For visitors to my website, this “Build of the Month” (BOTM) Series is meant to help those who are trying to get started in building their own Radio Controlled (RC) Model Aircraft.

 If you are currently not an active builder, and you want to be, this webpage would be a great place to start.

 If you have an RC model aircraft that you would like to see featured in this section or feel others may find interesting, please let me know and I will make every attempt to find scratch build plans, photos, and maybe even a published build article, which I will then post in a future BOTM edition. Just send me an email @: Build of the Month.

All prior BOTM Editions are now available for you viewing pleasure @: Build of the Month Series Archive.

NOTE - You can view all images in a “Spotlight Box” by simply clicking on any image.

Build of the Month WW-II Mini-Series - December 2024 Edition

 I hope you enjoyed last months BOTM WW-II Mini-Series 2nd Edition on the Bell P-39 Airacobra model. If you have an RC model that you would like to see featured in this section or feel others may find interesting, please let me know and I will make every attempt to find scratch build plans, photos, and maybe even a published build article, which will then post in a future edition. Just send me an email @: Build of the Month.

 Ok, now lets see what I have for the month of December 2024. Continuing with the “BOTM WW-II Mini-Series,” for the 3rd Edition we will move from the European Theater to the Pacific Theater. How about a fighter that was instrumental in bringing the United States into WW-II. So given these requirements, this 3rd Edition of my BOTM WW-II Mini-Series features the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, a fighter manufactured by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company.

     

 The Mitsubishi A6M Zero might have played a more significant role than any other fighter in a single sortie during WW-II. This snub-nosed compact carrier-based plane was named the “Zero” after year zero in honor of Japan's first emperor's ascension to power 2,600 years before its launch. This outlines the long Japanese tradition as a nation skilled in combat and weaponry.

 The Zero was incredibly nimble, well-equipped, and lightweight, with its designer Jiro Horikoshi using aluminum and plywood instead of steel as a weight-saving measure. A zinc-aluminum alloy was specially concocted for more stressed components, making this a meticulously designed plane, delivered in a timely manner by 1940, having gone into production in 1937. Its 14-cylinder 1,130 horsepower engine propelled it to a top speed of 350 miles per hour, and its armament consisted of two 7.7-millimeter machine guns and two 20-millimeter cannons, with its two notorious 132-pound bombs beneath each wing.

 The Mitsubishi Zero will forever be remembered as the plane that was instrumental in bringing the United States into WW-II. On December 7th, 1941, under the attack signal, “Tora! Tora! Tora!” the Japanese launched their assault on Pearl Harbor, with the fleet of Zeros raining mayhem from above, strafing the docks with gunfire and devastating the U.S. Navy fleet with bombs. They quickly gained a reputation among the deadliest aircraft as the United States immediately declared war on Japan. Just three days later, the U.S. was also at war with Germany.

 Also called “Reisen” or “Zeke”, the Mitsubishi A6M Zero served as a nasty shock to the Allied Forces. Being the primary naval fighter of the Imperial Japanese Navy, it was a legendary dogfighter with very long range and incredible maneuverability. It boasted of speed and impressive endurance. It was a formidable fighter with a kill ratio of 12 to 1. In the Pacific Theater, it could easily best its ground-based counterparts thus swiftly earning a legendary reputation. During WW-II, it became the Japanese aircraft with the most number built and produced. It wasn't just a symbol of their air superiority and power, it also paved the way for numerous innovations in naval aviation. Faced against the Grumman F4F Wildcat, Brewster F2A Buffalo, and the Curtiss P-40, it could out-maneuver them all. Yes, it was indeed a tough opponent – a very lethal fighter in dogfight. It also took part in various devastating attacks against the Allied forces.

 Toward the end of the Pacific War, the large numbers of Zero fighters in service and their high maneuverability made them ideal for suicide special attacks, more popularly known to westerners of the day as “kamikaze”. Out of the 2,363 Japanese Navy aircraft that participated in special attack missions, 1,189 of them were A6M Zero fighters.

