ColesAircraft
Airman 1st Class
Haven't posted here in a while - but this is a great story:
I've been working with Legend Flyers (builders of the airworthy Me 262s) lately. They commissioned me to paint the two-seat Me 262 'Vera', which I did, and they sent me her original starboard outboard engine nacelle cover - which was a great trade from my point of view! But now we just completed our second cooperative deal: my painting of their A6M3 Mod. 32 Zero (Hamp) - which I just completed - and my reward in original Zero parts!
Some great colors and neat details are revealed here from this rare aircraft (only about 320 were ever built):
This Zero - serial number 3148 - was built by Mitsubishi in September 1942, and painted in that elusive early-war overall gray that people have argued over for years. Everyone has pretty much come to terms with the color as a very pale brownish-gray, and there is evidence of the color here:
3148 was assigned to the 252nd Kokutai and deployed to Taroa Atoll in the Marshall Islands. There, in April 1943 it probably participated in the interception of Lt. Louis Zamperini's B-24D (as described in the book 'Unbroken'), and was very likely flown in combat by Japanese 'Ace' Isamu Miyazaki.
The aircraft was recovered from Taroa in the mid-'80s and is under restoration to flying status, with the original engine, by Legend Flyers for Evergreen's air museum. It's mostly a new-build with original parts, and probably won't be actually flown, but they are doing a wonderful job of producing an incredibly accurate aircraft!
Here's my painting of 3148 in the markings worn during her life at Taroa:
I've been working with Legend Flyers (builders of the airworthy Me 262s) lately. They commissioned me to paint the two-seat Me 262 'Vera', which I did, and they sent me her original starboard outboard engine nacelle cover - which was a great trade from my point of view! But now we just completed our second cooperative deal: my painting of their A6M3 Mod. 32 Zero (Hamp) - which I just completed - and my reward in original Zero parts!
Some great colors and neat details are revealed here from this rare aircraft (only about 320 were ever built):
This Zero - serial number 3148 - was built by Mitsubishi in September 1942, and painted in that elusive early-war overall gray that people have argued over for years. Everyone has pretty much come to terms with the color as a very pale brownish-gray, and there is evidence of the color here:
3148 was assigned to the 252nd Kokutai and deployed to Taroa Atoll in the Marshall Islands. There, in April 1943 it probably participated in the interception of Lt. Louis Zamperini's B-24D (as described in the book 'Unbroken'), and was very likely flown in combat by Japanese 'Ace' Isamu Miyazaki.
The aircraft was recovered from Taroa in the mid-'80s and is under restoration to flying status, with the original engine, by Legend Flyers for Evergreen's air museum. It's mostly a new-build with original parts, and probably won't be actually flown, but they are doing a wonderful job of producing an incredibly accurate aircraft!
Here's my painting of 3148 in the markings worn during her life at Taroa:
