Tamiya A6M2b Zero (1:72)

[dr_gn]

Pre_shaded the IJN grey/green and gave it a coat of Klear ready for the decals:





It’s s pretty dull scheme, but I wanted a classic IJN Zero in my collection. I’ll save the elaborate camo for the Macchi 202.

[dr_gn]

CanAm said:

dr_gn said:

Most of the way through cleaning up the parts now, I’m hoping this one will take days rather than months!

Did we all really think this was going to be a just a quick build OOB?

It's OOB so far (more or less!). In terms of quick - total time so far isn't much, just spread over several weeks...

[dr_gn]

Decals on and sealed under a coat of Klear, ready for a wash. Needed a bit of corrective paintwork, but looks OK:

[dr_gn]

Decals on the u/c doors and propeller (and one I missed on the wing root):

[dr_gn]

Got most of the panel line wash done this evening - not as subtle as I’d like, but it’s tricky to get a mix that’s not too harsh on such a light colour. It’ll be ok though I think.

[dr_gn]

among the last things to do were making a pitot tube from brass, brake wires from lead wire, aerial from elastic thread, and painting the wing lights:





Also needed to re-scribe some lost panel lines on the fuel tank:



So after assembling that lot and some final tweaking of the weathering, it’s finished:



I’ll have to take some better pictures next time the weather is right. It’s an odd one - the kit itself is pretty much flawless, but the light colour scheme messed up my rather formulaic finishing process; the panel lines are a bit too contrasty for me to be completely happy with it, and the very fine canopy framing paintwork is a bit flaky. Still, it’s been a very enjoyable build.

[robemcdonald]

It looks great. The light scheme makes a nice change.

[Toma500]

Looks fantastic did the Zero have a mainly white colour scheme in Ww2 as well ?

[dr_gn]

Toma500 said:

Looks fantastic did the Zero have a mainly white colour scheme in Ww2 as well ?

Thanks. I don’t think there was ever a white version. Some older models (eg Matchbox) showed a white scheme, and they have been shown as white in various films, but I don’t think it’s accurate.

[dr_gn]

Here are some better pictures.

Mitsubishi A6M 2b "Zero", Lt. Masao Sato, Imperial Japanese Navy, Aircraft Carrier "Zuikaku", 6th December 1941.






















Thanks!

[HoHoHo]

I love your builds, you are one talented model builder that’s for sure

Looking forward to the next

[dr_gn]

HoHoHo said:

I love your builds, you are one talented model builder that’s for sure

Looking forward to the next

Thanks very much! In this case though, the kit almost builds itself. Along with the Eduard Profipack Hellcat (in the background on one of the photos), these two have to be among the best 1:72 warbird kits ever made.

[dr_gn]

Won best in 1:72 OOB aircraft class at the IPMS Halifax show today; second place with the Airfix Lancaster. Not a bad result:

[HoHoHo]

dr_gn said:

Won best in 1:72 OOB aircraft class at the IPMS Halifax show today; second place with the Airfix Lancaster. Not a bad result:

Well done

What’s next?

[dr_gn]

HoHoHo said:

dr_gn said:

Won best in 1:72 OOB aircraft class at the IPMS Halifax show today; second place with the Airfix Lancaster. Not a bad result:

Well done

What’s next?

Thanks! I'll finish the Matchbox Boeing P-12E in the "not quite 48 hour build" thing, then the Macchi 202 that's been ongoing for 2 years, then the robot, then I don't know.

[HoHoHo]

dr_gn said:

HoHoHo said:

dr_gn said:

Won best in 1:72 OOB aircraft class at the IPMS Halifax show today; second place with the Airfix Lancaster. Not a bad result:

Well done

What’s next?

Thanks! I'll finish the Matchbox Boeing P-12E in the "not quite 48 hour build" thing, then the Macchi 202 that's been ongoing for 2 years, then the robot, then I don't know.

Looks forward to seeing them all.

I’ve been in the middle of moving for 15 months now and modelling has had to take a step back simply because ‘next week’ we’ll have a moving date!

I look forward to mucking up some airbrushing at some point in the further

[robemcdonald]

dr_gn said:

Won best in 1:72 OOB aircraft class at the IPMS Halifax show today; second place with the Airfix Lancaster. Not a bad result:

I’d like to know how one of the other modellers managed to get his ME109 instructions mixed up with the spitfire he was building.

[dr_gn]

robemcdonald said:

dr_gn said:

Won best in 1:72 OOB aircraft class at the IPMS Halifax show today; second place with the Airfix Lancaster. Not a bad result:

I’d like to know how one of the other modellers managed to get his ME109 instructions mixed up with the spitfire he was building.

It takes all sorts...someone told me that my paper model of the Emden confused him because it looked ‘almost 3 dimensional’.

[caterhamnut]

Zero looks stunning. Must try one of those smaller models, like the ones I got from Lidl perhaps!

Do you make the wooden stand or buy them?

[caterhamnut]

Doh! ....and congratulations on a great result!!

Do you have any pics of the Lanc build?