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6.1 Right Folding
Wingtip.
- detail from the Blayd Zero. The
unpainted parts are made of steel and were
painted black on the original aircraft. The
release handle (A) has a wooden grip riveted to
its interior side. The navigation light lead
should actually enter the wing at B. The square
hole at C was instead used to accommodate an L
shaped bar which was slid into this aperture in
order to protect the outer end of the aileron
when the wingtip was raised (see Shigeru Nohara,
Illustrated Zero Fighter, p. 111). D is the
inspection plate cover seen in 8.8.
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6.1.1 Left Wingtip
Light Wire.
- original path of the wingtip light
wire.
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6.2 Folding Wingtip
Lock Indicator.
- indicator remains protruding
3/4" until wingtip is locked in down
position.
- painted with exterior paint color.
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6.3 Aileron
- illustration of the inner end of
the right aileron
- lightening holes are, from back to
front, 3/8", 5/8", 1 1/4" and 1
1/2" in size
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6.4 Wing Tiedown.
- the steel tiedown is spring loaded
and released by a round button immediately to the
rear of the tiedown itself. The part is steel and
painted black except for the lower face.
- the tiedown is attached to the
back of the front spar on the outer side of the
14th rib and protrudes 1 1/2" when extended.
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6.5 Fuel Tank Cooling
Vent.
- operated from the cockpit, this
vent was presumably opened while the aircraft was
on the ground to aid in cooling the gasoline in
the wing tanks. See 8.4 for location.
- the vent is 7" x 2 1/4"
in size.
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6.6 Right Flap
Interior Skin
- sub-assembly data plate s/n 678,
manufactured 1 August 42, was attached at A
- the maker was Nikken , a known
subcontractor to the Mitsubishi company. A flap
made by Nikken with s/n 545, completed on 9 May
42, was on A6M3 No. 3032, captured at Buna in
December 42. Since flap s/n 678 was completed on
1 August 42, the math would indicate that Nikken
produced about 134 flaps or flap sets in four
months. Flap s/n 678 probably came from A6M3 s/n
3285, since that A6M3 was completed in November
42
- interior - aotake (overpainted by
Diemert)
- exterior - FS6350
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6.7 Vertical Fin Antenna Mount
- tail radio antenna attachment (A),
hole goes through to other side. A thin bungee
cord is looped through this hole with the two
ends of the cord attached to an insulator at the
end of the radio antenna
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6.8 Cockpit Air Vent
Intake.
- intake has an interior cover
operated from the cockpit.
- the cover, shown half open, is
raised or lowered from the bottom side of the
intake.
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