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New A6M2 Model 21 packages part 1

Captain Kurt

Captain Kurt

Administrator
Staff member
I've added a few new A6M2 OH model packages to the Library with new camouflage textures, dp, new Allen Japanese bombs and unshined model. There really aren't many skin choices for the OH Zeros, so I decided to address that. They really are not bad models once they have a good coat of paint on them.

Credits:

Scott Johnson (The B24 Guy) for providing all us simmers with this unmirrored model.

Allen for the new Japanese bombs.
 
A6M2_ZERO Shokaku.zip

917014831678468162.jpg

A new entry has been added to Add-Ons Library, category CFS 2 Aircraft - Japanese

Description: A6M2 model 21 Zero - Shokaku Fighter Group I = 1st Carrier 'Shokaku" I = 1st Carrier Division. Southern Pacific operations, October 1942.

Overhauled A6M2 Zero with new camouflage textures, dp, and unshined model.

To check it out, rate it or add comments, visit A6M2_ZERO Shokaku.zip
The comments you make there will appear in the posts below.
 
A6M2_ZERO Tainan NAG.zip

989414831679954553.jpg

A new entry has been added to Add-Ons Library, category CFS 2 Aircraft - Japanese

Description: A6M2 model 21 Zero - Tainan NAG (Naval Air Group). Flown by NAP3/C Toshiaki Honda, Indonesia, February, 1942.

Overhauled A6M2 Zero with new camouflage textures, dp, and unshined model.

To check it out, rate it or add comments, visit A6M2_ZERO Tainan NAG.zip
The comments you make there will appear in the posts below.
 
Reply...

Kurt,

Thank you so much for these, you did an awesome job! :applause:
 
Perhaps I am 'rivet counting' but I am thinking that the Shokaku zero with the green topsides would not be showing yellow leading edges on the wing in 1942.
 
OW,

Ah but I love rivet count......... Umm, I mean accuracy. I only had a poor drawing of this plane to work from but since it was so generic I thought no problem. of course we know what assumptions are.

Do you know when did the yellow leading edges start to be applied to the Zeros? If you're sure it shouldn't have the yellow LE I will fix it ASAP.
 
re. Shokaku A6M2 type 21

CK,

A joint Navy/Army order was issued 5th October 1942. Most units seem to have taken until the turn of the year to implement this.

To add to your woes, there are a couple of widely circulated photos on the web captioned as showing Shokaku's "Type 0" fighters during the Battle of Santa Cruz. These suggest the air group was still comprised of grey-green A6M2s.

http://japanese-aviation.forumeiros.com/t15-47-santa-cruz-islands-battle-october-26-1942

Just change the date to some time in 1943 & it's all good...:encouragement:
 
UncleTgt said:
CK,

A joint Navy/Army order was issued 5th October 1942. Most units seem to have taken until the turn of the year to implement this.

To add to your woes, there are a couple of widely circulated photos on the web captioned as showing Shokaku's "Type 0" fighters during the Battle of Santa Cruz. These suggest the air group was still comprised of grey-green A6M2s.

http://japanese-aviation.forumeiros.com/t15-47-santa-cruz-islands-battle-october-26-1942

Just change the date to some time in 1943 & it's all good...:encouragement:
Click to expand...

Well, I think I need to withdraw this skin and redo it as something else.

After more research, it's beginning to look like the reference profile, or at least the identification may be spurious. Shokaku did change it's first letter tail code ID from E to I, but not until after the Battle of Santa Cruz. The problem is that Shokaku was badly damaged in the battle and had to return to Japan for repairs. During the period she was assigned the tail code II, she was in dry dock or making trial cruises in late March and April, 1943 after she got out of repairs. No idea if her air group was aboard at that time.

See below

IJNAF Aircraft ID markings

1) April 1941 - 14.7.1942
a) alphanumeric code
A
II
111
Carrier Division
large block letter in latin alphabet
Ship
Roman digits
three digit aircraft indetification
- 1st digit = aircraft type:
1 - fighting
2 - dive bomber
3 - horizontal bomber

- 2nd-3rd digit = individual aircraft number
b) additional tail color stripes identification

CarDiv1:
Akagi: AI, one red stripe
Kaga: AII, two red stripes
CarDiv2
Sorju: BI, one blue stripe
Hirju: BII, two blue stripes
CarDiv3
Hosho: CI
Zuiho: CII
CarDiv4
Rjudzo: DI, one yellow stripe
Shoho: DII, two yellow stripes
Taijo: DIII, three yellow stripes

Dzunjo: DII (after Shoho sinking in battle of Coral Sea)
CarDiv5
Shokaku: EI, one white stripe
Zuikaku: EII, two white stripes
2) 14.7.1942 - October 1942
alphanumeric codes and color stripes principally retained, after Midway loses changed ships assignment to Carrier Divisions:
CarDiv1:
Shokaku: EI, 1 white stripe
Zuikaku: EII, 2 white stripes
Zuiho: EIII, 3 white stripes
CarDiv2
Hijo: DI, 1 yellow stripe
Dzunjo: DII, 2 yellow stripes
Rjudzo: DIII, 3 yellow stripes
without assignment
without stripes
Unjo: CI
Taijo: CII
3) October 1942 - April 1943
alphanumeric codes retained, color stripes abolished
change only in CarDiv1: letter E replaced by I
changes was applied probably as much as after battle of Santa Cruz where CarDiv1 aircraft still have letter E
4) April 1943 - beginning of 1944
CarDiv1:
Shokaku: A1-1
Zuikaku: A1-2
Zuiho: A1-3
CarDiv2
Hijo: A2-1
Dzunjo: A2-2
Rjuho: A2-3
CarDiv3
Citose: A3-1
Cijoda: A3-2
5) beginning of 1944 - July 1944
reduced differences between IJN carrier and land based air units
for each CarDiv created one air group (kokutai) according to land based units
three digit code:
- 1st digit = aircraft type:
3 = carrier aircraft
- 2nd digit = CarDiv
- 3rd digit = Ship

