The first of two more 1/72 scale biplane masterpieces from the miniature aerodrome of Rob Ronconi. The Salmson 2A2 was a reconnaissance and light bomber aircraft designed in France during the First World War. The Salmson saw effective use in French service and also with air units of the American expeditionary force where it came to the attention of Japanese army observers. It could hold its own against enemy fighters too with several American pilots and observer/gunners becoming aces on the type.
After the war the Salmson was taken to Japan with the French military mission (Mission Française d'Aéronautique) of 1919. Kawasaki had acquired manufacturing rights for the aircraft and Salmson's 260 hp 9Za nine cylinder, water cooled engine but in 1920 the Japanese army began manufacturing a copy of the aircraft at their Tokorozawa depot in the pretext of repairing the imported aircraft. Following a protest by Salmsom Kawasaki mediated and manufacturing rights were established with the Army designating the aircraft the Type Otsu 1 Reconnaissance Aircraft and formally accepting it into service in December 1921. Two protoypes had been produced, one from Army parts and the other by Kawasaki from scratch. Kawasaki and the Army then collaborated to manufacture 300 aircraft before production ceased in August 1927. The first 56 were built with imported engines but the remainder with Kawasaki engines.
The Type Otsu 1 saw active and useful service over Siberia in October 1922 and during the Manchurian and Shanghai incidents, performing a diverse range of sorties from the original reconnaissance to include bombing, artillery liaison and supply drops. The Type 1 Otsu continued in Army service until 1933 when the Type 88 Reconnaissance Aircraft (Kawasaki KDA-2) replaced it. The Army adopted the Hai Ryoku Shoku (Ash Green Colour) as a standard overall finish for its aircraft from 1922, incorporated into the Army Aircraft Material Temporary Standards in March 1924 and revised in October 1927.
With special thanks to Rob for sharing these images of his excellent model built from the Kovozávody Prostějov kit.
Image credit: All model photos © 2026 Rob Ronconi; Colour schematic © 2023 Aviation of Japan
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