Subject: Re: Mitsubishi A6M5c Zero Fighter Model 52
From: "Submissions for ARC" <[email-masked]>
To: "rai isdeman" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:17:19 -0700

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: rai isdeman 
  To: [email-masked] 
  Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 8:41 PM
  Subject: Mitsubishi A6M5c Zero Fighter Model 52

    
  "Tamiya 1/48 Mitsubishi A6M5c Model 52 Zero Fighter" 
  by "Rai"
  --------------------
        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here  

  Greetings from Singapore!!
  If you are into WWII aircrafts then, you must have the Zero in your collection. There are many Zeros out there. This being Tamiya's A6M5c Model 52. The 'c' version was the last of the Model 52 series. It had an improved and modified armament system. The typical 7.7mm machine guns in the cowling of the Zero were relocated to the wings where they were paired with two 20mm canons (1 pair in each wing). A 13mm gun was then installed in the cowling, taking up the right hand space. This gave the 'c' a much better punch than its preceding half-sisters. The 'c' can also carry four air-to-air rockets OR four 30kg air burst bombs OR two 60kg conventional bombs. 
   
  This is one of Tamiya's older kits, with raised lines. However, quality was still good - just what you expect from Tamiya. I re-scribed the lines which turned out to be much harder than anticipated to the point I regretted ever starting the dam exercise in the first place. Fitting was also good as I encountered no oversized gaps. The entire kit was build OOB as I was in a bit of a hurry to finish the kit before going on a short holiday with my CO (AKA the wife). The only non-in-the-box item added were the seatbelts from Eduard's IJN set
  Click on images below to see larger images
        Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 03.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 03.jpg  Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 04.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 04.jpg  Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 05.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 05.jpg  Steve Bamford will insert a click-able smaller version of photo 06.jpg here.  Clicking on that photo will bring up the full sized version of photo 06.jpg  

  I applied Tamiya X-11 Chrome Silver as the base coat which was later protected with a coat of Future. Since the kit came in green plastic hence difficult to spot blemishes, the silver was like a godsend. At this stage, several re-scribing was necessary before I applied the typical green top (Tamiya XF-11 JN Green) and grey bottom (Tamiya XF-12 JN Grey). Weathering was by sticky-tape and blade peeling before applying 2 coats of Future. 

  I decided to depict the kit as the one flown by ace pilot CPO Tanimizu Takeo, 303 Squadron/203 Flying Group, Kagoshima Air Base in 1945 (markings provided with the kit). Tanimizu survived the war - one of the few great IJN aces that lived through WWII - having accumulated 1425 flight hours (in Nates and Zeros) and credited with 32 victories
   
  I tried something new with the weathering. I used the Tamiya Weathering Master Set B to tone down the gloss finish you'll get with Future. I used a sponge-head applicator (similar to a Q-tip but with a sponge head) to apply 'snow' from the weathering kit directly onto the Zero, panel by panel. It dulled the finish and provided for some difference in tone without having to add a different coat of paint. It was tedious but worth it. Thanks to the brothers here, I tried for the first time the art of panel washing by using artist's oil paint. It was surprisingly easy to do and the effect looked great. Thank God I followed through with the re-scribing! 
          
        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 02.jpg here  

  On a more personal note, I am very thankful to the experts in ARC who posted their tips, odds and ends. It was tremendously helpful for me. I found myself trying their ideas on the kits I build. Sure as hell beat having to do research!! Thanks bros.
  Rai

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