 After the war, most surviving A6M Zero fighters were destroyed. A few of them were sent to the United States for testing. Many of them were abandoned across the various Pacific islands, rusting very quickly in jungle climates. Only about 13 were available for museum display today, such as the Zero fighter on display at Yushukan museum adjacent to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, Japan. Only a very small number are in flyable condition today.

     

  

 Images of the Mitsubishi A6M Zero model and plans were found online @: Outerzone Mitsubishi A6M Zero Webpage.

 RC MODEL CONSTRUCTION: The model featured this month was designed by Dave Platt and featured in Radio Control Modeler (RCM) Magazine May 1984. As we shall see, it turns out that just about all of the assets that the Zero possesses to make it a fine R/C model are the same inherent requirements that were demanded by the specification laid before the designers of the full sized ship. Before all else, it had to be light. This was to make sure it would be totally maneuverable and aerobatic; primary requisites for a dogfighter. These needs dictated a simple structure (and thus a straightforward outline), a large wing area coupled with a thick airfoil, and large control surfaces. In this last respect, the Zero's ailerons are perfect for a model: narrow chord (avoiding tip-stalls from high deflection angles at the tip) but long in span, giving them a lot of area. The ideal layout for power with gentleness.

 In just one respect the Zero comes up short; literally short. The nose moment is not as long as we would choose. The danger here is coming up with a rather tail heavy airplane needing much nose weight to correct. And, by extension, an overall heavy model. When Platt was laying out his Zero, he decided to design all structure aft of the wing spar as lightly as possible; not merely the tail end. Conversely, the nose end was designed like a tank. It worked. The original prototype, with O.S. Max .90, weighed 14-1/2 lbs. and balanced right without nose weight. Scratch builders will need to keep weight in mind; not how much there is, but where it is.

 BUILDING: This section is not intended to be a step by step procedure for building but, rather, a brush across some of the highlights of the structural design. Certain parts were deemed necessary to make in fiberglass: the cowling, obviously; the gun hood because of its complex and subtle shaping; and the tail cone which again is a complicated shape and also needs to be hollow. The model is of conventional wood design. The fuselage can be skinned with large panels, or can be strip-planked. The latter method, though taking longer, produces a better, stronger result. In fact, with the CA glues we now use, the time taken to plank a body properly is little more than skinning, and only a fraction of what it used to be “pre-Zap.”

 The plans show the flaps, which can be installed if desired or left off. While the cosmetic effect achieved by including them is undeniable, their functional usefulness in slowing down the ship in landing approaches becomes somewhat moot, since the unwavering stability during approach and slow landing speed could scarcely be improved. The plans also include details of the square tipped “Hamp,” or A6M3. Apart from the square tips, if you choose the -3, the cowl gills are not cut away and the multi-exhaust stubs are left off. The addition of a streamlined fairing around the drop tank attachment, and different gun arrangement complete the conversion.

 The cutaway drawing shows the basic simplicity of structure. The Zero is a simple aircraft, and there was no call for sophisticated or complex design. Note that the entire cockpit bay area is left free of unwanted structure or radio components. This enables the builder to fit the available cockpit kit in place and have it look right. Along with the available Japanese feature pilot, an attractive cockpit area is achieved without special skills or experience.

 Whether for serious competition or relaxed fun, this is a flying machine par excellence. Credit for this, as explained, lies with the Mitsubishi design team. The only maneuver the Zero won't do well is a knife-edge. This could be due to the somewhat excessive dihedral. But all the rest, look out! Rolls --- regular, slow, four-point or vertical --- a snap. Loops, Cuban Eights, touch 'n go's. Lovely solid inverted. Spins, no problem, recovery in 1/4 turn. Inverted spins too. When did you see one of these from a true scale model WW-II fighter? Come to that, when did a WW-II fighter ever do one intentionally?

 The Mitsubishi A6M Zero RC model in this months edition can be built from a set of plans and article both from Outerzone which are available @: “Outerzone”

Outerzone Mitsubishi A6M Zero Webpage.

 I hope you have enjoyed this months selection, and just maybe, I have spurred some interest in trying your hand at building an RC model airplane.

Until next month - Keep the Balsa Dust Flying!!

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