1/48 Tamiya Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero (Hamp)

Gallery Article by David Mielke VMFA314Knights on Aug 16 2016

 

      

Yet another old 1/48th scale Tamiya kit that I had came across at a model shop and had to pick it up to go with my A6M2s. Old mold and inexpensive but one that I could build up into a decent model with minimal hassle. 

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Markings are of a 204th Fighter Group example flown from Rabaul, which was a large Japanese base and Army and Navy Headquarters in the South Pacific. Well known by the Allies as it was the most heavily defended target in the South-West Pacific Area.

As I was constructing a group of Zeros, as low-stress kits, I built this one straight from the box (aside from the addition of masking tape seat belts). Pretty straight-forward build and the hand painted green mottle representing the field applied camouflage didn't take too long and differentiated the markings from the other Japanese aircraft I have built. Unfortunately the final dull-coat turned the Japanese markings whitish however I went with the theory that it looked like heavy sun-fade on the paint and left it as such. :) 

Keep the builds going,

David Mielke

Photos and text © by David Mielke