Auckland Spit Zero

[Gixxerman]

Hmmm, trying not to sound too much like a 'what I did on my holidays...' thing

Fresh back from my trip around the world I thought it might be interesting to some if I share the pics I took of the Spitfire Zero they have in the Auckland museum, New Zealand.
Sadly this was the limit of my getting a look at warbirds but that's what you get for hanging out with relatives all the time (but they were great too )

I'll put up the info plates they have for each as this says more in a short sweet version than I could.

Spit first -

Spit's Merlin -

Zero -

(all pics should be resized to approx 300kb and I admit I'm no David Bailey but if any of the model makers amongst us finds them useful I can supply the full sized versions (done on a Panasonic FZ38 - known outside the EU as a Panny FZ35) each is somewhere around 3.5mb - 5mb and can be zoomed in on pretty nicely on PC/laptop, sorry for the lighting but that neon blue back-lighting is all down to Auckland museum)

I hope I've complied with the rules that you enjoy them, sadly pics can't quite get across how beautiful these birds are in the metal.

...notice the Zero with black crosses in the explanitory text, odd no?

 

[vinnye]

Thanks for sharing the picture of those birds!

 

[vikingBerserker]

Very nice!

 

[A4K]

Great pics mate, thanks!

The 'Black' crosses were actually Green, part of the Japanese capitulation paint scheme (Green crosses over White wash).
Odd that she's been marked 2-152 - I remembered her original side number as being 2-182... have to check on that.

 

[nuuumannn]

Cool pics, Gixxerman; aeroplanes I remember from my childhood. How long were you in En Zed for?

Here's a picture that was posted elsewhere on this forum of the very same aeroplane after it was cpatured by the RNZAF and test flown;

View attachment 183116

The photo was taken at either the RNZAF base at Jaquinot Bay or at Piva, from where it flew to the former under escort by RNZAF Corsairs (the same in the background, perhaps?). It wears the all-over white, with green crosses surrender scheme, but with the nasal area left unpainted. Notice also the lower section of each undercarriage door is missing as today. For years it wore a really bad green and grey camouflage and was repainted after extensive work was done on it a number of years ago.

 

[Gixxerman]

Thanks for that guys, I was starting to wonder if she'd stood in for a German plane in a film or something!

 

[Shinpachi]

That is a legendary Zero which has an original instruments panel of model 22.
Thanks for sharing, Gixxerman!

 

[Gnomey]

Good shots! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Gixxerman]

Thanks fellas, always nice to have them appreciated.

(next time I might just try to sneak in ignore the 'keep behind' ropes see if I can get some right up close shots, the cockpits have got to be worth shooting....so long as you don't touch or try to get on the planes I can't imagine anyone would mind so much, as it was there were no staff around to stop you)

 

[A4K]

No photo is wasted on this forum! Thanks again for posting!

Btw, according to the net, she was indeed 2-182. Had found a photo of her ages ago with the white paint stripped and original scheme visible - will try to relocate and post it here.

Also, out if interest, that Spitty was arranged to be brought to NZ by Sir Keith Park himself, in recognition of our participation in the Battle of Britain.

 

[CobberKane]

I remember both these aircraft as a wee fella nearly forty years back. In those days the museum was MOTAT, the Museum of Transport and Technology. When in Auckland my father could always be persuaded to take me in to see these planes, or to the other museums, and to this day I am a museum junky. Top of my bucket list are the British Museum and The Smithsonion.
To anyone planning on visiting New Zealand, do it. The hunting and fishing are awesome, the scenery is jaw-dropping, the Wanaka Warbirds show is world class and there is also the RNZAF Museum, with volunteer veterans wandering around to share their experiences, and Peter Jackson's (the guy from Lord of the Rings, currently remaking The Dambusters I believe) WWI aircraft museum in Blenmeim, right in the middle of the world's best Sauvignon Blanc vineyards. What more could you ask for?

 

[Readie]

Brilliant pictures, good to get close up and see all the details.
Thanks for sharing.
Cheers
John

 

[Gixxerman]

To anyone planning on visiting New Zealand, do it. The hunting and fishing are awesome, the scenery is jaw-dropping

I completely agree.
Both north south islands are amazing.
As well as staying in Auckland I went to the 'Bay of Islands' in the north stayed at Russell (once dubbed 'the hell-hole of the pacific' as it was completely free of any law a rough sea-farers stop-off with all that entailed...sadly all traces of that seem long gone) and Rotaroua and then on to Queenstown in the south to go see the mountains.
The north is warmer the south cooler but for people used to the UK (bearing in mind this was March April so their autumn/fall heading towards winter) still very nice.
Outstandingly beautiful country, breath-taking even, truly.

the Wanaka Warbirds show is world class and there is also the RNZAF Museum, with volunteer veterans wandering around to share their experiences, and Peter Jackson's (the guy from Lord of the Rings, currently remaking The Dambusters I believe) WWI aircraft museum in Blenmeim, right in the middle of the world's best Sauvignon Blanc vineyards. What more could you ask for?

Lots still left for me to take in next time...and I will be saving hard to ensure there is a next time!

 

[nuuumannn]

In those days the museum was MOTAT, the Museum of Transport and Technology.

You're getting a little mixed up. MoTaT is still located where it always was in Western Springs; these aircraft have always been on public display at the Auckland War Memorial Museum in the Domain and were never part of MoTaT's collection.

The Spitty, TE456 is a movie star, playing a flying role in the film Reach for the Sky along with three other Spits.