Rocky's Tamiya 1/48 Mitsubishi A6M5/5a Zero Fighter (Zeke)

[SiDennis]

Hi all, this is my entry to 'The Rising Sun' GB.
I haven't done any modelling since the 100 Years of Bombers GB, lost my mo-jo for some reason, I am hoping this build will kick start it again.

HISTORY:

The Mitsubishi A6m Zero was the Japanese Navy's main fighter throughout the course of WW2. The Model 21 had many successes at the start of the war, the Model 32 with the 50cm shorter wings and more powerful 1,130hp Sakae 21 engine followed in April 1942. Despite having greater speed, the reduced range hindered operations and at the end of 1942, the 12m wingspan was reintroduced on the Model 22. However, the new U.S. aircraft such as the P-38 lighting and F4U Corsair were soon introduced in ever increasing numbers, and when the F6F Hellcat, which was superior to the Zero in nearly every way, was developed in the summer of 1943, the U.S. gained air superiority over the Pacific. Due to delays in the development of its replacement, the Zero was further refined to create the Model 52, which sacrificed manoeuvrability and range for the greater top speed of 565Km/h. It featured 50cm shorter wings with rounded wingtips, individual exhaust pipes, and was armed with two 7.7mm machine guns and two 20mm cannons. Further modifications such as thicker wing panels to withstand higher diving speeds and a larger capacity (125 rounds) belt-type cannon system resulted in the A6M5a in February 1944. About 6,000 Model 52s were produced al together, accounting for over half of the Zero's total production. The Model 52 first saw action during the closing stages of the Solomon's campaign in the autumn of 1943 and went on to fight in the skies above Marianas, Iwojima, Okinawa, as well as Japan itself, until the end of the war.













THE KIT:





















Off to make a start

[eightfooticeman]

I'm starting to wonder why I'm not building something for this GB. Anyway, can't go wrong with your pick and love the color photographs.