vertical stabilizer of the Army Red Dragonfly is installed with a 2.3° left tilt from the start. The same mechanism is used in the G.B. Racer. To increase lateral stability, the upper wing of the biplane has tips raised by 1°, and the lower wing by 3° (called dihedral). The angle of attack (longitudinal tilt) of the main wings is 0° for the lower wing, while the upper wing is tilted downward by 2°. The horizontal stabilizer's angle can be adjusted during flight using a handle next to the cockpit, via gears and chains.
As the fuel stored at the front of the aircraft decreases, the nose becomes lighter. To lower the raised nose, the angle of attack of the horizontal stabilizer is adjusted to lift the tail of the aircraft. The fuel tanks are located both behind the engine (inside the fuselage) and in the central part of the main wing. The main wing is divided into the central wing and the left and right wings, connected by linkage rods. Additionally, knowledge obtained from actual manuals of the time was incorporated into the parts.
I believe this kit offers a feeling of assembling an actual aircraft.
**Product Specifications**- Aero Base Part Number: A010- Material:- Main body: Copper etched parts- Engine, propeller, and others: White metal parts(*Note: Our products are made of metal. Please be cautious if you have allergies.*)- Number of parts: approximately 80- Instruction manual: Includes detailed illustrations and is bilingual (Japanese and English)- Wingspan: 215 mm- Estimated assembly time: about 8 hours- Skill level: Advanced (★★★★☆)(*Suitable for those experienced in model building, embroidery, or crafts*)- Recommended age: 15 years and older- Additional required items: Cutter knife, tweezers, instant glue, epoxy adhesive (5-minute curing type)