Tora Tora Tora!

[Green KreationZ]

This build took roughly a year to complete and features 3 Imperial Japanese Navy aircraft involved in the assault on Pearl Harbor. 

I discovered this kit from Hasegawa around the fall of 2022 and had a pretty rough time tracking it down. It is a limited kit and had a very small run. Fortunately though, my wife was able to score one off Ebay and surprised me with it. I was initially drawn to the kit having all three planes in one. Especially the B5N2 Kate with the torpedo. At the time of discovering this kit, I had also been wanting to build an A6M2. The D3A1 was icing on the cake as I have a bit of nostalgia from using that plane in the video game Battlefield 1942 as a teenager.

Additionally, I purchased Eduard detail sets and mask for all three planes.









Since I just finished the A6M2 Zero this post will also feature glamour shots of it alone. The A6M2 was the final plane I needed to complete to call this build done. 

A6M2 Zero: 

















Interior:





Engine:





Carrier deck photos - These forced perspective photographs were taken on a 1:48 replica of the IJN carrier Hiryu (24”x36”) that I made. Background images were photoshopped in.























Completed build for D3A1: 

modelerssocialclub.proboards.com/thread/15459/d3a1-val-pearl-harbor-attack

WIP build thread for D3A1: 

modelerssocialclub.proboards.com/thread/15237/d3a1-val?page=1

Completed build for B5N2: 

modelerssocialclub.proboards.com/thread/15235/b5n2-kate-ijn-carrier-hiryu

WIP build for B5N2: 

Unfortunately there is not one on this site. Sorry! 

WIP build log for A6M2: 

modelerssocialclub.proboards.com/thread/15499/a6m2-zero-attack-pearl-harbor

Overall, I am satisfied with this offering from Hasegawa and am happy to have it on my display shelf. My one major gripe would be the decals provided. Majority of them are rather thick and brittle. I used all the decals for the B5N2 Kate, but decided to move away from them on the D3A1 and A6M2 when possible. Specifically I painted on the Hinomarus, and any type of stripe. 

[deafpanzer]

I really love how your Zero came out! It made me glad that I bought that Zero kit by Eduard because you have given me great tips how to build it. Thanks for doing the step by step WIP!

[Tojo72]

Great looking themed collection,the pics really bring them to life

[kyledehart5]

Absolutely wonderful result. And the trio looks fantastic together on the carrier deck. The Zero has my heart, but I really like all three of these and greatly enjoyed following along.

[plstcjunky]

Incredible background on the carrier deck, some look 99% real ! Great job with Photoshop!

[stikpusher]

Beautiful work on all three!

[project510]

Wow! Amazing work, and detail.

[tcoat]

[mrt51]

Wow! These look great!

[Green KreationZ]

Jan 14, 2024 16:35:40 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

I really love how your Zero came out! It made me glad that I bought that Zero kit by Eduard because you have given me great tips how to build it. Thanks for doing the step by step WIP!

Thank you for the kind words! I have an Eduard A6M2-N Rufe to do sometime after the FW 190 GB. I plan on opening the Rufe all the way up! 

[Green KreationZ]

Jan 14, 2024 16:52:09 GMT -5 Tojo72 said:

Great looking themed collection,the pics really bring them to life

Thank you! I’m glad you like the photos. I have become pretty infatuated with forced perspective photography to enhance the realism of my builds. 

[Green KreationZ]

Jan 14, 2024 17:45:20 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

Absolutely wonderful result. And the trio looks fantastic together on the carrier deck. The Zero has my heart, but I really like all three of these and greatly enjoyed following along.

Thanks for the ongoing support Kyle. The Zero is definitely a classic! 

[Green KreationZ]

Jan 14, 2024 17:45:55 GMT -5 plstcjunky said:

Incredible background on the carrier deck, some look 99% real ! Great job with Photoshop!

I appreciate the compliment. My goal is to make my builds as realistic as possible and I’m glad you think it’s 99% there! 

[Green KreationZ]

Jan 14, 2024 18:32:04 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

Beautiful work on all three!

Thank you! 

[Green KreationZ]

Jan 14, 2024 18:58:46 GMT -5 project510 said:

Wow! Amazing work, and detail.

Thank you James, I’m glad you like it! 

[Green KreationZ]

Jan 14, 2024 19:09:57 GMT -5 tcoat said:

[Green KreationZ]

Jan 14, 2024 22:00:35 GMT -5 mrt51 said:

Wow! These look great!

Thank you, I appreciate the compliment. 

[jeaton01]

Beautiful display, Keith!

[Tobi]

Splendid. I find the degree of wear and weathering on the Zeke is spot-on.

[TJ]

All 3 look fantastic.

[handiabled]

This has been wonderful watching the three birds on your carrier deck come to life. Together with the realistic deck you constructed they make a perfect display of Japanese air power circa 1941

[Green KreationZ]

Jan 15, 2024 1:16:36 GMT -5 jeaton01 said:

Beautiful display, Keith!

Thanks John! 

[Joe Rix]

Absolutely fantastic Keith. Each of your aircraft are beautifully done. And the setting as a whole is marvelous. I can't say enough about how good this really is. Spectacular effort my friend. Bravo!

[adt70hk]

Now they take are very, very nice indeed! Spectacular finishes!!!

Very well indeed!

Andrew

[Green KreationZ]

Jan 15, 2024 4:37:29 GMT -5 Tobi said:

Splendid. I find the degree of wear and weathering on the Zeke is spot-on.

Thanks Tobi! I was afraid I went slightly too far with the weathering, but after taking the photos - I like where it’s at. 

[Green KreationZ]

Jan 15, 2024 9:05:48 GMT -5 handiabled said:

This has been wonderful watching the three birds on your carrier deck come to life. Together with the realistic deck you constructed they make a perfect display of Japanese air power circa 1941

Thank you for the compliment and for following along the builds! 

[keavdog]

Great job. They look awesome on the carrier deck.

[Medicman71]

They all looks great! Very well done!!

[Green KreationZ]

Jan 15, 2024 13:20:09 GMT -5 Joe Rix said:

Absolutely fantastic Keith. Each of your aircraft are beautifully done. And the setting as a whole is marvelous. I can't say enough about how good this really is. Spectacular effort my friend. Bravo!

Thank you Joe, I appreciate the praise! 

[Green KreationZ]

Jan 15, 2024 16:37:50 GMT -5 keavdog said:

Great job. They look awesome on the carrier deck.

Thank you sir! Also, thanks for sending me the figures, they are much much higher detail than the offerings from Hasegawa.