A6M2 type 21 Zero-sen ('Zeke')

Aircraft: Mitsubishi A6M2 type 21 Zero (Allied code name 'Zeke'), aircraft "DII-105" of No. 6 Koku Sentai, Imperial Japanese Navy, aircraft carrier Junyo ('[Peregrine] Falcon'), attack on Dutch Harbor, Unalaska Island, June 3-4, 1942.

'... the Catalina hit the waters to the south, off Egg Island, in flames. Several survivors crawled into a raft, only to be strafed by the Zero pilots. All died.' (Cloe 1992)

Reference: Koku-Fan #42 Japanese and Imperial Army and Navy Colours and Markings. p. 4.

Kit: Hasegawa #09143 1/48.

Accessories/modifications: Ultracast seat (#48185), Quickboost resin pitot tube (48312), exhausts drilled out.

Paint: Tamiya acrylic, Alclad Aluminum II, weathering by oil wash and silver and terra cotta Prismacolor pencil, Testor's Dullcoat from spray can.

Decals: tail code, 'no step' stencil and propellor warning stripes from the kit decals, all other markings painted with masks.

Issues: Colour of rear deck inside cockpit - controversial as to what it was. Possibly 'black' although this would cause intolerable cockpit heating in tropical environments; alternatively, could have been exterior colour, but this has been suggested to be unlikely due to the reflected glare issue. Good reference photos lacking.

asd

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