Mikey-1980

Most impressive so far...I really love the rig you have that the Canberra is sat upon too

For my next build the subject is Tamiya's Mitsubishi A6M2 (zeke) designed by one of the great aviation engineers Jiro Horikoshi. Jiro Horikoshi was born near the city of Fujioka, Gunma Prefecture, Japan, in 1903. Horikoshi graduated from the newly established Aviation Laboratory (Kōkū Kenkyūjo) within the Engineering Department of the University of Tokyo,[1] and started his career in Mitsubishi Internal Combustion Engine Company Limited, which later became Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Nagoya Aircraft Manufacturing Plant. Jiro Horikoshi's first work was the flawed Mitsubishi 1MF10, an experimental aircraft that never passed the prototype stage after some flight tests. However, lessons learned from this design led to the development of the far more successful Mitsubishi A5M (Allied codename "Claude") which entered mass production in 1936. In 1937, Horikoshi and his team at Mitsubishi were asked to design Prototype 12 (corresponding to the 12th year of the Shōwa era). Prototype 12 was completed in July 1940, and it was accepted by the Imperial Japanese Navy. Since 1940 was the Japanese year 2600, the new fighter was named as "Model 00" or "Zero" or A6M Zero, in Japan also known as the "Rei-sen" (literally meaning "zero fight", shortened for Model zero fighter airplane). Subsequently, he was involved with designing many other fighters manufactured by Mitsubishi, including the Mitsubishi J2M Raiden (Thunderbolt) and the Mitsubishi A7M Reppu (Strong Gale). Despite Mitsubishi's close ties to the Japanese military establishment and his direct participation in the nation's buildup towards the Second World War, Horikoshi was strongly opposed to what he regarded as a futile war. Excerpts from his personal diary during the final year of the war were published in 1956 and made his position clear: When we awoke on the morning of December 8, 1941, we found ourselves — without any foreknowledge — to be embroiled in war... Since then, the majority of us who had truly understood the awesome industrial strength of the United States never really believed that Japan would win this war. We were convinced that surely our government had in mind some diplomatic measures which would bring the conflict to a halt before the situation became catastrophic for Japan. But now, bereft of any strong government move to seek a diplomatic way out, we are being driven to doom. Japan is being destroyed. I cannot do [anything] other but to blame the military hierarchy and the blind politicians in power for dragging Japan into this hellish cauldron of defeat.[2]:401–2 After the war, Horikoshi participated in the design of the YS-11 with Hidemasa Kimura. He subsequently left Mitsubishi and taught at educational and research institutions. From 1963 to 1965, he was a lecturer at the University of Tokyo's Institute of Space and Aeronautics, and was subsequently a professor at the National Defense Academy from 1965 to 1969. Between 1972 and 1973, he was a professor of the Faculty of Engineering of Nihon University. In 1956, Horikoshi collaborated on a book about the Zero with Okumiya Masatake, a general in the JASDF and a former Imperial Navy commander who had led Zero fighter squadrons during the war. The book was published in the US in 1956 as Zero: The Story of Japan's Air War in the Pacific.[2] In semi-retirement by the early 1970s, he served as an advisor to the society of Japanese aircraft constructors, and continued to receive letters from aircraft enthusiasts around the world. On a trip to New York, he travelled to Long Island and stayed in the Garden City Hotel, where Charles Lindbergh had spent the night before his solo trans-Atlantic flight in 1927.[3] In the 1973 autumn honours list, Horikoshi was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Third Class, for his achievements. His memoir regarding the development of the Zero was published in Japan in 1970, and was translated by the University of Washington Press as Eagles of Mitsubishi: The Story of the Zero Fighter, which was published in English in 1981. Horikoshi died of pneumonia in a Tokyo hospital on 11 January 1982, aged 78.[4] His obituary was covered in several major newspapers around the world.[5] He was posthumously promoted to the fourth rank in the order of precedence. He was survived by five children, none of whom pursued a career in aircraft design or engineering.[3] credit - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiro_Horikoshi I started this build some time ago but stopped due to life and things getting in the way, so now I thought was the right time to pick this back up. I'll be using this as a self education build for paint chipping, photo etch parts etc. So it could either be a complete shambles or turn out OK? I have decided to go with the Naval variant, mainly because I already have the paint in the stash, DSC_2087 I also bought some extra detailing parts that Tamiya provided, such as the seat belt, chocs, cannons, pitot tube etc...seems straight forward to use, but never done this before. DSC_2088 DSC_2089 A very nice clean decal sheet too. DSC_2090 This was pretty much the sum of what I had managed to do previously, with all intentions to do more last night, but yet again other things required my attention...smeg!! DSC_2091 Thoughts, comments and tips for this build are, as always most welcomed.

