1/72 Mitsubishi Zero

[RangerNeil]

The "Kate" was looking lonely being the sole meat ball amongst all else so I thought I'd do it a stable mate. Managed to find an Airfix Misubishi Zero on eBay and it came today.


Can anyone spot the wee problem?


I contacted the seller and, credit where its due, the chap issued an immediate refund without wanting it returned. I managed to find a 1/72 Tamiya version for the same price, never tried a Tamiya aircraft kit before so something new. Meantime I'm pondering how I can possibly fix this - obviously a short-shot moulding. I'm thinking maybe a piece of plastic card sculpted/sanded to the profile of the other side and blended with some filler??

[digger303]

Sounds like a plan plus of course the scribing new panel lines.
or you could take a mold of the Tamiya kit tail and make a resin replacement.

[RangerNeil]

Sounds like a plan plus of course the scribing new panel lines.
or you could take a mold of the Tamiya kit tail and make a resin replacement.

Now theres a thought!!! I'll get the calipers out when the Tamiya one gets here, make sure the two fuselages have the same profile and if they are ( this IS a very early Airfix kit after all!!) I'll give the moulding a try.
Till then I'm having a play with scrap plastic card and filler to see what I can do.

[RangerNeil]

Quick update - I found another Zero, the newer moulding and decals for £5 so grabbed that and built it. The old one remains on the "in progress" shelf pending inspiration.

The new one is complete now - eagle eyed viewers will note the damaged wing decal on one side. Rather than being a "U" shape these were one piece, I'd just got the first one in place and was smoothing the air bubbles out when a visiting Greyhound (my daughters) came in, decided it was cuddles time and stuck a cold wet nose on my arm making me jump and thus lift the decal and twist it. If I'd have tried to straighten it further it would have shredded. So it stands as a lesson to close doors when theres a visiting Houndie.....


I need to clean the canopy off and try to repaint it as the finish is awful.

[digger303]