In Box Review of Tamiya 1/48th Scale
Japanese Mitsubishi A6M5c "Zero" Fighter "Zeke"
Kit no. 6427
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1983
Available from Megahobby for $14.35, Kit Linx for $13.99 and a guy on the web for $15.00 and 10 places overseas on the web.
I paid $9.96 for my kit at Copar Hobby Shop in Pennsylvania in the 80's.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1983
Available from Megahobby for $14.35, Kit Linx for $13.99 and a guy on the web for $15.00 and 10 places overseas on the web.
I paid $9.96 for my kit at Copar Hobby Shop in Pennsylvania in the 80's.
HISTORY:
In April 1939, shortly after the first Japanese Zero began test trials, modification drawings were already taking place on the Zero in the Mitsubishi design room, to keep pace with the anticipated long air war in the Pacific.
After the initial superiority of the Zero over Allied aircraft began to wain, due to new U.S. aircraft types being introduced, Mitsubishi was hard pressed to maintain a superiority.
The introduction of the Grumman F6F and Chance Vought F4U provided a need for more firepower, armor protection and capability led the combined companies of Nakajima and Mitsubishi to produce the A6M5 series of aircraft.
Total production of the Type 52 series consisted of 10,449 aircraft, of which Nakajima produced 6,570. It first entered combat in August 1943, at a time when the Japanese forces were withdrawing from previously held islands in the South Pacific.
The type 52c was the last of the A6M5 series, and the most effective against Allied aircraft due to its armament configuration, which was three of 13mm machine guns and two 20mm cannons.
A total of 93 type 52c Zeros were produced by Mitsubishi, and an unknown number by Nakajima. However, many of the type 52 and 52b Zeros were field modified to "C" weapons configuration. The 7.7mm machine guns, housed in the cowling of the Zero since its first introduction, proved to be less effective during the latter stages of the conflict, due to the heavier armor protection of Allied aircraft, and their self-sealing fuel tanks.
The 13mm weapon was greatly more effective. However, due to its increased weight, only one of them could be housed in the cowling and one in each wing. The 7.7mm machine guns were removed from the cowling and one 13mm was mounted on the right hand side.
This installation also made necessary the enlarging of the right hand projectile exit and cowling tube input of the cowling, giving it an unbalanced look when viewed from the top.
Code name "Zeke" by the Allies, the type 52c was powered by a 14-cylinder, twin-row, NK1F Sakae 21 engine of 1.130hp, of which later versions were alcohol injected. In addition to the engine, guns and cannons, the 52c could also carry four air to air rockets or four 30kg air bombs or two 60 kg air to ground conventional bombs.
The air to air systems were initiated in an attempt to disrupt B-29 operations by firing the rockets or dropping the small bombs on the formations. The bombs were times to airburst a certain number of seconds after release from the fighters.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Engine: 14 cylinder, twin-row NK1F Sakae 21
Wing span: 11,00m
Length: 9,060m
Height: 3,509m
Max speed: 540 km/h
Armament: two 20mm cannon and three 13.2mm machine guns
In April 1939, shortly after the first Japanese Zero began test trials, modification drawings were already taking place on the Zero in the Mitsubishi design room, to keep pace with the anticipated long air war in the Pacific.
After the initial superiority of the Zero over Allied aircraft began to wain, due to new U.S. aircraft types being introduced, Mitsubishi was hard pressed to maintain a superiority.
The introduction of the Grumman F6F and Chance Vought F4U provided a need for more firepower, armor protection and capability led the combined companies of Nakajima and Mitsubishi to produce the A6M5 series of aircraft.
Total production of the Type 52 series consisted of 10,449 aircraft, of which Nakajima produced 6,570. It first entered combat in August 1943, at a time when the Japanese forces were withdrawing from previously held islands in the South Pacific.
The type 52c was the last of the A6M5 series, and the most effective against Allied aircraft due to its armament configuration, which was three of 13mm machine guns and two 20mm cannons.
A total of 93 type 52c Zeros were produced by Mitsubishi, and an unknown number by Nakajima. However, many of the type 52 and 52b Zeros were field modified to "C" weapons configuration. The 7.7mm machine guns, housed in the cowling of the Zero since its first introduction, proved to be less effective during the latter stages of the conflict, due to the heavier armor protection of Allied aircraft, and their self-sealing fuel tanks.
The 13mm weapon was greatly more effective. However, due to its increased weight, only one of them could be housed in the cowling and one in each wing. The 7.7mm machine guns were removed from the cowling and one 13mm was mounted on the right hand side.
This installation also made necessary the enlarging of the right hand projectile exit and cowling tube input of the cowling, giving it an unbalanced look when viewed from the top.
