Airfix A6M2b

[Col.]

Bit of a quick build on what is a pretty well moulded and good fitting kit.

Followed Nick Millman's advice on colours and the correct scheme as best I could with what I have it the paint stash. Added seatbelts from foil but otherwise straight out of the box.

Not much left to do now

[Col.]

The 'Night Blue' grey used for the cowl was bothering me a bit so mixed up some Revell gloss black with a touch of Humbrol French Blue and gave it a heavy drybrushing from the bottom up. Thinned it quite a bit to run into the panel lines then another drybrush with more of the Night Blue. All in the attempt to create a faded look and most likely better done the other way round.

After all that getting the decals on was an easy task. A little Future/Klear to help them into the panel lines and they really brighten up the model. Didn't use everything supplied by Airfix as the white placards around the cockpit don't seem to show on the photo of this machine Nick Millman posted on his AviationofJapan site.

Next tasks is weathering. Found one photo showing the underside of a captured A6M2b in quite a state but that's all I've come across so far. Think the lower yellow surfaces would be more worn and dirty than the relatively fresh green upper surfaces.

By the way, for anyone interested, the yellow is Humbrol 'Lufthansa Yellow' and the green Humbrol 'Roof Lead' from an ancient tin in their long gone Authentics range.

[occa]

The colors look very realistic

You did an extremely

Edited July 28, 2012 by occa

[jimbuna]

Very nice indeed.

[Col.]

Thanks Lads, glad you both like it, was beginning to think I was talking to myself here

Using the only photo I can find of an A6M2b undersurfaces as reference for weathering this happened last night;

Looks alright to me but is more restrained than in the photo. It's major filthy with what looks like a big oily streak going right back along the fuselage but is of a captured machine so may have had engine trouble.

The minor undercarriage doors were easy enough to deal with apart from me breaking the fragile operating mechanism on one of the inner door will test fitting. Most likely my own lack of care.

[Harry Lime]

Col,

That's looking a bit good that is! The weathering looks just right my eyes.

Mark.

[Col.]

Thanks Mark, was quite pleased with the paint finish, the remaining parts of the undercarriage got added along with some fusewire brake lines. This got her on her feet as it were so was able to add the propeller next and get her looking almost complete.

While that was going on I found myself studying the underside photo again and therefore added a bit more to replicate what I could see there,

Hope it doesn't look overdone now.

A few small details to add then make a new pitot probe next.

[stevehnz]

Nice one Col. I picked this up a wee while ago & have also decided to do it in this scheme after reading Nicks Blog, its a striking look for sure.

Steve.

[Doug Rogers]

That's a really nice build there Col, haven't got a Zero in my stash, but must admit I'm tempted.

[Col.]

Nice one Col. I picked this up a wee while ago & have also decided to do it in this scheme after reading Nicks Blog, its a striking look for sure.

Steve.

It was Nick's blog that convinced me to go with this scheme as well. Initial first choice was an eary grey machine but I've added another to the stash to cover that

When you start your one remember to put the parts for the upper decking and machine guns on while joining the fuselage halves. I tried to do it afterwards as the instructions recommend and much swearing ensued.

That's a really nice build there Col, haven't got a Zero in my stash, but must admit I'm tempted.

Go for it Doug. At the price they are great fun and a nice easy kit after you've been fighting with floats and struts and rigging

Almost finished now,

Made a pitot probe from piano wire turned down in a Dremel-type rotary tool then added the boarding steps/hand holds from stretched sprue and a tiny bit of plasticard.

Paint that parts and we're done.

[Col.]

Job done.

Edit - got more photos in an RFI thread here - http://www2.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=234923913&hl=

Edited August 8, 2012 by Col.

[foureyes]

Gert lush that is.. I got the same kit and it is a lovely fit etc. Will look forward to this after my current build.

Kevin

Edited August 8, 2012 by foureyes

[Col.]

Thanks Kevin. Can't recommend this kit highly enough as a simple and straight-forward project as the antidote to more involved models, it'll make a nice change after the detail work of your current one