Blackbird Sims Mitsubishi A6M5 Released

Here is the latest work-in-progress report on my repaint of N3852. Still at least a couple dozen items to add and address (most visibly, the tail code and numerous stencils being two of those items), but it's getting close, I think. Don't mind the green paint missing from the port-side navigation light fairing, as that has been fixed. I look forward to getting the white/red tail code added, which will add balance to the scheme.

I won't bombard this thread with any more screenshots/progress reports after this one, but I spent some time today re-doing most all of the colors, which I think are a much more accurate match to the real thing now, and I would love to know if others here agree. I've also removed a good amount of the "streakiness" I had added to the dark green stripes, which I think looks better now too. As can be seen, the tail and cowl numbers are now added as well. I should be able to get really close to a release candidate by the start of next week, with just a ton of small detail items remaining to be done (such as red indicator lines to be painted on each dzus fastener, and jig markings that were applied to the fuselage and along the leading edges of the wings, amongst all of the other stenciling).

When they painted this restored/rebuilt Zero, they did it in a manner that would reflect the same layered process that would have taken place during WWII. First, the entire aircraft was painted as it came from the Mitsubishi factory, including all stencils. They also painted the very neat and precise U1-161 on the tail in the original unit style, at this stage. Then, they applied the dark green "tiger stripes", as they've been referred to, right over the stencils and tail numbers. As per original, they then hand-painted, in more loose form, the '161' on the tail, over the top of the dark green stripes and the original very neat '161' below.

Incredible work, John! After each of your repaints I think it cant't get any better, but you always raise the bar. I know how much work goes into creating such a complex pattern. I'm really looking forward to this one

Thank you, Tim!

The repaint is now available at Flightsim.to, for anyone interested in giving it a go: https://flightsim.to/file/97447/a6m3-model-22-zero-u1-161-n3852

Awesome work! I can't wait to fly it

I posted this over on the official MS forums, to try to answer some questions pertaining to the A6M5 power settings and how to understand/read the manifold pressure gauge, and I thought I would post it here as well if it might benefit anyone.

The standard power settings for the Nakajima Sakae 31 engine are:

Takeoff: +25 cm MP / 2750 RPM
Max Continuous: +22 cm MP / 2500 RPM
Max Cruise: 0 cm MP / 2400 RPM
Normal Cruise: -12 cm MP / 2100 RPM
Economy Cruise: -30 cm MP / 2000 RPM
(war emergency power would boost the engine to +35 cm MP)

On the manifold pressure gauge, 0 cm was equal to the Japanese standard atmospheric pressure of 750 mm Hg (29.5 inches Hg). All of the power that the engine makes above this number, as with any engine, is of course only possible because of the supercharger “boosting” the engine, for which the gauge shows that range in red. Max power of +25 cm MP would therefore be 750 mm + 250 mm, equaling 1,000 mm HG, or 39.37 in HG if read on an American gauge. Normal cruise of -12 cm (750 mm - 120 mm) would be 630 mm HG, or 24.8 in HG.

The Sakae engines were quite unique in being able to be run at very low cruise power settings, with very low fuel burn - the economy cruise setting of -30 MP equates to just 17.71 in HG. However, in reality, an A6M5 would only fly at 143 KIAS at 1,500 ft using -30 cm MP/2000 RPM, and only 130 KIAS at 15,000 ft, using that same power setting. I’ve noticed the Blackbird A6M5 doesn’t slow down near that much at that low power setting. However, it does fly at quite accurate speeds at normal and max cruise settings. According to the info I have, the A6M5 should cruise at 183 KIAS at 1,500 ft with the power set at -12 cm MP/2100 RPM, and 167 KIAS at 15,000 ft, using the same power settings. It should cruise at 203 KIAS at 1,500 FT with the power set at 0 cm MP/2400 RPM, and 189 KIAS at 15,000 ft, using the same power settings.