**** DONE: GB-43 1/48 A6M2a Type 11 - Aces' Aircraft of all Eras

[vandee]

Username- vandee
Name- John
Category- Intermediate
Kit- Hasegawa
Scale- 1/48
Accessories- none

I am going to do the aircraft of IJN Ace Saburo Sakai. I am doing his early mount when he served
in China with the 12th Flying Group plane tail number 3-116. I have read his book Samurai and found
him to be a most admirable and honest man and one heck of a good pilot. I was amazed at his adventure
over Guadalcanal when he took a bullet to the head, lost sight in one eye but flew over 600 miles back to
Rabaul and landed safely. He was a true Samurai. John

 

[Crimea_River]

Welcome to the GBs John. Glad you will join us with thus nice choice.

600 miles. Is that even possible?

 

[vandee]

Welcome to the GBs John. Glad you will join us with thus nice choice.

600 miles. Is that even possible?

Yes. The A6M2 model 21 had a range of 1,160 mi. or 1,010 nmi. That and Sakai was a master
at adjusting his engine to get a little more range, he new how to set his idle and mixture to
increase his range. He was an above average pilot for a Petty Officer to say the least. John

 

[Airframes]

Nice choice, and good to have you taking part.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Wayne Little]

Great choice, good to see another new entrant coming on board.

Yep the Zeroes had plenty of distance in them when needed, Rabaul to Guadalcanal round trip was some 1700-1800km, however it didn't leave much time to do any fighting....

 

[fubar57]

Welcome to your first GB , John. Looking forward to the build

 

[vandee]

Thanks, I will have more images tomorrow. I just drilled out the lightening holes in the seat. John

 

[Wurger]

A nice beginning.

 

[fubar57]

Always looks better than just the recesses.

 

[Gnomey]

Good work so far!

 

[nsmekanik]

Definitely looks much better drilled out, good start I'd say.

 

[vandee]

I got a little ahead of myself and closed up the fuselage with the cockpit before I got good cockpit
images. I have the fuselage ready to sand and see if it requires putty. John

 

[vandee]

I have the engine painted and assembled. John

 

[fubar57]

Nice

 

[Wurger]

 

[Crimea_River]

Good progress John.

 

[Airframes]

Agreed.

 

[vandee]

All ready to sand. John

 

[Wurger]