A6M2 Zero, Border Model 1/35

[AngryJazz_Models]

The plan was to build the Takom HO 229, but having recently finished the Japanese tank - I found myself tempted to build another Japanese subject.

 

This kit from Border Model snuck into my stash quite recently due to a sale, so it will be a fitting choice! 😄

I'm thinking of painting it in the yellow / orange scheme... Continuing the "what if" scheme from the tank. From what I gather about the kit it has a few inaccuracies like wrong placements of fasteners on the cowling and wrong cannon type in the wings. 

So with a bit of imagination we could call it a prototype or test aircraft... Maybe hastily called in on a mission. Kamikaze plane or similar...

 

We all know orange planes just look cool, so whatever works 😂

 

 

 

Ideas

 

 

[Furie]

The return of the artist...

I'm going to watch this carefully because you're going to do wonders again, Ben!

[scvrobeson]

Now this will be fun to see and follow.

 

 

Matt 

[AngryJazz_Models]

Thank you! 

 

On 8/7/2025 at 11:25 PM, Furie said:

The return of the artist...

I'm going to watch this carefully because you're going to do wonders again, Ben!

 

Haha calling me an artist would be quite the stretch 😂 But ill try to have fun instead!

 

However things are not as great as i thought. On the surface the kit looks really detailed and nice... Once you get a better look it's quite disappointing.

 

The front of the part looks fine, but the back hides lumps and bumps Border did not care to fix.

 

Examples:

 

Engine had so many ejection pins on the back. Cut too much and you will have to fill in the gap at a later stage.

 

 

Rivets are not fully formed on the round parts. Also annoying placement of sprue gates along with a mould line that's a little sunk in.

 

 

Even look at the state of the side of this cockpit piece.

 

 

 

I've added back the rivets and started to clean up the cowling. Still needs a little work, but it's getting there. And just as icing on a cake the panel line shifts through the mold line.

Think i've already set my expectations lower for how this kit will turn out 😅

 

 

Engine

 

 

And gaps..... 

 

 

 

So yes if you want to show off the engine expect a LOT of clean up. Mold line are really noticeable and gaps needs to be fixed. I did it on my FW190 and it can turn out very nice... However on this Zero you cannot really take off a panel to show the engine, so i'll keep my sanity and spend no time doing any of this work 😬

Good riddance I only spend 40€ on this kit including shipping 

[spyrosjzmichos]

Always wondered about these 1/35 scale kits!

Will be following your progress Ben!

[AngryJazz_Models]

Thank you @spyrosjzmichos 😄

 

Small update on my progress.

 

Working on the interior and wings. The interior is actually going together much better than the engine and cowling. It's looking quite busy already!

The guns could have been better - they seem a bit "chunky".

Note im not spending much time with the details that will be hidden. I know its a bit lazy, but I don't think the reward is worth the effort here.

 

 

 

 

 

The wings and wheel well does look fairly decent. They are a bit of trouble to get in the correct position. I would have liked a more positive system to align them.

However im sure they are more than good enough for me. 

 

I blanked off the hole where the external fuel tank would connect with some styrene. Im not using that part.

 

 

Be aware that the manual is misleading on the instalment of the part for the landing gear.

It looks like there is a option for ground and flight. In reality you should do both steps. This way you will have movable landing gear that snaps into position with a spring. 

The spring had to be pulled longer to be able to work this way 😅

 

Had to shave down the top of the landing gear bays to get the wing to fit neatly.

 

 

 

So yeah progress is progress, but I can tell im annoyed by the kit. There are some great details and some utter stupid decisions all around.

I still have some work to do before I can start painting.

 

The troublesome cowling was filled and sanded, but I still see a little more to fix.

 

[geedubelyer]

Promising work so far. 

 

Are you aware that this is 1/35th as you work on it or does it feel quite natural to you?

 

I'm a big fan of the orange and I'm eager to see how it looks. 

