Zero A6M5 Type 52. Stash clear out

[Properjob56]

As you can see after the RFIs on the PZL P.7 and Junkers F.13 my model making is devoid of themes, fads, eras or types, it just happens..ish.

This will be my first WIP on here so a couple of caveats. 1. I am an assembler not a modeller tho I strive for betterment and 2. the choice of kit was part COVID enforced but mostly a clearout of the stash.

After the tiny pieces of the PZL and the issues with the F.13, I wanted a straightforward kit with no issues OOB but hopefully with something that piqued my interest, a USP if you will. I considered the Trumpeter Wyvern and Gannet as well as the Arma Hobby Hurricane and Heller 109B before coming across this one which seemed better suited to what I was looking for.

A long time ago someone was selling off kits of Japanese planes cheap and this, together with 4 or 5 others , arrived and has sat in the pile ever since. I discovered afterwards that Japanese things don't really rock my boat and, if ever I was tempted, something else came along and I went with that.

I was hoping for a Blitzbuild but SWMBO has insisted I take a week off for garden related activities so it'll start slow but I'll try and get it done in a couple of weeks mainly to allow enamel paint (the transfer to acrylic is painfully slow and see the USP below) and polystyrene cement (so much better than superglue) to dry. 

Its USP? On another occasion back in the mists of time White Ensign were selling off paint cheap and I bought not only the Russian set but also the Japanese and this will be the first time I've used the latter. They have remained pristine in their tins for probably 10-20 years so it will be interesting to see how they fare. I've used some of the Russian set and they were pretty good so heres hoping. I beleive Nick Millman of this parish had some input to the colours so it'll be interesting to see if he, or anyone else for that matter, agrees with my colour selections. 

Anyway, after this taster, I'll be posting, prob this pm, the box art and my comments on whats in said box. In the interim I have a spreadsheet for my personal use of kits and their reviews as I come across them and this is the relevant part for this kit:

"All Zeros have at least 2 mouldings. The latest is distinguished by its high price but also engraved panel lines, nice engines, a well detailed cockpit (for the scale) and are of a modular design. The cockpits have decals for the instrument panel. The canopies are all one piece, so you cannot display any work done in the interior with the kit canopy. Only issue is the top panel of the front fuselage which is of uncertain fit.Not exactly a shake and bake kit but typical of Hasegawa it has fewer fit issues than other brands.  Only areas required attention.  The front of the canopy didn't meet the fuselage and I used filler to fix it.  Landing gear didn't feel stable and to make matters worse I forgot to dry fit the doors.  This meant I hadn't notice two of the locating pegs were too long until after I glued the legs to the wings."

This seems to have come from the latter of these 2 references https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235070672-mitsubishi-a6m5c-zero-172-hasegawa/ and http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234991676-172-hasegawa-a6m5c-zero-type-52-352nd-flying-group/ 

Onwards...

[Properjob56]

This is the kit (#289). According to Scalemates it's a 2002 rebox of a 1992 new tool.

Edited May 29, 2020 by Properjob56
insert kit number

[Properjob56]

Instructions, decals, paints and some sprues

[Properjob56]

and the rest of the sprues.

[Properjob56]

First impressions? Standard Hasegawa kit of the era. Limited cockpit or other internal detail. Wheel wells prob too shallow. Decals for 2 options with ivory white bits. Some stencilling. I'm a bit surprised at the number of parts for such a simple kit but it's clearly set up to offer other variants in due course.

WEM paints are (forgive the lack of technical terms)cowling black, propellor brown, aotake lacquer, Fuselage green and grey as well as Nakajima green/grey for cockpit ( the latter as described in Hasegawas instructions.)

Sprues now washed. I haven't primed them as 1. My memory of the paint is that it doesn't need it, and 2. I can't then use polystyrene cement and I much prefer it to superglue.

Edited May 29, 2020 by Properjob56
update and grammar

[Adam Poultney]

Love a good zero, I might have to do another at some point

[Properjob56]

Sprues washed, canopy Kleer'd ( or more accurately Aqua Gloss'd). 

The kit is engineered for multi variants and so not only has alternative parts but a modular build.

So here are pictures of the engine with the alternative blunt crankcase, the fuel tank with the alternative and the prop assembly with the alternative blades and nose cones. Next stage is painting them obvs but I'll also look into adding rocker rods(?) to the engine. So much for OOB!

The cockpit is the next module, of which more later.