Mitsubishi A6M2 "Zero"

**Zenon1947** · #1 01-06-2018, 07:26 AM

Another plane from my collection. I think most of you recognize this aircraft, so there's not much to tell about its history. Main fighter of the Japan during WWII and one of the three planes(Kate, Val, Zero) which started war in the Pacific attacking Pearl Harbor. This one is from later period(1942) and was flown by Saburo Sakai. Maybe someone knows more about this particular aircraft? It would be great.
Model is Haliński No04 1994, scale 1/33

**Don Boose** · #2 01-06-2018, 09:21 AM

Another great model, Zenon.

The aircraft is a Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero Fighter (Reisen) Model 21. There is some controversy about the markings. The slanted fuselage stripe indicates that the aircraft is of the Tainan Kōkutai (naval air group), stationed on Formosa (Taiwan) at the beginning of the Pacific War and then operating in New Guinea. This was a very famous Japanese Navy fighter unit whose members included Saburo Sakai.

Many sources state that Sakai flew an aircraft with the markings shown on your mode: blue stripes and tail code V-103l. However, the wreck of V-103 was recovered from near Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, and the fuselage stripe appears to have been red and the tail stripe white.

I think the best discussion of Tainan Ku markings is at J-Aircraft: http://www.j-aircraft.org/smf/index.php?topic=2114.msg15517#msg15517

Here is info on the recovered wreck of V-103: https://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/a6m2/3647.html

Whatever the truth about the markings, you have built another superb model and I for one have really enjoyed examining these images of your work.

I look forward to your next model. Will it be another Japanese naval aircraft of the Pacific War?

Don

**MacSongLi** · #3 01-06-2018, 10:01 AM

Great model, you did an amazing job.

Thank you for the information and the link Don. Very interesting.

Gary

**MrConk** · #4 01-06-2018, 11:31 AM

A beautiful build. ....and I would be remiss if I did not recommend reading "Samurai" by Saburo Sakai with Martin Caidin and Fred Saito (1957).

**Zenon1947** · #5 01-06-2018, 05:29 PM

Thanks for information about plane, Don.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Boose

I look forward to your next model. Will it be another Japanese naval aircraft of the Pacific War?

Not exactly, rather land-based Ki-43 "Oscar" if it would be something Japanese.
Besides, I've got interesting american scout seaplane from Pacific War - Curtiss SC-1 Seahawk.

So, Curtiss will be next, then probably "Oscar".