Strapped in and on board!! What a huge kit!! Looking forward to seeing your work here!

Absolutely fantastic build, really love the display and the finish for the paint you've achieved. Still want an SR-71 for the stash

Thank you very much gents....It was a really nice aircraft to build and certainly a learning point on the 109 itself. The Zeke will be another experimental build for new techniques to learn such as paint chipping I think?

As a bit of break from RAF Cold War aircraft and commission builds, I had this fantastic kit given to me as a Christmas present. Airfix's new mold of their Messerschmitt Bf-109E-4 - full build log can be found here - I wasn't sure which colour scheme I would go with, but eventually decided on the scheme provided for Luftwaffe Oberleutenant Franz von Werra, who is also the subject for the box artwork too. Franz Xaver Baron von Werra (13 July 1914 – 25 October 1941) was a German World War II fighter pilot and flying ace who was shot down over Britain and captured. He is generally regarded as the only Axis prisoner of war to succeed in escaping from Canadian custody and return to Germany, although a U-Boat seaman, Walter Kurt Reich, is also said to have escaped by jumping from a Polish troopship into the St. Lawrence River in July 1940.[1][2] Werra managed to return to Germany via the US, Mexico, South America, and Spain, finally reaching Germany on 18 April 1941.[3] Oberleutnant von Werra was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 December 1940. His story was told in the book The One That Got Away by Kendall Burt and James Leasor, which was made into a film of the same name, starring Hardy Kruger. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_von_Werra The man him self von Werra's shot downover Winchet Hill, Kent 109, September 5th 1940 - von Werra with his pet lion - as you do...... So one to my representation of von Werra's 109E-4........I'll admit the stance is a little off, and no where near the level of some the 109E-4's built on here, but its passable. DSC_2083 DSC_2084 The antenna is MiG's rigging at 0.01mm...I think it too fine and maybe replace it with the slightly thicker 0.03mm instead. DSC_2085 As I mentioned, I think the stance is a little too high and not as squat as it should be. DSC_2086 A little light weathering for dirt and exhaust and it's done I think? ..........Next time on the Hero of Cantons build log.......... I started this a few years back as a kind of tribute to the engineer who designed the Zero, Jiro Horikoshi. A brilliant engineer who only wanted to follow his dream of flight. I would highly recommend watching the Studio Ghibli movie - The Wind Rises, which is based on his life. DSC_2087

Calling this one done...........take a look over at the completes models thread for further pics :)

Looking Great!!! Glad to see you've not encountered the same paint issue with the PR.9.

Cheers @Valkyrie I want to get this one done and move onto an A6M Zero ASAP

*Bump..... This is still in progress and is sat on my workbend awaiting topcoat and then minor weathering....however priorities of finishing of home decor and getting the back yard sorted for Braai season has taken over..... Normal service to resume ASAP.....

Looking great so far! and looks like some hefty sanding needed....but i have no doubt you'll have the bird looking resplendent!

How did i miss this build?? Cracking result!

Outstanding!! If this is your first attempt?

Stunning build and a great tribute

Just stumbled across this footage from last Friday This looks like the footage from the very missions you were on about?