MITSUBISHI F1M2 “PETE”

By: Sebastián Pedroza

History

The Mitsubishi F1M2 was a naval observation seaplane denominated Zero Kan (allied code “Pete”); conceived like a versatile biplane, it had unique qualities for that years. Was used in missions of recognition, interceptor, bomber, antisubmarine, rescue and coastguard. Of metallic construction, it had a Mitsubishi Zuisei 13 radial engine of 14 cylinders that granted him a speed of 370 km/h with an operational range of 445 km, with a ceiling of 9440 m. Its maximum weight was of 2550 kg and had an armament of three 7.7mm machine guns and two 60 kg underwing bombs.
Their production begins in 1939 and finished in 1944, with a totally of 1.114 airplanes.

Paint scheme

The airplane did not present great variants, in its majority was painted in Japanese Navy Green (Humbrol Green N1) in its upper side and Gray (Humbrol 27) in its inferior side. Although a few was painted in their totality in Gray (Humbrol 27) or Orange (Humbrol 82).

The Model Kit

There is a vacuform kit  of Wings brand (Kit Nr.7226), that appears in three plates with an exceptional definition, with his cabin made in acetate .

Sources

Famous Airplanes of the World (Imperial Japan Navy Seaplanes) Nr.47

Information of the Wings kit Nr.7226.

"Pete" 211-01 aboard the "Nagato" (August of 1944): The adopted scheme at the end of the war for the airplanes of the Japanese fleet was: in the upper surfaces Japanese Navy Green N1; in the under surfaces Light Gray N10; Yelllow-Orange N15 in the leading edges of both wings; identification numbers and deflection line for the artilleryman located in the tail, in White; the propeller and its spinner were silver with two narrow lines in it ends; the main floater (center) had a red band with red edges, like indicator of precaution for the propeller pitch. Interiors: habitually Bluish Green and in time to time gray, the instrument panel was black. Red Hinomarus with white edge in the upper wing and in the fuselage sides, in the lower wing it took Hinomarus without the white edge.

War beginning scheme (1939 – 1942) Integrally painted in Light Gray N10; with the propeller and its silver spinner with two thin lines in the tips of the shovels; with the tail code number in Yellow; red danger marks of the propeller pitch in the center floater; red Hinomarus without white edge in the six traditional locations.	Colours of the "Pete" of experimental training, principle of July of 1943 Intergrally painted in Orange N18; black propeller and spinner; red marks of danger of the propeller in the center floater; tail code in black; red Hhinomarus without white band in the six traditional positions.

Unit:	«Yamato»	«Musashi»	«Mutsu»	«Myoko»
Date:	July ´42 - August ´44	1943	February ´42 - June ´42	July ´42 - August ´44
Theater:	Pacific Ocean	Marshall Islands	Salomon Islands and Midway	Pacific Ocean
Code Color:	Yellow	Yellow	Yellow	Red with White border

Unit:	«Atago»	«Aoba»	«Nachi»	«Chitose»
Date:	1943	June 1944	1943	December 1941
Theater:	Guadalcanal	Pacifico Ocean	Japan	Philippines Islands
Code Color:	Red with White border	Yellow	Yellow	White

Unit	GNA 951	GNA Takurma	Kamikawa Maru	GNA Kashima
Date	August 1945	March '44 - August '45	December 1942	1945
Theater	Sasebo Base, Japan	Japan	Salomon Islands	Japan
Code Color	Yellow	White	White	White