Hasegawa A6M5

[stikpusher]

This was my most recent Axis aircraft build. It's the original Hasegawa Zero kit with raised detail. I had started it several years back but then it was sidelined. I added a bit of detail in the cockpit and used a mishmash of decals for the markings of one from a batch captured on Saipan in 1944 and returned to the US for flight testing. 

[Tobi]

Can't go wrong with a nice little Zeke.

[stikpusher]

Apr 26, 2023 7:57:32 GMT -5 Tobi said:

Can't go wrong with a nice little Zeke.

Thanks Tobi. No, you can’t go wrong with one 😉

[garydavis]

Looks Great stik! Cockpit detail is really good.

[stikpusher]

Thanks Gary. All the kit really needs in the pit is a new seat with harness and one of those new fangled IPs…

[TJ]

For the old tooling that came out great

[jeaton01]

It's a beauty, Carlos.

[Steve Zuleski]

That works for me, great job, Stik!

[406 Silverado]

I thought I'd already commented on this one Carlos.....but I guess I didn't.

I love these later A6M5 Zeroes. Maybe it's the colors that set it all off but they just look so menacing. Love what you've done with this one here bud. Very well built and detailed out. Looks good on the banner too.

[stikpusher]

TJ, John, Steve, & Joe, thank you for your kind words on this build.

TJ, the old tooling Hasegawa kits are pretty nice. If you don’t mind raised exterior detail, they are an economic alternative to the new tool pricey kits.

Joe, the early Zero’s were more sleek, but the later Zeros did look more menacing in their dark warpaint. Particularly like in this case when the white surrounds for the topside Hinomarus were painted over for better concealment. And thank you for putting this one up on the banner! It’s an honor!

[moparmadness]

Nice Zeke Stik. I still feel like some of these older Tamiya kits go together just as well as new kits.

[stikpusher]

Thanks Chad. The Japanese companies do nice work on Japanese subjects.

[Medicman71]

Very nice Stik!

[stikpusher]

Thanks Mike! Another shelf of doom save! I try to get at least one or two of those a year completed nowadays.

[Medicman71]

May 18, 2023 15:08:47 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

Thanks Mike! Another shelf of doom save! I try to get at least one or two of those a year completed nowadays.

Yeah that’s all I’m doing now. I’ve gotta clear them all from the shelf of doom. 

[buddho]

Gorgeous finish on the Zero. I love the carrier deck photo. 🤓

[stikpusher]

May 18, 2023 18:52:01 GMT -5 buddho said:

Gorgeous finish on the Zero. I love the carrier deck photo. 🤓

Thank you! It's an Eduard deck with Tamiya figures. My take on those wartime photos of the carrier send offs. 

[TJ]

May 17, 2023 22:07:09 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

Thanks Chad. The Japanese companies do nice work on Japanese subjects.

I totally agree with this. Hasegawa definitely got it right with the Japanese stuff. And I have a bunch

[Joe Rix]

Nothing like some top notch skills applied to an “oldie but goodie” kit. Very well done Stik. You done this proper.

[stikpusher]

Thank you Joe! I am more than content to build up an older kit and do my best with it.

[handiabled]

Great looking Zeke Stik!

[stikpusher]

May 26, 2023 8:18:05 GMT -5 handiabled said:

Great looking Zeke Stik!

Thank you! I’m happy to hear that you like it.