[AngryJazz_Models]

Thank you! 

 

I hope I can get past the harder parts and into painting soon 😄

I'm not really locked into a specific scale. I mostly build 1/48 planes and 1/35 tanks. Larger scale planes are more of a recent thing as I like the extra detail.

I only built 4 planes in 1/32... 3 Wingnut Wings and the KI-45, so I dont have much to compare with. 

 

I built the Eduard Zero in 1/48 and compared to this one I really like the larger size. The Zero is not a huge plane so it's a bit easier to work with here.

 

So maybe it's a happy medium in size. I did really enjoy the 1/35 FW190, it went together so well and easy that I had to get more kits.

 

 

 

[Jaro]

Good job!

Looking at the assembled cockpit, the amount of detail straight out of the box is really impressive.

 

Looking forward to your next posts.

[AngryJazz_Models]

Thank you Jaro 😄

I took a few days break from the kit and built some armor. Just to have a clear mind from the annoyance. 

 

A common trend on this kit is to fix the rivets, just another example of a slight curve and missing / soft detail.

 

 

 

 

 

The wingtips did not fit that great, so I attached them to the top wing and let them set. Then I scraped down the parts and connection points before securing and filling the area.

 

 

Better but still needs a bit of work.

 

 

Tried some white ink to get some variation in the paint. Still something I need more practice at, but it can have its use. Think I need to use a hairdryer to "lock" then stipple pattern in a bit sooner. It kinda smoothen out if you let it dry naturally. 

 

 

Some base colors applied - time for details and instruments.

 

Also I think I may have to cut the cockpit sides away from the cockpit "tub" and glue them to the walls. It does not fit exactly where I want it. This is likely a issue from the position of the wall behind the seat.

The part has no locating parts, so I likely got the position slightly off.

 

The ejection pins in the cockpit walls will luckily not be visible when its closed up.

 

Seems like its a common theme on the build... having to come up with fixes for stuff that's not quite fitting right. Its close, but not good enough.

That armor kit is looking mighty temping again 😂

 

 

Edited August 21, 2025 by AngryJazz_Models
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[Mal_Belford]

Sweet....nice progress and it looks good, love that Aotake paint.

 

Giving me craving to build a Zeke

[AngryJazz_Models]

Thanks @Mal_Belford 😊 I would love to see your take on a Zeke! 😉

[Mal_Belford]

@AngryJazz_Models got three in my stash two A6M2b and one A6M5 Tamiya...

 

also builded a few, this one 10yrs ago...geez time sure fly by fast lol.

 

https://www.largescaleplanes.com/articles/article.php?aid=2270

Edited August 22, 2025 by Mal_Belford

[AngryJazz_Models]

Wow that is one great looking build @Mal_Belford! Still could be fun to see what you can do with 10 more years of experience 😉 

I got the cockpit finished and weathered up. I may have gotten carried away a bit on the weathering side... But in my experience you need to push it a bit further to really notice it after everything is closed up. 

I ended up cutting off the tabs for the instrument panel, side panels and trimming a few other pieces. Pretty much super gluing everything into place.

 

Decals are applied on the backside on a clear piece that is pushed into place - creating the glass effect. Decals are notable better than on my FW190 build where they were printed offset. 

 

Colors were a complete guess on my part. Looked up a few Eduard kits for comparison since there are no color guide for the Border kit. I pretty much just painted it up to look busy - there are little accuracy. 

From Mal's build I noticed that I got the instrument panel color wrong... It should have been green with black instruments... Noticed this after I glued in the clear pieces... Oh well next time I guess.

 

I will be closing the fuselage and then i'm off for a small holliday with the family. Will be great to have fun with the kids and wife at the amusement park for a week 😄

 

 

 

Edited August 22, 2025 by AngryJazz_Models

[Mal_Belford]

Yaih...

 

@AngryJazz_Models  all this looks fantastic.