343rd Naval Air Group A6M5

[Greebo]

Thanks to Lyric1 for finding me the info for this skin.

This A6M5 was assigned to the 343rd Naval Air Group and was left abandoned on an airfield on Guam as the Japanese retreated.

The 343rd Naval Air Group was formed on January 1st 1944 and was slated to get the new N1K fighter, but following delays to that program received A6M5s instead. In May it was sent to bolster the defence of the Marianas. During the American invasion of Saipan in June the 343rd suffered heavy losses and by July had to be disbanded. In January 1945 it was reformed as an elite unit to defend Japan, finally equipped with the N1K-2 fighter and staffed with experienced pilots.

[jeffdn]

It's beautiful, Greebo!

[Zoney]

Greebo, that's really top notch mate.  I'm impressed with your weathering, very realistic.  I do have a question.  The shape of the #3 on the tail.  The lower part of the number, the lower loop seems to come up and in a bit more than I have seen it represented before.  Is that accurate?

[lyric1]

Greebo, that's really top notch mate.  I'm impressed with your weathering, very realistic.  I do have a question.  The shape of the #3 on the tail.  The lower part of the number, the lower loop seems to come up and in a bit more than I have seen it represented before.  Is that accurate?

I would say yes.



Nice job on the skin Greebo.

[Greebo]

Thanks guys.

Actually thinking about the number, I may make a change. The likely scenario as I see it is the rudder was replaced at some point in the field and the number painted on without the use of a stencil. So the last two digits on the LH side of the rudder "18" would have been done the same way, not the "43" as I have done it.

[USRanger]

Yeah, looks that way in the photo Greebs.

[Zoney]

Yep, sure looks like you got it right Greebo.  As usual you have done your homework and have it right sir <S>

[Nefarious]

Have I seen those markings, the wihite tips, in American Gun Camera footage? (Off to youtube)  

Great work as always Greebo! <S>

[Vraciu]

Nice. Was the aileron tip white?  Doesn't look it in the pic but that could be an illusion.

[USRanger]

Looks white in the photo to me.

[Devil 505]

Outstanding!

[Vraciu]

Looks white in the photo to me.

The wingtip does.  The aileron doesn't.   

 


Just trying to help Greebo get it right as I know that's important.

[Greebo]

Nice. Was the aileron tip white?  Doesn't look it in the pic but that could be an illusion.

I wondered about that but that end of the aileron is so damaged you can't really tell whether they painted it white or not. It could be the fabric is stripped off, burnt or folded over there. I reckoned painted white was more likely than not and went with that.

[Aspen]

Thats a great skin.  I see one of the panels on the top front of the right wing near the tip looks like its lighter or an unpainted patch.  I would say the aileron probably had the white since they repainted the white for the meatball if it was a replacement.

[USRanger]

The wingtip does.  The aileron doesn't.   

 


Just trying to help Greebo get it right as I know that's important.

Ahh I see whatcha mean now.