SUMMARY:
Hasegawa – While they do not have the detail nor refined engineering of the other two manufacturers, these are still good, solid kits. The main strength of the Hasegawa line is the variety of types offered – from the A6M1 to the A6M8, and everything in between. Weaknesses are the very basic cockpits and shallow wheelwells. Overall the shape looks good. The vertical fin is a little too broad in chord, but that is easily fixed. The cowling on their A6M2 is a bit small, which is noticeable when compared directly to the other manufacturers (see photo above, Hasegawa kit on the left). For many of the versions, a Hasegawa kit is still the best place to start.
Fine Molds – These are great kits, some of the best offered in our scale. Fine Molds kit the A6M2, A6M3 Type 32, and A6M5. They offer great detail and outstanding engineering. Their A6M2 kit has several options including open cowl claps, lowered landing flaps, open canopy, and wing tips which can be posed folded. The main drawbacks are price and their unique distribution method as bundles with two issues of Model Graphics magazine.
Tamiya – The Tamiya kits are every bit as nice as the Fine Molds kits, but in different ways. Asking which is best is like trying to figure out which Victoria’s Secret supermodel is the prettiest. The details are superb and the engineering allows the kits to just fall together. If I were looking to purchase new Zero kits today, the Tamiya A6M2 or A6M5s would be my first choices.
Aftermarket – I used three aftermarket parts on these builds. The Hasegawa kits all got True Details resin wheels, the Tamiya and Fine Molds wheels looked fine to me. All the kits received Eduard photoetch seatbelts, from set 73001. Eduard provides different style belts for the Mitsubishi and Nakajima-built aircraft – something I would not have caught otherwise. The center section of the canopies are all Squadron vacuforms, the other sections are kit parts. The front section of the Squadron canopies will not fit any of these three kits, even though they are intended to replace the Hasegawa parts. I also used the Eduard canopy mask set CX006, which saved a lot of time. Aviaeology supplied tailcode numerals, and Techmod supplied Hinomarus where needed.
Zero aces completed photos here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2021/04/29/fine-molds-nakajima-a6m2-zero-of-cdr-taketora-ueda-in-1-72-scale/
Oh wow!
…
Sludge wash?
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A sludge wash is a heavily-thinned acrylic with a few drops of dish soap. Flow it into panel lines, then wipe off the excess with a wet Q-tip. Best applied over a gloss finish as it is difficult to remove the excess on a dull finish.
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Merci Jeff. I will experiment… one day.
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Practice on a spare wing, I think you will like the effect!
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Another nice aspect of the Fine Molds kits, if memory serves, is that they offer two different spinners on the A6M2 kit as Mitsubishi and Nakajimi used spinners of slightly different lengths.
I still love looking at this batch build Jeff.
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Thanks Warren! There were several nuances with the FM kit, you’d have to be an A6M guru to sort them all!
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I don’t know why, but I just love A6M Reisen fighters from 1940-43.
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Jeff, your FM survey is incomplete and slightly inaccurate. Incomplete – FM also issued a A6M3 Type 22 and recently an A6M1. Slightly inaccurate – FM after doing the magazine releases, released the series in a subscription scheme. Weekly IIRC FM would issue Sprues so you could collect various parts without having to buy half or full kit. The subscription also included figures, airfield accessories, and the Hasegawa airfield trucks. Each issue also included a several page flyer/magazine. I used to buy issues in bookstores when I lived in Japan. I later found it easy to buy on Amazon.co.jp. Good times!
Regarding your survey, I agree with your assessment. I think the FM kits more detailed than Tamiya. I do enjoy the Tamiya more as they less fiddly.
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Tamiya also kitted an A6M3. I originally posted this WiP on the 72nd Scale Aircraft forum a few years back, but it didn’t weather the hosting changes and PhotoBucket shenanigans well. I should track down a kit list and add it to the post.
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Jbank, while we’re at it, FM issued an A6M2 Model 11 along with the A6M1. I remember the subscription with the figures. I got some, but wish I had more.
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Dang, FM does a good job with figures so they would likely be useful.
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Very impressive Jeff.
Cheers,
Pete.
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Thanks Pete!
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Jeff, while we’re talking Zeroes, no survey of the Hasegawa kits is complete without mention of the Gartex short run releases. These were basically Hasegawa plastic with resin additions to make more.obscure variants. ISTR an A6M8 and maybe a 2-seater. These were released in the mid-80s and were horrendously expensive at around $80 then. Needless to say I never purchased any. Way out of my price range. I still wonder what they were like.
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I remember they even did a -K trainer version, too. I’d really like to see Hasegawa release their Rufe again. Somebody re-boxed that one recently.
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I remember the Gartex A6M1 and a later mark that they produced. I’ve never heard of or laid eyes on the trainer/K-version. I’d like to build the latter, and I believe an Eastern European manufacturer (Pavla?) makes a resin conversion.
I looked for years for a reasonably priced Gartex A6M1, but when FM came out with theirs I snatched it up.
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So, would this be a “Warren” of zeros or maybe a “horde”? We will have to figure that out. Otherwise I am very impressed with your focus and results. The last time I did a multiple build I found I was treating the models like an assembly line. As in- just enough to get to the next step but not putting in the care I would with a single build. Not so for you – these planes all look great.
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Thanks Chris! I’m partial to a “clowder” or “glaring” after the Big Bang episode! I typically build in batches, I’ve done several groups of Fine Molds Bf 109s, and may yet do another.
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