Pete's Mitsubishi A6M2b Zero 'Zeke'. Airfix, 1/72

[stillp]

Picked this up at the Hinckley show, after a bit of persuasion from Tony and Dave. The main reason I bought it though is that it was only a fiver. Slightly crushed box, but it's all there.

There are no colour callouts in the instructions, only on the back of the box, although some other colours are mentioned in the instructions. I'm not convinced by the suggested Bronze Green for the upper surfaces, as the box back shows a blueish green. What does the collective think?
Pete

 

[The Smythe Meister]

Picked this up at the Hinckley show, after a bit of persuasion from Tony and Dave. The main reason I bought it though is that it was only a fiver. Slightly crushed box, but it's all there.
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There are no colour callouts in the instructions, only on the back of the box, although some other colours are mentioned in the instructions. I'm not convinced by the suggested Bronze Green for the upper surfaces, as the box back shows a blueish green. What does the collective think?
Pete

These Airfix offerings are very popular and appear to be nicely made...and for just a fiver? That's a great bargain
As for the colours,I can have a look in my book for some schemes if you'd like?

 

[Allen Dewire]

Ok Pete, so I suppose they twisted your arms until it hurt and forced you give up 5 quid for the kit!!! A likely story Sir!!! Nobody builds a box and it looks to be nicely molded too. Should take you at least 5 days to finish this one...Hairy or AB???...

Prost
Allen

 

[stillp]

These Airfix offerings are very popular and appear to be nicely made...and for just a fiver? That's a great bargain
As for the colours,I can have a look in my book for some schemes if you'd like?

Thanks for the offer Andy. I'm going to do the box art scheme, but if you can offer any help with the actual colours that would be useful.

Ok Pete, so I suppose they twisted your arms until it hurt and forced you give up 5 quid for the kit!!! A likely story Sir!!! Nobody builds a box and it looks to be nicely molded too. Should take you at least 5 days to finish this one...Hairy or AB???...

Prost
Allen

No, they just nagged me until I bought something! A/B for this one, my hairy stick attempts on the Hurricane didn't work out too well. I might use the paint from a couple of starter kit snot pots though. Moulding is generally nice, but see below.

As above, moulding is generally very good, typical newish Airfix, but there's some isalignment at the end of one sprue, just where the thin bits are!

The control column, part 2 in the photo above, is broken just above that moulding blob, which puts paid to any chance of cleaning it up; after it's glued back together it'll be really fragile. I'll do what I can though.
The pilot is decently moulded, but doesn't fit the cockpit.

I managed to spread his legs so his feet are the same distance apart as the rudder pedals, but his legs are too long and too straight, so his feet are past the pedals and his bum is hovering above the seat. Needs to be bent at the waist more, but his arms are in the way of that so I'll just leave him out.
Pete

 

[Mickc1440]

Nice start Pete, I had this problem with the Dakota builds, ended up leaving the rudder pedals off as they couldn't be seen so the crew fitted.

 

[The Smythe Meister]

I'll take a look

 

[Geoffers]

Looks good Pete and a bargain too

Might be worth dropping Airfix customer services a quick email. They may be able to send you a replacement part.
The canopy of a Phantom I’m building was cracked so I let them know and they sent me a replacement free of charge which I was very pleased with.

Geoff.

 

[Lee Drennen]

Nice selection Pete. Seated and watching

 

[stillp]

Might be worth dropping Airfix customer services a quick email. They may be able to send you a replacement part.

For the control column Doug? It's glued now, and the mould misalignment won't be visible in the depths of the cockpit. If it breaks again I'll cut it off at the base, drill the 'boot' and use a piece of copper wire to replace it.
Pete

 

[flyjoe180]

I'm not convinced by the suggested Bronze Green for the upper surfaces, as the box back shows a blueish green. What does the collective think?

There is a difference between Nakajima and Mitsubishi greens. Bronze Green (Humbrol 75) is pretty close to the colour used by Mitsubishi, which is appropriate for your model. You can tell that it is a Mitsubishi built airframe because the green demarcation runs from the wing trailing edge to the tail cone, and it has solid Hinomaru.

Nakajima built examples had a green demarcation from the wing trailing edge sloping upwards towards the leading edge of the horizontal stabiliser. Nakajima painted A6M2's featured the white-ringed Hinomaru.

There are also differences with the coatings applied in the wheel wells, Mitsubishi A6M2's were painted the same colour as the lower scheme, whereas Nakajima used the (popular with modellers) Aotake coatings.

I learned too much researching my Zero

 

[stillp]

Thanks Joe!
Pete

 

[papa 695]

Nice kit Pete, and a nice start.

 

[Ian M]

Looks like we should have held a Zero GB lol-
Nice start Pete.

 

[stillp]

A bit of progress:

Broke the control column again while fitting the IP decals. Now reglued.
Pete

 

[yak face]

Great start pete , whatever made you think of getting one of these ? Looks a great kit though ,nearly got one of these myself at a show the other month!

 

[The Smythe Meister]

Yep, looking excellent already!....
... Nice one Pete

 

[stillp]

I've joined the fuselage halves, which needed a bit of work on the seams. Since then I've been struggling with making the canopy - it just isn't going well. Scrapped the first 2 attempts using Tamiya tape and trying again with BMF. I was trying to mask the canopy before fitting it but I was finding it hard to hold steady, so I've fitted it to the fuselage for easier handling.

I'll have another go when that's completely dried.
Pete

 

[Andy T]

I saw a tip online about holding the canopy over a phone torch to make it easier to see the ribs. It helped me out on my Ki-61 but I couldn't see anything for a while afterwards!

 

[stillp]

I can see the ribs OK Andy, especially since switching to BMF, but I'm having trouble following them with a scalpel blade due to the rounded corners of the glazing.
Pete.

 

[scottie3158]

Pete,
Looking good mate.