retained system of individual aircraft numbers
CarDiv1 (601st kokutai):
Taiho: 311
Zuikaku: 312
Shokaku: 313
CarDiv2 (652nd kokutai)
Dzunjo: 321
Hijo: 322
Rjuho: 323
CarDiv3 (653rd kokutai)
Citose: 331
Cijoda: 332
Zuiho: 333

later aborted first digit 3 indicating carrier aircraft:
CarDiv1 (601st kokutai):
Taiho: 11
Shokaku: 12
Zuikaku: 13
CarDiv2 (652nd kokutai)
Dzunjo: 21
Hijo: 22
Rjuho: 23
CarDiv3 (653rd kokutai)
Zuiho: 31
Citose: 32
Cijoda: 33
6) after battle of Philippine Sea in June 1944
numerical code changed to kokutai number and individualní aircraft number, above this was ship serial number without regardless of CarDiv organisation:

CarDiv1:
Zuikaku:
1
653
CarDiv2: dissolved

CarDiv3:
Zuiho
2
653
Citose
3
653
Cijoda
4
653
CarDiv4:
Ise
634
Commanding officers aircraft was identified by rudder or fuselage color stripes. Usually was yellow, white or red. Carrier or land based designation not tu make any difference.
1 stripe
section commander - shotai (3-4 aircraft)
2 stripes
squadron commander - daitai (15-27 aircraft)
3 stripes
air group commander - hikotai (40-50 aircraft or every aircraft onboard carrier)
4 stripes
kokutai or campaign commander
 
So I have been able to verify that Shokaku did have her air group aboard on her post repair shakedown cruises. So the skin is at least plausible and I won't replace it, though the air group saw no combat during this period.

Thinking I would need to replace this skin, I got started on another Zero camouflage and got carried away. This resulted in 3 new skins. which I am posting.

1) A6M2 model 21 Zero - Hiyo Fighter Group. This aircraft was part of the group detached from the carrier to be based at Buin Airfield, Bouganville to support the "I" Operation on April 7, 1943.

2) A6M2 model 21 Zero - Zuikaku Fighter Group detached to operate from Rabaul, reinforcing the number of fighters based there. November, 1943.

3) A6M2 model 21 Zero Fighter Bomber - 323-247 was modifed to carry 2 drop tanks under the wings, freeing up the center section area to carry a 250 Kg bomb. It was part of the IJN Ryuho Fighter Bomber Group during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, June 19, 1944. The plane crash landed on Guam where its wreck was found by American troops.
 
A6M2_ZERO Ryuho.zip

524314834064866405.jpg

A new entry has been added to Add-Ons Library, category CFS 2 Aircraft - Japanese

Description: A6M2 model 21 Zero Fighter Bomber - 323-247 was modified to carry 2 drop tanks under the wings, freeing up the center section area to carry a 250 Kg bomb. It was part of the IJN Ryuho Fighter Bomber Group during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, June 19, 1944. The plane crash landed on Guam where its wreck was found by American troops.

Overhauled A6M2 Zero with new camouflage textures, dp, and unshined model.

To install just copy the unzipped file in the CFS2/AIRCRAFT folder.

Credits: Scott Johnson (The B24 Guy) for providing all us simmers with this unmirrored model.

Kelticheart for the prop textures.

Allen for the new Japanese bombs.

To check it out, rate it or add comments, visit A6M2_ZERO Ryuho.zip
The comments you make there will appear in the posts below.
 
A6M2_ZERO Hiyo.zip

121514834066613661.jpg

A new entry has been added to Add-Ons Library, category CFS 2 Aircraft - Japanese

Description: A6M2 model 21 Zero - Hiyo Fighter Group. This aircraft was part of the group detached from the carrier to be based at Buin Airfield, Bouganville to support the "I" Operation on April 7, 1943.

Overhauled A6M2 Zero with new camouflage textures, dp, and unshined model.

Credits: Scott Johnson (The B24 Guy) for providing all us simmers with this unmirrored model.

Kelticheart for the prop textures.

Allen for the new Japanese bombs.

To check it out, rate it or add comments, visit A6M2_ZERO Hiyo.zip
The comments you make there will appear in the posts below.
 
A6M2_ZERO Zuikaku.zip

418714834068247845.jpg

A new entry has been added to Add-Ons Library, category CFS 2 Aircraft - Japanese

Description: A6M2 model 21 Zero - Zuikaku Fighter Group detached to operate from Rabaul, reinforcing the number of fighters based there. November, 1943.

Overhauled A6M2 Zero with new camouflage textures, dp, and unshined model.

Credits: Scott Johnson (The B24 Guy) for providing all us simmers with this unmirrored model.

Kelticheart for the prop textures.

Allen for the new Japanese bombs.

To check it out, rate it or add comments, visit A6M2_ZERO Zuikaku.zip
The comments you make there will appear in the posts below.
 
I should note that these were all developed with the help of a Zero template done by eMel for Il-2. Credit where credit is due.
 
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