Subject: Re: 1/24 TRUMPETER A6M2 ZERO FIGHTER
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: ΑΛΕΞΗΣ ΚΟΝΤΗΒΕΗΣ <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:31:04 -0800

Hi,
I just wanted to let you know your article went on ARC today.  Thanks again for sending it in.

Steve Bamford
Aircraft Resource Center
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com

Live like there is no tomorrow;
Love like you've never been hurt.
Work like you don't need the money.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: ΑΛΕΞΗΣ ΚΟΝΤΗΒΕΗΣ 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2008 11:21 AM
  Subject: 1/24 TRUMPETER A6M2 ZERO FIGHTER

        Gallery Template #05

        "1/24 Trumpeter A6M2 Zero Fighter"

        The Last Samurai 

        By "Alex Kontiveis"
        --------------------

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        PREVIEWING THE KIT

        There is no doubt that every modeler has his favorites. So do I. One of them is Zero fighter. I love this aircraft so much, for many reasons. Anyway I decided that time had come for it, so I collected all the information needed, I studied them very carefully for 3 months, I planed my work method in purpose for a construction close to high levels this time.

        Before anything, I would like to thank for their various help in information material, my friends and excellent modelers, Thanos Mentzelopoulos and Costas Papageorgiou.

        Click on images below to see larger images

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        THE KIT

        Trumpeter’s kit was a mix of pleasant surprise and a great disappointment. For different reasons each one. When I first opened the box I was delighted with the mount of detail and the high quality. But when I start to organize the way of work, I discovered that the variety of detail was a disadvantage for me. Let you explain why.

        Deciding building this kit a modeler (according to my opinion) has two choices. A white and a black one!!! Either you build it OOB, adding the few necessary improvements such as pilot’s harness (only the cockpit area consist of more than 40  pieces!) and a few wires, or you have to begin an endeavour work of making an accurate Zero Mod. 21, throwing away the half of the parts!!! If you decided for the first level, you will build a very impressive model, high detailed in a very convincing result. It will WOW you anyway!!!! 

        Choosing the second level, (if you are a very experienced modeler, I’m sure of that), you will notice many under scale parts, especially in cockpit area, the fat detailed compact landing gear cabin, the wrong under cowling panel, and some mistakes on the main design of the aircraft.

        I’m not sure for the existence of any aftermarket improvement material for this kit, but speaking for my self only, I had not any choice except hard surgery work, and scratch building all the necessary points for my construction I did wanted for my result.

        These are all the basic changes and improvements must be done:

          1.. Correct the under Cowling engine’s panel by removing the extended lip that is out of profile. 
          2.. Cut off all the panels behind engine, till anti fire wall. Trumpeter already gives you gas and oil tanks so you can build a further view of accessory bay behind Sakae correcting the problem of the wrong 0-degree angle fuselage profile for the upper panels. 
          3.. Rebuild all the inner of wrong and fat landing gear cabin and improve the landing system mechanism. 
          4.. Correct the ending of the exhaust pipes. 
          5.. Reconstruct the “toy” Gun sight. 
          6.. In the cockpit keep only the pilot’s seat and its mounting, the instruments panel, the radio controls boxes, some correct control levers and the floor. All the other parts according to real cockpit views I decided to be reconstructed in purpose of an accurate result refueling your spares box with many useful items!!!

                
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        PAINTING

        I pay attention on painting, more than any other model in my life. I had to face the challenge of a factorial paint (red-brown primer over aluminum) and weathered enough at the end of war.

        I used GUNZE H-62, in two levels (one mixed with dust) and third color (first coat) Tamiya XF12

        For clipping, I tried a new method with the classic salt for “double clipping effect” as I had to “discover” the red-brown primer between aluminum and last …varnished color sun weathered. 

        A difficult “high risk “procedure. The result is a very realness surface!

        If you want to take a look at the hole progress, step by step with hundred of pictures, visit the model forum, which build for.

        http://www.modelclub.gr/forums/index.php?topic=5894.0

        Alex Kontiveis

        Click on images below to see larger images

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        Photos and text © by "Alex Kontiveis"e-mail: [email-masked]