Markings for A6M2 Zero from IJN Zuikaku at Rabual raid 1942

[vandee]

I wanted to build a Zero that was at the attack on Rabual on January 20 1942. I have decals for a Zuikaku plane from Pearl Harbor a month earlier. Same plane different battles a month apart. Would the markings have been the same? Thanks.

 

[Wurger]

IIRC the grey overall with the black engine cowling and two white bands on the fuselage. So no changings ...

the pic source: the net.

 

[vandee]

Thank you, thought so. They would still have been the "grey" color that all the Pearl Harbor Zeros were painted with the white stripes.

 

[vandee]

One other question, I know only 326 Zeros had the mass balance under the wings. Did all of the Zeros at Pearl harbor have them. The instructions I have say one PH Zero had them and they don't say that the other PH Zero had them.

 

[fubar57]

I posted somewhere on here when the mass balances were removed. Might take some time to get the ole remembery working

 

[Wurger]

According to my notes due to the problems with the aircraft wing structure and the plane control at the high speed, especially during diving. beginning the February 1941 (A6M2 serial no. 3127) a servo tab (Flettner) was introduced. However, after the next crash, in May 1941, the thickness of the external plating of the wing surfaces was increased. In addition, longitudinal reinforcements were installed to increase torsional strength, and the ailerons returned to external mass ballance in place of the servo tab. The modernized planes were designated A6M2b Model 2 Ib. The external mass balance was added to the ailerons, also on previously produced aircraft, now designated A6M2a Model 2la. The planes had a maximum speed limit of 630 km/h and still at high speeds there were large forces acting on the rudders. The measures taken, as Mitsubishi representatives said, allowed the system of servo tabs to be left in place, which would solve the latter problem, but the Navy, after the disaster of Capt. Shimokawa ( A6M2 s/n. 3135 on 17th April 1941 ) ordered them removed, not being sure of the cause of the accident. As a result, they were only installed on approximately 80 A6M2 Model 21s built in February–May 1941.
In mid-September 1941, a new aileron began to be installed, which had all the counterweights inside the front section, eliminating the external mass ballance that caused unnecessary aerodynamic drag. The above change was introduced starting with A6M2 No. 327.
So there was the mix of Zeros with the external mass balance or without because their presence or absence depened on the period of time a particular plane was assmebled.

 

[vandee]

Thanks, I saw a picture of an A6M2b at the Battle of Midway and it was also at PH. It had no mass balance so I guess it was "fixed". I try to go by actual period photos when modeling these but not every plane has a picture and some don't show the area I need to see. I try not to count rivets but some things stick out like a sore thumb.

 

[Aeroweanie]

According to my notes due to the problems with the aircraft wing structure and the plane control at the high speed, especially during diving. beginning the February 1941 (A6M2 serial no. 3127) a servo tab (Flettner) was introduced. However, after the next crash, in May 1941, the thickness of the external plating of the wing surfaces was increased. In addition, longitudinal reinforcements were installed to increase torsional strength, and the ailerons returned to external mass ballance in place of the servo tab. The modernized planes were designated A6M2b Model 2 Ib. The external mass balance was added to the ailerons, also on previously produced aircraft, now designated A6M2a Model 2la. The planes had a maximum speed limit of 630 km/h and still at high speeds there were large forces acting on the rudders. The measures taken, as Mitsubishi representatives said, allowed the system of servo tabs to be left in place, which would solve the latter problem, but the Navy, after the disaster of Capt. Shimokawa ( A6M2 s/n. 3135 on 17th April 1941 ) ordered them removed, not being sure of the cause of the accident. As a result, they were only installed on approximately 80 A6M2 Model 21s built in February–May 1941.
In mid-September 1941, a new aileron began to be installed, which had all the counterweights inside the front section, eliminating the external mass ballance that caused unnecessary aerodynamic drag. The above change was introduced starting with A6M2 No. 327.
So there was the mix of Zeros with the external mass balance or without because their presence or absence depened on the period of time a particular plane was assmebled.

Was the 630 km/hr limit speed at all altitudes or did the limit vary with altitude?

 

[Wurger]

Was the 630 km/hr limit speed at all altitudes or did the limit vary with altitude?

Actually I have a doubt if the altitudes had anything in common with the speed limit. Especially if the plane was diving and the altitude was changing quickly ... Just the 630 km/h at all levels IMHO.

 

[Aeroweanie]

I've been building up a big spreadsheet of Energy-Maneuverability calculations for WWII fighter aircraft. As part of this, I've been collecting the published limiting airspeeds. This first plot shows them. Note how they change with altitude. On the second plot, you can see that many of them are in part or all constant Mach lines.

 

[Wurger]

I see. Im almost sure the 630 km/h limitation was the indicator speed shown in the cockpit. But what was the real one you would have to calculate taking into account the air pressure at the altitudes, the difference between the initail speed and the achieved at the wanted altitude and a couple of more IIRC. It may be a very difficult because all the required data is variable all the time.

 

[Aeroweanie]

That is why I plotted KCAS - its more or less what the pilot sees (after correcting for measurement error). Converting to Mach takes into account the changes in pressure, temperature and density with altitude.

 

[Wurger]

I see.