Hasegawa 1/72 A6M5c Type 52 Hei

[flyjoe180]

I started this one a few weeks ago as a simple build now I have a little spare time at the bench.


The A6M5c Type 52 featured an armament of one 13.2 mm Type 3 machine gun added in each wing outboard of the cannon, and the 7.7 mm gun on the left side of the cowl was deleted. Four racks for rockets or small bombs were installed outboard of the 13 mm gun in each wing. The wing itself received further panels and strengthening. Cockpit armour was also increased. Because of increased weight, the Type 52 was mostly used on B-29 interception and ‘special attack’ duties. The majority of A6M5c were built by Nakajima.

I am primarily using Ammo paints: Nakajima IJN Green (Mig264) , IJN Medium Grey (Mig263), and Chocolate Brown (Mig085)

 

[flyjoe180]

Usual Hasegawa packaging with an additional sprue marked 'S' for the Type 52 variant.


First I deleted that port cowl machine gun ejector port:


Before long I had the main assembly completed:


The canopy was masked and tacked on. I'll remove it after the final varnishes and weathering, because the antenna protrudes through the rear of it and I masked the interior to protect the blue/black rear deck colour.


Primed in Ammo black primer:

 

[flyjoe180]

This is where I'm at today. Next up is a gloss varnish and then decals.


Speaking of decals, the Hasegawa sheet is pretty average. That 'ivory white' that people speak of. The Jaguar kit I just finished did not have that ivory hue, so at some stage Hasegawa must have decided to up its decal game. I won't be using those fuselage stripes, that is for sure.

 

[The Smythe Meister]

Nice shade of Green that Joe,
The detail on the wings looks excellent .

 

[stillp]

Nice paint job Joe.
Pete

 

[papa 695]

Off to a flying start Joe. Looking good.

 

[adt70hk]

Coming on very nicely Joe!

 

[Mickc1440]

Nice job with the paint Joe

 

[flyjoe180]

Build is now completed:

1/72 Hasegawa A6M5c Type 52 Hei

Hasegawa 1/72 kit of the A6M5c Zero Type 52 Hei. This version featured an armament of one 13.2 mm Type 3 machine gun added in each wing outboard of the cannon with the 7.7 mm gun on the left side of the cowl deleted. Four racks for rockets or small bombs were installed outboard of the 13 mm gun...

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