TAIU's company by Briney ()

Vue • Aviation • posted on Oct 23, 2012

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Description

The liquid-cooled "European" engine of the Kawasaki Ki61 was a departure from the radial engines usually used for Japan's WW2 fighters. In fact, when Allied pilots first encountered this Kawasaki machine in the Pacific, they needed to be convinced they were not fighting some kind of globalized Messerschmitt or Macchi!

I've read that in terms of performance, the Ki61 could stand relatively well against the newer Allied fighters, such as the Lightning or Hellcat. If not as nimble as earlier "Zero" fighters, the Ki61 was a considerable improvement in strength and survivability though its engine proved to be a headache to build and keep serviceable.

The Technical Air Intelligence Unit, based at Eagle Farm Airfield in Brisbane, Australia, reconstructed the "Tony" portrayed here (using AlicefromLake's model with a custom texture) as their third "fix-er upp-er" (XJ003).

Rendered in Vue 8 Esprit
mangrove landscape modelled in Bryce, exported and material applied in view

Production Credits

Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien

By AliceFromLake

18.00 USD

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Image Comments (10)

Mondwin ()  posted at 9:09AM Tue, 23 October 2012

Very brilliant work my friend!!!Bravissimo!V:DDD.Hugsxx Whylma

steelrazer ()  posted at 9:42AM Tue, 23 October 2012

Excellent texture job. Interesting background info.

Fidelity2 ()  posted at 9:53AM Tue, 23 October 2012

It is super cool. I thank you for it. 5+!

jac204 ()  posted at 10:26AM Tue, 23 October 2012

Again a great job with the rendering and background history.

UVDan ()  posted at 11:34AM Tue, 23 October 2012

A superb scene and it is nice to get the back story.

tigertim ()  posted at 7:27PM Tue, 23 October 2012

Very cool render.. nice looking 'Hein'

Osper ()  posted at 8:48PM Tue, 23 October 2012

Good job!

AliceFromLake ()  posted at 10:07AM Wed, 24 October 2012

Very nice. Thank you for credits. ;-)

debbielove ()  posted at 10:32AM Wed, 24 October 2012

Yes, this turned out to be a bit of a shock and surprise when it first appeared.. Taking somewhat more effort to knock down than a Zero, but as you say the engine (based on the Daimler Benz 601, in the Me109), was somewhat more complicated to built and maintain.. Good work.. Nice to see these 'Rare' jobs on Rendo.. Rob

BardCoennius ()  posted at 12:35PM Fri, 02 November 2012

Interesting history lesson. I had always thought the Ki61 was a copy of the Messerschmitt (as was the Macchi)...the Japanese did have a way of copying Western designs and improving on them (case in point: the post-war MGB - mechanically unreliable at best - and its derivative, the Datsun Fairlady, which was actually a pretty decent ride).