I found an interesting subject for another Zero build. This one is a Mitsubishi A6M2 Type 21 Zero, from the 253rd Flying Group on Rabaul in 1943. The plane is all green in color and painted in IJA green, why an IJN unit painted a plane in Imperial Japanese Army green is definitely odd as the Japanese Army and Navy did not play well with each other. I have no decals and I don’t have the kit so I am using a generic Hasegawa A6M2 Type 21 Zero and will buy an after market sheet with Japanese markings. There are 2 versions on the instruction sheet, one with basic national markings and some tail numbers, the other has all kind of stripes and Japanese hyrogliphs. I will do version 2 the “plain Jane” one. Here is a picture of the original boxing, the boxing I am using, the decals, and the paint call outs.
2 Likes
Here is a start to my build and the decals I need. I ordered some Japanese WWII black tail codes a few years ago for an odd plane I found a picture of. I just needed the black tail numbers. Now I need to find the same ones but in white, they do make them, a company named Aviaeology.
4 Likes
Nice choice. Please keep the updates coming!
1 Like
The 253 Ku was the new designation for the Kanoya Ku in late Oct early Nov 1942. This restructuring was sparked in part by the disastrous losses at Midway and Guadalcanal.
The new designations were:
1st digit AC type
2 Figher, 5 Dive Bomber, 7 bomber, 8 Seaplane, 9 Fleet Support
2nd digit Home Base
0, 1, 2 Yoosuka, 3,4 Kure, 5,6,7 Sasebo, 8,9 Maizuru
3rd Sequential
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 etc
Bryan
1 Like
