The Coolest Tora Tora Zero

[warbird1]

Bob Diemert?

Speaking of the mechanical Mastermind, What ever happened to the the Zero and Val he used to have? I know he tore the crap out of the Zero, and he had other components of another or couple of Zero's.
Also is this Mechanical Mastermind....................... still alive?

The Val is with the Planes of Fame in Chino, it has been undergoing a very long term restoration.

As far as the Zero's, they have been scattered - one ended up at the Navy Museum in Pensacola, one ended up with Odegaard and the Beck estate in North Dakota, and one is at the Pearl Harbor Museum at Ford Island.

[warbird1]

It certainly looks the part, but what is it that makes this Tora Zero so special?

Attention to detail. It's more realistic than the "traditional" Tora Zero replicas.

[Steve Nelson]

Well, I if we're being nit-picky about realism, those cowl guns stick out way too far..the muzzles should barely be visible. The green is too olive for Japanese Navy Green, and the white border on the Hinomaru is too narrow..regs specified the it to be 75mm wide no matter what the size of the "meatball."

Still a cool looking bird, though!

SN

[steve dickey]

"Also is this Mechanical Mastermind....................... still alive?"


I thought I remembered Zane encountered him not too long ago in the DFW area , or somewhere in Texas

Zane

[Jack Cook]

but what is it that makes this Tora Zero so special?

No big decal

[Steve Nelson]

Oh no you di-unt!

SN

[gary1954]

yugo Steve, that was good

[warbird1]

but what is it that makes this Tora Zero so special?

No big decal

At least the wing spars weren't cut despite the fact that it was the first Zero to fly 25 bombing missions over Pearl Harbor - or something like that.

If it crashes into the water, Taras can recover it and they can put it in Pensacola after the Zebra mussels attack it for the next 30 or so years.

Oh, and while we're at it, why don't we just throw away some of the surplus material so no one else can use it for future restorations.

I think I covered all the bases - any more?

Oh, yea, invasion stripes - gotta have 'um, as well as a non PC nude female on the nose.

[Jack Cook]

I think I covered all the bases - any more?

Weren't they powder blue on top with yellow nose

[Oscar Duck]

for the paint police. i don't think the field repaints/touch-ups etc always followed the script.

steve - what colour is olive drab???

[MattP38]

Out of curiosity, how many Tora aircraft have there been over the years?

[Jerry O'Neill]

I think there were only 36 Tora aircraft built for the film (Vals, Kates & Zeroes). Some people have created there own versions, and some of the Tora bird's have been lost.
Jerry

[MattP38]

I think there were only 36 Tora aircraft built for the film (Vals, Kates & Zeroes). Some people have created their own versions, and some of the Tora bird's have been lost.
Jerry

Thank you, Jerry. I often see a "Val" and "Kate" replica at air shows in the Tri State area. I am not sure if they belong to the group or if they are as you mentioned other people's versions. I haven't been able to see the Tora group yet, but I will catch them. I hope the website is updated soon, it would be neat to have member and aircraft info and histories.

[Steve Nelson]

I think I covered all the bases - any more?

Don't forget to add a big sharkmouth!

SN

[MattP38]

The Val is with the Planes of Fame in Chino, it has been undergoing a very long term restoration.

That's "wreckstoration." Once the P-59 flies it may move to the front of the queue.

Is that a replica or a genuine Val? It definitely needs some TLC, I'm game to help but far away.