Gallery: Airfix Mitsubishi A6M2b Zero

Brand: Airfix

Scale: 1/72

Kit No: A01005A

Tooling Date: 2011

Completed: 2018

Engraved Panel Lines: Yes

As part of my WWII binge I found the iconic Airfix Mitsubishi A6M2b Zero. A beautiful and effective long range fighter in the employ of the Japanese Navy. Gorgeous!!

I chose the Airfix kit because it was basic and had recessed panel lines. I actually picked up two of them as well as a Tamiya version. Those remain in my stash for later ...

Accommodating my inability to mix and match colors by eye I purchased Vallejo's Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN)  paint set for use on this kit.

Here's what I remember about how I used them ...

• "Aotake" Translucent Blue - Wheel wells and interior of the engine cowling.
• Ash Grey/Medium Grey - I think I went with Ash Grey for the overall fuselage but looking back at it I feel like I would have gone with the lighter version of Medium Grey.

I don't recall what I did for the cockpit, which is barely visible anyway so. Also the engine cowling was some mixture of a dark grey/black and some version of blue, for a blue-ish/black look. I will try to record the colors used more accurately in future zero builds.

At then end of the day it suffers, as all my builds do from lack of patience but I also need to moderate weathering more I think. As much as I like the end result, the paint and weathering lack the professional and realistic feel that I strive for. One of my biggest struggles is getting the canopy frame to NOT look like gloppy paint. This plagues all my models no matter the scale. I am not sure what to do about it yet but keep practicing in the hopes that I will eventually stumble across an answer.

Something that occurred to me after finishing this model was that the panel lines felt a little wide and deep. I think on the next Airfix Zero model I will add rivet detail in an effort to 1) practice riveting and 2) de-accentuate the scale of the panel lines. I don't think that this detracts any more from the final result, than any of the things I did but it was the first time I really noticed it.

Regardless here are some pics of the final result. The base is not an attempt to replicate but to merely suggest the wooden flight deck of a WWII era Japanese aircraft carrier.