With all the hype going on with the new Eduard Zero’s I had to think how I could justify building a Zero. As I already mentioned in Walt’s Rufe build, I have that one in the stash. So here we go!
A6M versus 109
How do a confessed 109aholic connect a 109 to an A6M?
With the increasing use of light metals in the aircraft industry in the 1930s, new challenges to protect airframes from corrosion surfaced. The Japanese experienced firsthand with their A5M in the Chinese mainland that he NMF suffered corrosion, especially during the monsoon season in 1937. Several attempts were made to remedy the situation.
Other nations faced similar challenges, even though not entirely as aggressively as these experienced by the Japanese by the Monsoon. Various iron, chromatic and zinc rich pigments were added to basic grey paints, resulting in warm or slightly yellowish/brown greys.
Protective paint developments found their way to Japan with the technical support manuals for imported types like the He 112 (designated A7He1 in Japanese naval service) and most likely influenced the paint applied to the Mitsubishi Zero and others.
And as we know the He112 was built in competition with the 109 to become the new standard fighter of the Luftwaffe.
There you have it – how to connect an A6M with a 109!
how about that – as usual comments are encouraged, and corrective info received with thanks
