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Post by davidd on May 20, 2013 12:17:47 GMT 12
The fellow in the above photograph is almost certainly the RAAF pilot (Flight Lieutenant) who ferried Kofoed and an engineer officer in to Kara in a Wirraway to inspect the Zeke just prior to Kofoed flying it north to Piva North. This is an RNZAF official photograph.
David D
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Post by agalbraith on May 20, 2013 21:18:52 GMT 12
The original green/black unpainted areas are really interesting. I was always not entirely convinced they were unpainted (well the fuse not engine cowl) The engine cowl understandably was unpainted and is obvious from close analysis of photos, but the fuse behind it seemed to be the same tone and appears to be brush strokes in the paint which I thought showed black over the white.
Last week I was at Wigram looking at Auster stuff when I took a look at their Zero files. There were some great pics there of her I had never seen before and some lovely crystal clear official ones of the cockpit area. There I had to let go of my long held belief in it being all black (which isn't always easy to do) which I had not voiced it because I could not conclusively prove it to be so. What I saw was definitely 2 differing tones of paint, but what was most interesting (and the reason I thought it was overpainted black) was that area appeared to have been painted white and then wiped clean/off with a (petrol soaked?) rag. Leaving white paint in around the rivets, panel lines and framing etc and smear marks.
Well you learn something new every day and let me tell you it is difficult to look at something after a long held belief and say 'I was wrong' and research proved me so.....
Just got to find out about where the hook was now......
In case you were wondering I have a 32nd Tamiya Zero cross kitted to make a A6M3 model 22.....bitsa and am getting close to paint.
Cheers
Anthony
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Post by davidd on Jun 1, 2013 13:32:14 GMT 12
Something not mentioned by anybody so far as I know is that the NZ Zeke was at some time painted in a really weird scheme of a bright medium blue on all upper surfaces (so far as I could tell). Traces of this were quite noticeable all over it in hidden corners when I studied it with Peter Lewis. However this was prior to its latest colour scheme which must date from the late 1990s. I have a feeling that this bright blue scheme must date from prior to the 1958 scheme it wore at Ohakea for the RNZAF's 21st Birthday. Perhaps somebody painted it that colour but was overuled by somebody else who said he didn't think Japanese aircraft ever had such colours (and was probably quite right!) I know that it was S/L ? John Rees (engineer officer) who was in charge of the repair and repaint job for the 1958 display, but unfortunatelky he is long gone - wonder if the actual painter is still around to confirm or refute my theory?
David D
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Post by davidd on Jun 1, 2013 13:35:02 GMT 12
Anthony,
Like Flyernzl, I have no recollection of this aircraft ever having a hook, but it is likely that the slot was simply left open. However it should not be too difficult for some kind person in Auckland to check this one out.
David D
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Post by pjw4118 on Jul 17, 2013 17:09:29 GMT 12
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Post by Peter Lewis on Jul 17, 2013 19:14:54 GMT 12
Top 4 photos at Piva.
Last photo, at Hobsonville or Ohakea.
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Post by davidd on Jul 19, 2013 20:54:39 GMT 12
Of the five (all official RNZAF) photographs, the second shows Air Commodore G N (Geoff) Roberts trying out the Zeke for size; the fourth photo shows A/C Roberts as well as Wing Commander Kofoed.
David D
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Post by agalbraith on Jul 19, 2013 21:54:32 GMT 12
Great photo's and info guys. If anyone is interested is some really nice pics. Matthew O'Sullivan sent me a pile of Hi-res scans of the zero I had never seen before, but I don't know if I am supposed to post them here....Dave D might know?
Anyway, that is a great idea.....if there is anyone in the Auckland area that can see or get access to the Zero I would dearly love to know what is going on in the area where the hook would have been/or not. Any pics would be greatly appreciated
Cheers
Anthony
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Post by angelsonefive on Aug 7, 2013 10:20:35 GMT 12
Something not mentioned by anybody so far as I know is that the NZ Zeke was at some time painted in a really weird scheme of a bright medium blue on all upper surfaces (so far as I could tell). Traces of this were quite noticeable all over it in hidden corners when I studied it with Peter Lewis. However this was prior ti ots latest colour scheme which must date from the late 1990s. I have a feeling that this bright blue scheme must date from prior to the 1958 scheme it wore at Ohakea for the RNZAF's 21st Birthday. Perhaps somebody painted it that colour but was overuled by somebody else who said he didn't think Japanese aircraft ever had such colours (and was probably quite right!) I know that it was S/L ? John Rees (engineer officer) who was in charge of the repair and repaint job for the 1958 display, but unfortunatelky he is long gone - wonder if the actual painter is still around to confirm or refute my theory? David D[/quote I remember seeing the Zero at Ohakea during the RNZAF 21st Birthday Air Show. It is getting to be a long time ago but I have a distinct recollection that the plane was painted on the upper surfaces in a two-tone scheme of bright blue and light blue. Undersides light grey, I think. As mentioned earlier the Zero was mounted on a stand, in a diving attitude if I recall correctly. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 7, 2013 10:33:23 GMT 12
There were actual reports by some RNZAF pilots of seeing blue Japanese fighters. We have discussed that before. Might not be the same blue though. I think I have seen a photo of that blue/green scheme you refer to somewhere, it was like a PRU blue shade wasn't it?
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Post by angelsonefive on Aug 7, 2013 16:45:38 GMT 12
Re. my post at 1:32 pm ...
Further reflection, aided by a couple of glasses of Merlot, leads me to think that the upper colours may well have been bright blue and white.
I took a photo with a little box camera I had, but both the camera and photo are long gone. It would probably not have helped much anyway as the film was B&W.
Dave, I am not sure if your question is addressed to me...
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 7, 2013 17:50:21 GMT 12
It was just a general question, not to anyone specifically.
The odd colours were probably applied by a No. 1TTS Aircraft Finishers course. I recall that ex-S&S worker Bill Fitzharding-Jones told me in the 1950's a lot of aircraft paint became very scarce in NZ. He had to use housepaint for the rondels when he painted the Mustangs. Perhaps the 1TTS courses were using whatever colour they had spare and not needed to train the painters with. I seem to recall the Seafire and other types at that time also got some unusual paint schemes from 1TTS trainees.
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Post by nuuumannn on Aug 7, 2013 20:48:22 GMT 12
I don't know if these will be of any assistance to the colour conundrum as I don't know if this was painted by the RNZAF or the museum, but they were taken at the museum years ago now.   |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Aug 7, 2013 20:52:35 GMT 12
That is how I was remembering it. Thanks.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 31, 2018 13:43:42 GMT 12
This comes from the Evening Post, 24 October 1945 "The first Japanese aircraft seen at close quarters in New Zealand, a Zeke fighter, unloaded from the Wahine when she arrived at Auckland last week with a draft of airmen from the Pacific. It was flown in the Pacific by Wing Commander W. R. Koefoed, of Outram, Otago."  |
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Post by tbf25o4 on Jan 31, 2018 16:28:09 GMT 12
I think you will find that the Zero was repainted by the RNZAF when it went on display at Ohakea (21st?) before it was transferred to the Auckland Museum.
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