Thoughts on the Academy 1/72 Zero?

[phat trev]

I have picked up a 1/72 Academy A6M5 Zero and am hoping to make a late war Navy machine in IJN grey.

Did the Imperial Navy have late war Zeros on thier carriers?

What is the kit like? It is very detailed (might sand the bomb racks off though as I want a fighter)

[Nick Millman]

I have picked up a 1/72 Academy A6M5 Zero and am hoping to make a late war Navy machine in IJN grey.

Late war Navy fighters were not overall grey - they were dark green on top

Did the Imperial Navy have late war Zeros on thier carriers?

Yes, but not the A6M5c which is the Academy kit

What is the kit like? It is very detailed (might sand the bomb racks off though as I want a fighter)

It has been panned as inaccurate in various places but is not so bad. The sliding canopy is a little too flat on top and some say the dihedral is too pronounced. They are not bomb racks but rocket bomb racks which were used as air-to-air weapons against the B-29 in Homeland Defence ops - so used on fighters.

[Chuck1945]

edit - added comment, Nick's post wasn't displaying yet when I made my comments last night, he definitely qualifies as 'more knowledgable'

I am sure someone more knowledgable than I will respond with better info, but for now ...

By the time the A6M5 series was being produced, the IJN pretty much used green on the uppers and gray undersides. The overall gray had disappeared by late 1943 (if not earlier).

Did the Imperial Navy have late war Zeros on thier carriers?

Define late war, by the begining of 1945 Japanese carrier aviation had virtually ceased to exist. The last foray of the remaining carriers was, I believe, the sacrifical sortie during the Leyte Gulf battles that was intended (successfully) to draw Halsey's 3rd Fleet north and open the way for the IJN surface forces to descend upon the US invasion fleet. Edited February 9, 2012 by Chuck1945

[phat trev]

Basically looking for a 'later' type Zero that I can paint (accuratly) in IJN grey. Not to hot on Zero history -found a good book on the subject today so i can have a read over the weekend- so later war I really mean zzeros that look lke or 'are' the same version as kitted by Academy (It maybe a case of back dating the kit a little?)

cheers for the info.

edit - added comment, Nick's post wasn't displaying yet when I made my comments last night, he definitely qualifies as 'more knowledgable'

I am sure someone more knowledgable than I will respond with better info, but for now ...

By the time the A6M5 series was being produced, the IJN pretty much used green on the uppers and gray undersides. The overall gray had disappeared by late 1943 (if not earlier).

Define late war, by the begining of 1945 Japanese carrier aviation had virtually ceased to exist. The last foray of the remaining carriers was, I believe, the sacrifical sortie during the Leyte Gulf battles that was intended (successfully) to draw Halsey's 3rd Fleet north and open the way for the IJN surface forces to descend upon the US invasion fleet.

[Procopius]

Basically looking for a 'later' type Zero that I can paint (accuratly) in IJN grey.

I don't believe you'll be able to build a Zero of this type or a similar type and paint it grey accurately.

I ran across this in my travels: http://www.j-aircraft.com/research/zeroclr.htm , and it seems to indicate that Type 0s were painted green on top from 1943 on, which I believe would include all later-type Zeros.

[Test Graham]

The last version to appear in the overall grey was the clipped wing A6M3, so I'm afraid you can't (historically) do that scheme with the Academy kit. Too many differences, includng a different wing. OK, with enough plasticard and filler you could do it, or anything, but I don't think that's what you meant.

[phat trev]

Thanks everyone for your input and thoughs. I will have to settle with a green one (albeit very worn ) Will still look into back dating to an earlier 'late' A6M5 version with single long barrelled wing guns and fuselage mounted MG's may be after some decals being a firstJapanesebuild will have to have a look around. Also as the wings are already glued together (one previous owner- who has left gluey fingerprints all over it) It does look to have very strange incidence when faced from the front.

[Nick Millman]

The last version to appear in the overall grey was the clipped wing A6M3, so I'm afraid you can't (historically) do that scheme with the Academy kit. Too many differences, includng a different wing. OK, with enough plasticard and filler you could do it, or anything, but I don't think that's what you meant.

It was the long winged A6M3 the Model 22, that chronologically and despite the nomenclature came after the A6M3 Model 32 with clipped wings, that was the last type to be delivered in overall grey.

[dfqweofekwpeweiop4]

If you want a nice cheap early Zero, then the new Airfix Zero might be an idea. It's an A6M2b, with the folding wing tips, that the IJN would have used on their carriers during 1942/43. You'll need aftermarket decals for an overall grey one as the kit markings are for a green/grey one that was still in service in 1944.

thanks

Mike

[Jeff Wilson]

If you want a nice cheap early Zero, then the new Airfix Zero might be an idea. It's an A6M2b, with the folding wing tips, that the IJN would have used on their carriers during 1942/43. You'll need aftermarket decals for an overall grey one as the kit markings are for a green/grey one that was still in service in 1944.

thanks

Mike

Alternatively, you can buy the starter set with the new mould Airfix A6M2 in it - that boxing has Pearl Harbor decals for a grey bird. Of course, that's the very opposite of late war.

Jeff