Tom, your Jack is done so well! I'm not that familiar with tissue but can see where the grain direction can cause differing results. I'm glad you mentioned that so I can avoid similar circumstances. Did you pre shrink? Are you using domestic tissue if so what brand? Still going with the yellow orange nose and wing/vertical stab? Or can I convince you to do the lightning bolts
Either way, with you "at the stick" i know this will be true eye candy! Cheering you on,

Neoflight

In my hurry to take some pics I tacked on the vertical stab backwards and shot 4 shot before I realized it just didn't look right!!!   It was just gluestick tacked on so easy to redo and reshoot.  Here's the pics...
I still need to do the wing fairings and this will involve the lower leading edge of the wing at the fuselage, so no tissue there yet.  I only poked my finger through the tissue in two places and knocked the pilot out of the cockpit about 3 times before I left him out till the tissue was mostly completed.  I used green and grey Easy Built tissue.  I've had pretty good luck with this tissue and it comes in many more colors.

Tapping my foot in anticipation. This is gonna be good
Can't wait!!

Neoflight

I enjoyed his autobiography years ago.  I thought it interesting that the number of planes shot down was low by Japanese accounting and his personal account was around 64 aircraft shot down.  But then their whole way of accounting for downed aircraft was by the group/shutai (I believe) they didn't  go by personal count but rather to build the teamwork concept.  He was wounded and lost one eye, towards the end of the war and spent a long time back in the hospital in Tokyo.  But the war was going against Japan and he was brought back and flew with one eye at the end of the war!  If you haven't read his bio I would encourage you to read it.  There are several articles on the net as well.  One account tells how he and two of his fellow pilots went back to the airfield they had just bombed with 500 pounders rigged under their Zeros and they all flew loops over the airfield.  Their commander got a letter dropped by a B-25 later that day or the next telling of the escapades and invited them back, where a warmer welcome would be waiting for them, was promised!...
It's interesting to read from the personal perspectives of all the various pilots from all sides.  History is always stranger than fiction!
Here's a brief account of Sakai: Click Here
I had thought because it was a land based aircraft it wasn't Navy...oops...Wikipedia said-The Mitsubishi J2M Raiden (雷電, "Thunderbolt") is a single-engined land-based fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service in World War II. The Allied reporting name was "Jack".
Tom

That's looking wonderful Tom Your craftsmanship really shows in this model. I love the addition of Saburo Sakai. I know he was involved with the last IJNAF raid on B32  and B29s. I'd have to look in my copy of Samurai by Martin Caiden but something haunts my mind in thinking he did have a sortie in the Jack. The J2M2 was indeed primarily a Japanese Navy plane.

It appears Mr.Sakai approves of your fine work!

Tom, the Raden looks good, but the pilot is great.

Bob

What do mean, nothing to shout about. You have run through this build really fast plus you've done my least favorite part. SANDING.

She is looking fine.

Bob

That's looking great Tom. Wish I were as speedy as  you. Thanks for the explanation on building the fuse alignment jig. Seems like every time I think I'm comfortable with balsa I learn of some new nuance. Such a fickle, I should better say intriguing, lady she is.

Neo