Tamiya Mitsubishi A6M5 Zero

[tucohoward]

I've been trying to decide on a new 1/32 scale project for a while but having trouble for some reason. In the end I decided on this kit so I didn't really have to decide haha. I picked up this kit at least five years ago at a show in Raleigh, NC for $30. The guy was begging me to take it. I had never built a Japanese aircraft but a 1/32 Tamiya kit for$30 was too hard to pass up. I have still never built a Japanese aircraft so this is a first. I don't know much about them, like how they weather for instance. I do know this Zero is not one with half the paint missing so I won't make that mistake at least.

The kit looks pretty good albeit gimmicky. It seems to have workable landing gear for one. The engine sprue is molded in silver much like the old 1/12 Formula 1 kits from my youth. The usual rubber tires, nuts, bolts, springs, masks, PE, etc. I did get a set of Master barrels for it. I actually seem to have all the paint required which is nice. Looks like a fairly uncomplicated build all in all. Famous last words haha.

 

Cheers,

Jay

 

[AngryJazz_Models]

Looking forward to this one! Its also a kit i managed to pick up very cheap. Details look very nice and well you can't go wrong with Tamiya 😄

[Greif8]

$30.00 for this kit was a steal Jay!  Like Ben, I am looking forward to seeing what you do with it.  I have the same kit in the stash and plan to build it later this year, so your build thread should be very instructional for me.

 

Ernest

[IainM]

It's an absolutely beautiful kit, goes together like a dream!!
Only things to watch for
• it is missing the bungee cord which goes around the back of the seat frame - easy to fabricate
• The decking behind the pilot under the canopy is missing the prominent rivets/bolt detail, easy enough to fix with a beading tool
• The whole undercarriage set-up is a bit of a gimmick in regards to the fact it can retract, etc. Missing quite a bit of details, but if that doesn't bother you, then have at it. I replaced mine with a CMK gear and bay set - never again. Should have left it alone
There are plenty of builds out there to give you inspiration, have fun!!!
 

[Mal_Belford]

Nice, that kit is a wonder to build imo, built couple of them.

 

 

[monthebiff]

You will enjoy this one Jay, I was looking for a nice easy build while recovering from heart surgery towards the end of last year and pulled this one out of the stash. Like you I've never buolt a Japenese aircraft and decided not to sweat over the detail and just enjoy the build. Goes together so well and very enjoyable.

 

Regards. Andy

[tucohoward]

Thanks guys. I agree, this has definitely been fun so far. Iain, thanks for the info. I don't have any reference material for this plane so will try to find some pics online. I would like to add the rivet detail behind the cockpit since this would actually be visible. Not sure how much of the cockpit will be seen given the fuselage really closes up around it. 

That said I did try to do what I could with the cockpit. It's nicely detailed as you would expect from Tamiya. I used the kit seatbelts which are interesting. Sort of a thin vinyl which is much better than the decal ones in their 1/48 kits. They don't look too bad with a wash and flat coat. The fuselage was closed early as the cockpit assembly goes in after. Anyway I'm enjoying this build a lot and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun build.

 

Cheers,

Jay

 

[IainM]

Nice work @tucohoward I really like the weathering you've done on that! 
With regards to the bungee, it's for raising/lowering the seat. The ends attach to the bottom of the seat frame behind the seat and loop up and around those two rollers you can see on the frame behind the seat. This is what it looks like



And here's the riveting on the rear deck just for info

Edited May 22 by IainM

[tucohoward]

Iain, thanks so much for the info. I will definitely make use of it!

 

Jay

[Juggernut]

If you haven't seen this yet, it's quite useful.

 

A6M5 Tweak List - Ryan Toews

 

It also sounds like your kit is 60309 which is the older version of the kit.  That kit has been discontinued in favor of 60318 which adds another set of markings and metal gun barrels for the 20mm wing cannon; it's basically the same kit otherwise.  I built this kit a few years back as a very early A6M5 and it is a fun build and pretty much is as a Tamiya kit is expected to be.  

Edited May 22 by Juggernut

[Jim Barry]

Looking good!  

[tucohoward]

‘

1 hour ago, Juggernut said:

If you haven't seen this yet, it's quite useful.

 

A6M5 Tweak List - Ryan Toews

 

It also sounds like your kit is 60309 which is the older version of the kit.  That kit has been discontinued in favor of 60318 which adds another set of markings and metal gun barrels for the 20mm wing cannon; it's basically the same kit otherwise.  I built this kit a few years back as a very early A6M5 and it is a fun build and pretty much is as a Tamiya kit is expected to be.  

Thanks, I think, haha. That tweak list is incredible. I will use some things from it but that level of accuracy isn’t really my goal most of the time. It is nice to have the information since I have no reference material for Japanese aircraft. The paint color info is very nice to have so much appreciated.

 

Jay

[tucohoward]

Thanks fellows! A little more progress. Trying to apply the helpful info I have received, Added the bungee cord behind the seat. I went over the flush rivets on the cockpit dek with a beading tool and painted the area black per the tweak list. Not sure if this should be "black" black or the blue black cowling color. Any thoughts on that are welcome. I added the Master barrels and painted the guns Gun Metal per the tweak list. Normally I do black with a oily steel drybrush. Anyway, moving along.

 

Chers,

Jay

 

[RCPlym]

For the gun barrels on my Fly Hurricane I used Birchwood Casey 'Aluminium Black'. It is a solution that changes the surface of the metal to a blackened tone. Works extremely well and the barrels look like the real thing!

There is a version of it for brass, but I only have the aluminium version.

[Granger Davis]

That cockpit is looking good! AK also makes a solution for blackening barrels; I have some but have yet to try it out. I'll try it on my Master barrels for my B-17.