251st Kokutai A6M3

[Greebo]

Thanks to Lyric1 who found me some info on this A6M3 in this J-Aircaft.com forum thread. It is from the 251st Kokutai based in Rabaul in 1943, which was formerly the Tainan Air Group until it was renamed in late 1942. Many of the IJNAF's most famous aces flew for this group.

The original aircraft is a round wing-tipped A6M3 type 22, but this is considered an acceptable substitute for our square-tipped type 32.

[USRanger]

My new favorite!

[Dragon Tamer]

 

[lyric1]

 

[Karnak]

I think the Zero is the prettiest of all radial engined fighters.  The proportions and lines it has are simply pleasing to the eye.

[SmokinLoon]

I think the Zero is the prettiest of all radial engined fighters.  The proportions and lines it has are simply pleasing to the eye.

Are you getting all emotional on us?   

Nice skin, Greebo.  Very nice.  This will be my standard skin on the '3.

[Shifty]

Very nice!

Wewak Willie! 

[Fulcrum]

I think the Zero is the prettiest of all radial engined fighters.  The proportions and lines it has are simply pleasing to the eye.

  this.

Excellent skin as always, Grebo. Can't wait to try it.

[nrshida]

Where there any white A6Ms? I think I remember at least one white one before they were remodeled.

[Greebo]

A6Ms started the war in a scheme of all over light olive grey with a black cowling. However in many books and plastic kits this colour is incorrectly shown as a very pale grey and this may be what you mean by white.

Land based A6M squadrons often field-applied camo paint to their aircraft's upper surfaces as on this skin. Late war A6Ms were factory painted with green upper surfaces, the colour of which varied from factory to factory.

[nrshida]

A6Ms started the war in a scheme of all over light olive grey with a black cowling.

Yes we had a very light one with a black cowling. It was an A6M2 I think. How olive was the grey?

[Greebo]

The olive grey is the colour shown above on this skin. This aircraft had the green camouflage applied in the field, but it was all-over olive grey from the factory. Very pale grey A6Ms are just based on incorrect profiles and should be olive grey.

BTW there are some interesting discussions on Japanese aircraft including camo schemes on the J-Aircraft.com website.

[nrshida]

Ah rgr. Thanks Greebo.

[HighTone]

Thanks Greebo -san! Looks great.

Tainan/251st Kokutai banzai!