1:72 Mitsubishi A6M2 Model 21 "Zero"

Mitsubishi A6M2 Model 21. Tukuba Kokutai Operational Training Unit. Ikabari Prefecture on Honshu, Japan 1944

The kit

Airfix 1:72 Zero, released in 2011, is probably pretty well known at this point. So let's keep this introduction short- nice, simple and cheap kit, easy to build. Not as elaborate as Tamiya or Fine Molds, with a little bit to heavy panel lines and some other minor flaws. One decal option (printed by Cartograph), with messed up painting instruction.

Aircraft depicted on eye-catching boxart didn't belong to 201st Kokutai as Airfix claims. It was used by Tsukuba Kokutai Operational Training Unit. There is a good quality war-time photograph of this particular machine, which indicates some inconsistencies in proposed camouflage. For example Hinomaru at the bottom of the wing is clearly seen with white border. This also indicates, that lower surfaces of this fighter were most probably in orange-yellow colour, not standard gray. Quite more interesting camouflage, if you ask me.

The build

Full story will be published in one of the forthcoming aircraft issues of "Military Illustrated Modeller".

Finished model

Miniature represents airplane used by Tsukuba Kokutai Operational Training Unit from Ikabari Prefecture. Honshu, Japan 1944.