A6M3-3A Zero Fighter, Maj. Saburo Shindo

[jkim]

No primer necessary, especially as a base coat for chipping. But as with most metal finishes, it does look best when sprayed over a black base.

[KennyX]

Ah, okay, thank you John, I have made careful note of that! Since this project will only be chipped, I won’t be black basing it. But when the time comes to build a bare metal subject or a subject with a lot of bare metal showing, I will remember that.

I’ve found the Natural World component for this project! The little, green hummingbird! That’s what this aircraft reminds me of! Stature, quickness, maneuverability, the aesthetics, the colors, the light airframe it’s got it all!

[LyleW]

Ahh, one with nature. Love to watch humming birds.

[KennyX]

I do too, Lyle. They’re such interesting birds. I like they way they fly. This summer I’ll be setting up feeders in my yard, see if I can attract them.

And speaking of being at one with nature, I went out fly fishing today. They stocked a pond I frequent with rainbow trout. It was dead out there all day except for ten glorious minutes when I caught five of them, one right after the other-

[jkim]

Awesome! Love the trout photos... makes me want to wet a line myself. Have you ever read The Road by Cormac McCarthy. The last paragraph in that book is one of my favorite quotes.

Once there were brook trouts in the streams in the mountains. You could see them standing in the amber current where the white edges of their fins wimpled softly in the flow. They smelled of moss in your hand. Polished and muscular and torsional. On their backs were vermiculate patterns that were maps of the world in its becoming. Maps and mazes. Of a thing which could not be put back. Not be made right again. In the deep glens where they lived all things were older than man and they hummed of mystery.

The trout in your hand made me think of that quote.

[KennyX]

John,

I tied and casted the metaphorical fly of that post when I wrote it in part to entice you to bite! And lo-and-behold, you did! Because you’re an angler like me. And Nosir, I haven’t read that boom but I will based on the strength of that quote and your recommendation. And thank you for taking the time to look in, comment on my photos, and share that quote, I appreciate it. I haven’t fished in a long time. Too long. It felt good to get back out there and fish. Something about it just makes me a whole person again. I know you understand.

[jkim]

You caught me, dude... Totally! I have not fished since... October of last year??? Too long! My fishing season should be starting pretty soon. Mr. Batson from Rainshadow rods was gracious enough to send me some free blanks for some of pics I've taken of young Nicky, who is on the pro staff with Rainshadow. Nicky told me he's finished wrapping one them and is working on the other.





Did you know that Hayao Miyazaki made an anime film about the life of Jiro Horikoshi, the real life designer of the Zero-sen fighter? It's more of a love story than a nuts-n-bolts biography but the legendary fighter makes an entrance at the end of the flick, which I thought was cool. Miyazaki is a known liberal in Japan and said that he had no wish to glorify war in any of his films.

[KennyX]

John,

Nicky has had some amazing catches in these photos! Absolutely fantastic! Man. I imagine being on the pro staff of a great rod company, that’s like, my dream. You have no idea... if Moonshine Rod Co. would give me a job, pay me what the bank does... shoot. I’d die immediately, probably. And go to heaven and realize I was already there.

As to the anime, nope, I didn’t know that. But you bet I’ll wRch it! Thank you!! I’ll
Enjoy it. Despite my prickly-looking exterior, I love a good love story. And I like anime.

[jkim]

Sorry to overload you with movie references but you may also be interested in a Japanese movie called Eternal Zero that was released a few years ago. I didn't think it was a very good film but the action sequences (all CGI) were ok.

https://youtu.be/123ihd2TcFQ

[Stikpusher]

My son bought me that movie a few years back. It was ok. Between that one and “The Admiral”, the Battle of Midway sequences show what a movie on that subject made with current effects can be.