Zeke Fire Extinguishers

[danny76]

Saw a program the other day that mentioned despite the lack of defensive armour the Zeke did have CO2 extinguishers fitted in the wing tanks activated by a toggle behind the left side of the pilots seat. Got me thinking that given their inherent flammability, if this was a original equipment then it should be modelled, also made me wonder how many other aircraft had similar systems.

[VonMessa]

I prefer not getting shot as a fire deterrent.

[Bino]

Saw a program the other day that mentioned despite the lack of defensive armour the Zeke did have CO2 extinguishers fitted in the wing tanks activated by a toggle behind the left side of the pilots seat. Got me thinking that given their inherent flammability, if this was a original equipment then it should be modelled, also made me wonder how many other aircraft had similar systems.

The "extinguisher" in the A6M series was similar to that used by several Russian planes: the mixture of air and fuel vapors in the fuel tanks was replaced by some other gas or gases that included less oxygen.  In the case of the Russian planes (i.e., I-16 & LaGG-3), some cooled-off engine exhaust gas was routed into the fuel tanks.  In the case of the Japanese A6M, CO2 was pumped into the plain, non-self-sealing tanks.  Hardly an "extinguisher", more like a half-hearted attempt at preventing outright fuel tank explosions.  All you have to do is watch any of the several hundred existing USN gun camera clips to see how "effective" that system was.

[Drano]

Rice paper fire trap!