Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero Group Build

[Shinpachi]

I wonder if this may be useful...
G-AEUC Short S.23 C-class was one of the targets.


Action Log of 3-Ku dated March 3, 1942
Mission: Attack on Broome, WA

0705
1 reconnaissance plane and 9 Zero fighters despatched from Base No.335.

0930
Attacked Broome with air-combat and shootings against target land/water air-bases.
On the way home, found a type DC-3 transport plane and attacked. Target ditched on the seashore and burnt.
Our 1 fighter(3/3ro?) ditched on the sea near "Roti" Island. Pilot rescued on the island on March 21.
Our 2nd team leader crashed during his attack. Almost certain.

1305
1 reconnaissance plane and 7 Zero fighters arrived at Base 335.

 

[Wayne Little]

Glad to see someone building a Japanese bird.

Don't worry....Daniel won't be the only one.....

 

[Micdrow]

Wouldn't of thought of that -Cheers mate! looking forward to starting now

Proberly just as per the box art -although that belongs to a training uni doesn't it? If it is then no and why the hell did Revell have a box art with it in combat with a Corsair? (just another revell stuff up?) Want to do one in a similar scheme with LOTS of heavy weathering (ie bare metal showing through)

From the information Ive read on this squadron which is limited that this was an advanced training squadron which where used in combat as home defense squadrons and would probably make the picture. Im guessing the aircraft pictured on the box is an instructor aircraft as it has 4 kill markings on the side. Im looking for a black and white photo of this aircraft but so far no luck. Lots of profiles for this aircraft as Wurger posted two and I have one also from a different book.

Will have to do some more digging.

 

[Njaco]

I like the looks of that last profile, Shinpachi.

 

[Shinpachi]

I agree, Njaco. That is a very good work.

 

[109ROAMING]

From the information Ive read on this squadron which is limited that this was an advanced training squadron which where used in combat as home defense squadrons and would probably make the picture. Im guessing the aircraft pictured on the box is an instructor aircraft as it has 4 kill markings on the side. Im looking for a black and white photo of this aircraft but so far no luck. Lots of profiles for this aircraft as Wurger posted two and I have one also from a different book.

Will have to do some more digging.

Thanks for the help mate! also Thanks Shinpachi for the info- interesting!

To make it easy I think I just do the one pictured on the boxart -little more weathered (like the one pictured-source:wikipedia)

Thanks again guys!

 

[Airframes]

I don't know much about Japanese aircraft Daniel, but I think the pic you posted shows an oversprayed green colour over the top of an earlier scheme of light grey, or whatever the light colour used by the Japanese was! It looks more like a toning down, rather than weathered.

 

[Catch22]

That's exactly what it was Terry. You can see it's rather thin on the tail.

 

[Wayne Little]

For your info the Zero above is an A6M3 Model 22, U1-105 of the 251st Kokutai flown by veteran Ace Hiroyoshi Nishizawa.


....and Terry is correct about the colouring/camo!

 

[Micdrow]

Well it sounds like you have made up your mind on model and type so here is so info on both. Hope it helps and I will see what else I can dig up. All pictures are of the A6M5 model 52C series which is the model on your box.

 

[Shinpachi]

Here is another action log of the 3-ku(3rd aviation unit) dated January 30, 1942.
I believe one of the targets was 'Corio'.


Action Log of 3-Ku dated January 30, 1942
Mission: Patrol and attack on Kupang and Kolbano

0805
Despatched Base kendari

1000
No enemy planes above Kupang.
Shot to attack 1 large plane running on the ground, drums and a part of wooden hanger to burn.

1015
Near 115 degree 30(?), found 1 large plane which was about to land on the water.
Shot it down to fire.

1020
No enemy plane above Kolbano.
Attack to fire 1 Lockheed and to destroy 1 more.

1035
All gathered to home.

1230
Returned base.

 

[Micdrow]

Very interesting Shinpachi, many thanks!!!

 

[Lucky13]

To be honest, I've been eyeing up one of those Japanese twins....can't decide between a Nick or a Dinah though...

 

[Micdrow]

To be honest, I've been eyeing up one of those Japanese twins....can't decide between a Nick or a Dinah though...

Interesting choices there Jan, I pictured you more as a Ki-61 like these.

 

[Lucky13]

Sweeeeet!

 

[Junkers88A1]

sooooooooooo when is the build complete ? hehe

 

[Micdrow]

sooooooooooo when is the build complete ? hehe

The pacific build just started GF, I beleive if I rember right you have three months to complete the build starting from April 18th. Rules I believe are here and I beleive its not to late to enter.

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/group-builds/group-build-rules-17844.html

I could be wrong on some things as Ive just been providing technical data on aircraft.

 

[Wayne Little]

Hey Paul, obviously you haven't found a photo of that damn Tsukuba Zero either!

Iv'e got a lot of Japanese reference too and a pic of that aircraft still eludes me....yet there are numerous profiles and a few kits that depict this Zero?

 

[Micdrow]

Hey Paul, obviously you haven't found a photo of that damn Tsukuba Zero either!

Iv'e got a lot of Japanese reference too and a pic of that aircraft still eludes me....yet there are numerous profiles and a few kits that depict this Zero?

Hi Wayne,

Yeah you are right about that. It is driving me crazy as Ive found a couple of profiles. Usually when there is a profile there is a black and white photo that goes with it. Then again the more I think about it the corsair in the picture bugs me. I could see this unit in combat but not with corsairs but with heavy bombers. So another mystery to be solved

 

[Micdrow]

This is the closest Ive come so far Wayne.