Tamiya 1/32 A6M5 Zero (no curses)

[mz3]

I wasn't going to start this until the 1/48 was done. And seeing as how that is "done", time to start.










Not sure if I'm just a glutton for punishment, but I got the interior and engine Eduard PE kits, masks for canopy and markings, brass gun barrels and some 3d printed decals (which I'm very curious about.) No rivets!!! Proper paint!!! No dropping with five minutes of work left!!!!!!!!!

Ready, Fight!

[keavdog]

This should be fun to watch - I like all the added goodies. I've used 3d decals twice and I'm hooked, though it feels like cheating.

[jeaton01]

I'll be watching too. I have that one and the A6M2 like it but have forbidden any building of those until I have a complete run of 1/48 Zeros. I'm getting there, 8 done and 5 to go.

[406 Silverado]

I'll be in this one as well mz. LOTS of detail going into this looks like.

[kyledehart5]

Sign me up to watch this one too. This will be epic.

[deafpanzer]

You definitely have my attention... cooking up plenty of popcorn now!

[handiabled]

I'll be following this one!

[mz3]

Alright, here we go...




On a kit like this, I prefer to start with the engine. It has the most amount of work needed. I can always set it aside if I need to and work on another part of the kit.

I have to wait a few days to get some wire I bought. I don't have the small gauge I need for this and I want to make it looks as good as possible.

[mz3]

First step....




Drill out the small holes for lines. I went through the plastic to give me a little room to mess with the length of the wire. I can keep them a bit longer and adjust accordingly when I get to that point.

[kyledehart5]

Great start!! Good idea with the holes to allow the wiggle room. This is going to be good!!

[mz3]

It works well here because the cylinders are hollow.

[406 Silverado]

Still watching this one MZ.

[handiabled]

Aug 26, 2024 7:11:50 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Still watching this one MZ.

Me too! 

[mz3]

Once I finish the kit for the contest I'll get back to this.

I hit a small hiccup and just didn't want to be frustrated. Long story short, I want to use AK metal paint, but it took like 5 weeks to get the black base.

[kyledehart5]

I’m guilty of never using brand specific black bases. Just mr. hobby or Tamiya. Looking forward to seeing this back on the bench

[Real G]

Browsing around the forum I stumbled my way here.  By coincidence, I also have a Tamiya 1/32 Zero, but it's the A6M2 variant.  I think the Pearl Harbor guys in our local club brainwashed several of us into buying the kit when it came out.  I should get around to building it, as it is a gorgeous kit.  I was going to build one from the Hiryu, first attack wave, because I also got brainwashed into buying a kit of the Hiryu.

[mz3]

Aug 26, 2024 16:12:51 GMT -5 kyledehart5 said:

I’m guilty of never using brand specific black bases. Just mr. hobby or Tamiya. Looking forward to seeing this back on the bench

I'm pretty sure I could have gotten away with any gloss black. But I have another future project that I want to try this out on and figured test it here because most of it will be covered.

G build it, it's a great kit and falls together. I built it years ago, the only bad thing is the decals, they are a little thick.