1/32 Hasegawa A6M5a Type-Zero Model 52-Kou

Gallery Article by Onami

 

      

A6M5a Type-Zero Carrier-Fighter Model 52-Kou (Earlier Tool)

Here is my latest work, Mitsubishi A6M5a “ZERO-Fighter” (Zeke) Model52-Kou. It is the older tooled kit from Hasegawa, revived 3 years ago in the nostalgic package.

As you know, we have given the “perfect” kit of the Zero –Fighter in 1/32 scale from Tamiya more than 10 years ago. In addition, Hasegawa has released a much more simple (but beautiful) kit by new tool just to replace this old one this year. So, my effort to complete this kit today is utterly useless. 

However, to build this kit is still a pleasant work with a special meaning for me. It was the first plastic-model kit of aircraft I had, given by my parents for my birthday more than 40 years ago.

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Since the birth of this kit, it has been evaluated not so highly by Japanese severe modelers. They have been saying, this kit fails to represent the (very very) delicate shaping of the Zero-Fighter, for example, the engine-cowling, canopy, wings, and tail-fin of it. 

But, with only a little effort, they could be drastically improved….. as I think.  J

I engraved panel-lines and fastener-heads. In addition, I tried to represent the undulation of skins that is characteristic on Japanese thin-skinned aircraft.

The aircraft “YoD-126” was piloted by LTJG Sadaaki Akamatsu from the 302 Air Group. But the pilot-figure I put is “Saburo Sakai” from Fine-Molds”. I think “he” doesn’t resemble to Akamatsu so well.

I show more pictures of “making” on my website below. Despite all of the article is written only in Japanese, I hope again you would enjoy the pics there.

http://onami.blue.coocan.jp/models/seisaku/a6m5a_h32e_seisaku.html 

Onami

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Photos and text © by Onami