|
About the Kawanishi N1K1 Kyofu Type 11
Just prior to the
outbreak of the Pacific War, the imperial Japanese Naval Headquarters conceived
a plan to trial produce a float plane fighter aircraft. This concept was without
precedent, and was based upon the assumption that during the Japanese Combined
Forces invasions of the Southern Island regions, close air support would be
required to protect the invasion fleet and its landing personnel. This would be
provided by floatplane fighters until the completion of airfields. These
floatplane fighters would be stationed in the waterways and bays near the
invaded and occupied areas, until arrival of land based aircraft.
In 1940 the Navy
instructed Kawanishi Aircraft, who had prior experience in the development of
superb floatplanes, to produce an aircraft to be known as the 15-shi floatplane
fighter, Kawanishi designed and produced a large, single-seat midwing,
floatplane of all metal construction. It had a large centerline float, and a
small strut mounted outrigger float near each wing tip. It was powered by an
excellent Mitsubishi Kasei radial engine and first flew in December 1943. It was
designated the N1K1 Type 11 "Kyofu" and code named "Rex" by the allied forces
during the war.
Although the Kyofu
has been regarded as one of the most successful floatplane fighters to have ever
been placed in operational service, it arrived too late to have any effect on
the outcome of the pacific conflict.
|
 |
 |
Suggested Paint Colors |
|
|
|
 |
|
X-1 - Black |
 |
|
X-10 - Gun Metal |
 |
|
X-11 - Chrome Silver |
 |
|
X-18 - Semi Gloss
Black |
 |
|
X-2 - White |
 |
|
X-28 - Park Green |
|
 |
|
X-7 - Red |
 |
|
XF-1 - Flat Black |
 |
|
XF-10 - Flat Brown |
 |
|
XF-11 - J.N. Green |
 |
|
XF-12 - J.N. Grey |
 |
|
XF-16 - Flat Aluminum |
|
 |
|
XF-21 - Sky |
 |
|
XF-23 - Light Blue |
 |
|
XF-3 - Flat Yellow |
 |
|
XF-52 - Flat Earth |
 |
|
XF-56 - Metallic Grey |
 |
|
XF-58 - Olive Green |
|
|
 |
