Search the Community

Clear Prop Models is to release a 1/72nd Mitsubishi A5M2b "Claude" early version kit - ref. CP72008 Source: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2398867617062390&id=2155509878064833 V.P.

LF Models has just released 1/72nd Mitsubishi A5M "Claude" kits Definitely looks like AVI Models Plastic link. - ref. PE7221 - Mitsubishi A5M1 "Claude" - Silver Bird Sources: https://www.lfmodels.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_26_86&products_id=3049&zenid=984offqjarqn3gpnbeo3fkuce2 https://www.aviationmegastore.com/mitsubishi-a5m1-claude-silver-bird-pe-7221-lf-models-pe-7221-aircraft-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=165036 - ref. PE7222 - Mitsubishi A5M1 "Claude" - Camo Bird Sources: https://www.lfmodels.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_26_86&products_id=3056&zenid=984offqjarqn3gpnbeo3fkuce2 https://www.aviationmegastore.com/mitsubishi-a5m1-claude-camo-bird-pe-7222-lf-models-pe-7222-aircraft-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=165037 - ref. PE7223 - Mitsubishi A5M2B "Claude" Sources: https://www.lfmodels.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_26_86&products_id=3051&zenid=984offqjarqn3gpnbeo3fkuce2 https://www.aviationmegastore.com/mitsubishi-a5m2b-claude-pe-7223-lf-models-pe-7223-aircraft-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=165038 - ref. PE7224 - Mitsubishi A5M3A / A5M1 "Claude" Sources: https://www.lfmodels.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_26_86&products_id=3052&zenid=984offqjarqn3gpnbeo3fkuce2 https://www.aviationmegastore.com/mitsubishi-a5m13a-claude-pe-7224-lf-models-pe-7224-aircraft-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=165039 - ref. PE7225 - Mitsubishi A5M4-K "Claude" - two seat trainer Sources: https://www.lfmodels.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_26_86&products_id=3053&zenid=984offqjarqn3gpnbeo3fkuce2 https://www.aviationmegastore.com/mitsubishi-a5m2-k-claude-trainer-pe-7225-lf-models-pe-7225-aircraft-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=165040 - ref. PE7226 - Mitsubishi A5M2A "Claude" - early silver birds Sources: https://www.lfmodels.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_26_86&products_id=3050&zenid=984offqjarqn3gpnbeo3fkuce2 https://www.aviationmegastore.com/mitsubishi-a5m2a-early-claude-silver-bird-pe-7226-lf-models-pe-7226-aircraft-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=165041 - ref. PE7227 - Mitsubishi A5M2A "Claude" - early camo birds Sources: https://www.lfmodels.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2_26_86&products_id=3054&zenid=984offqjarqn3gpnbeo3fkuce2 https://www.aviationmegastore.com/mitsubishi-a5m2a-early-claude-camo-bird-pe-7227-lf-models-pe-7227-aircraft-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=165042 V.P.

AVI Models is to release a 1/72nd Mitsubishi A5M3a (Prototype) "Claude" kit - ref. 72002 Source: https://www.aviationmegastore.com/mitsubishi-a5m3a-prototype-avm72002-avi-models-avm72002-aircraft-scale-modelling/product/?action=prodinfo&art=145630 V.P.

Fine Molds is to release in July 2016 a family of 1/48th Mitsubishi A5M2b & A5M4 "Claude" kits - ref. FB20 & FB21 Source: http://www.finemolds.co.jp/iroiro/2016SHS_new.html See also similar Wingsy kits project: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235000512-148-mitsubishi-a5m2b-claude-late-version-by-wingsy-kits-cadsbox-artschemes-release-summer-2016/ V.P.

The Mitsubishi A5M Claude is best known as the predecessor of the A6M Zero, but it was a very capable plane in its own right. I've always liked its looks, especially the curves of the rear fuselage are a thing of beauty. I picked up the Nichimo kit for a few quid while on holiday in Japan a few years back. I had never seen it before, and it was being rereleased at that time. It's an old kit, but it has some modern features. The flaps are separately molded, and the kit has recessed panel lines. Fit is ok, I needed some filler in the usual areas at the wing roots and rear wing to fuselage joint. Quite a few of the parts had extensive mold lines and flash, this was particularly an issue on the propeller, which was left a bit thin after all the carving I had to do on it. The main challenge on the kit was the windshield; it had a lot of flash, and after cleaning it I realized some of the flash wasn't in fact flash - this left a huge gap between windscreen and forward fuselage, which required filling. I used white primer, followed by red on the tail and locations of the hinomarus, subsequently masking those off, resulting in nicely sprayed markings in those areas. However, I forgot to do the hinomarus on the fuselage, and used the decals for those, which luckily had a similar shade of red. The rest of the kit was sprayed with Games Workshop Runefang Steel, which is my favorite NMF paint now; it hardens very quickly and doesn't pick up finger prints. I gave it wash with some dark grey water colors. All in all a relatively easy build, and one that looks pretty good next to much more modern kits.