Code name "Zeke" by the Allies, the type 52c was powered by a 14-cylinder, twin-row, NK1F Sakae 21 engine of 1.130hp, of which later versions were alcohol injected. In addition to the engine, guns and cannons, the 52c could also carry four air to air rockets or four 30kg air bombs or two 60 kg air to ground conventional bombs.
The air to air systems were initiated in an attempt to disrupt B-29 operations by firing the rockets or dropping the small bombs on the formations. The bombs were times to airburst a certain number of seconds after release from the fighters.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Engine: 14 cylinder, twin-row NK1F Sakae 21
Wing span: 11,00m
Length: 9,060m
Height: 3,509m
Max speed: 540 km/h
Armament: two 20mm cannon and three 13.2mm machine guns
THE KIT:
Tamiya is an old prolific model company based in Shizuoka, Japan. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped, tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Zero just taking off above the clouds and folding its landing gear. It is green over a light-grey under-carraige, with black cowling and yellow wing leading edges. It has a yellow circle above a white 32-56 on the rudder.
There are black stickers on the end flaps with white lettering on them them with Model Rectifier Corp. said to be located in Edison, NJ. They were the U.S. importer/distributor for Tamiya kits in the 80's.
At the top of the box art it says the model makes up to be 190mm long with a wingspan of 229.2mm once built. Modeling skills helpful if under 10 years of age.
One side panel shows a color profile of a Zero in the same colors as the box art subject. It has a white serial no. 03-09 on the sides of the rudder and 6 victory markings behind the fuselage roundel that are the U.S. roundels of a blue circle with a white star on them.
This is followed by a paragraph in Japanese and a color illustration of the inside of the cockpit and Tamiya's address in Shizuoka, Japan.
Tamiya is an old prolific model company based in Shizuoka, Japan. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped, tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Zero just taking off above the clouds and folding its landing gear. It is green over a light-grey under-carraige, with black cowling and yellow wing leading edges. It has a yellow circle above a white 32-56 on the rudder.
There are black stickers on the end flaps with white lettering on them them with Model Rectifier Corp. said to be located in Edison, NJ. They were the U.S. importer/distributor for Tamiya kits in the 80's.
At the top of the box art it says the model makes up to be 190mm long with a wingspan of 229.2mm once built. Modeling skills helpful if under 10 years of age.
One side panel shows a color profile of a Zero in the same colors as the box art subject. It has a white serial no. 03-09 on the sides of the rudder and 6 victory markings behind the fuselage roundel that are the U.S. roundels of a blue circle with a white star on them.
This is followed by a paragraph in Japanese and a color illustration of the inside of the cockpit and Tamiya's address in Shizuoka, Japan.
Other side panel shows another color side profile of a Zero in the same colors as the other two. It has two white vertical fuselage bands and yellow serial no. of 03 over 79 on the rudder. Followed by a paragraph in Japanese and 2 color box arts of other aircraft kits that Tamiya manufactures. Both are different box arts of Zeros, with no kit numbers or scales given for them. I assume they are to 1/48th scale. Tamiya's address is repeated again and kit was made in Japan.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 3 dark-green trees and a clear tree in 2 stapled-shut clear cello bags, the decal sheet, 2 instructions and a color kit catalog.
The 2 instructions are identical except for the languages. One is in English and the other all in Japanese.
Both are single-sheets that accordion-fold out into 6 pages in 7" x 11" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the model made up in the box art scheme, over the Zero's history, with 2 small illustrations of Zero type 21 and type 32.
Page 2 has general instructions down a left hand column. From the right side of the page to page 4 there are a total of 10 assembly steps.
Pages 5 & 6 are the marking and painting instructions.
Page 5 has a 3-view of the box art subject (already described above).
Page 6 has 6 side profiles of Zeros, all are in dark-green over grey under-carriages, with black cowlings.
1. A Zero with white serial no. 32-57 on the rudder, aluminum spinner.
It was with the 332nd Fighter Group, Nauru Air Base, Dec. 1944.
2. A Zero with yellow serial no.252-51 on the rudder and a red-brown spinner.
It was with the 316th Squadron, 252nd Flying Group, Kokubu Air Base, May 1945.
3. A Zero with white serial no. 03-09 on the rudder and a green spinner.
It was with the 303rd Squadron, 203rd Flying Group, pilot CPO Tanimizu, Kagoshima Air Base, June 1945.
4. A Zero with yellow serial no. 3D-135 on the rudder and a red and aluminum spinner.
It was with the 1st Squadron, 302nd Flying Group, Atsu Gin Air Base, August 1945.
5. A Zero with a yellow serial no. 03 over 79 on the rudder, two diagonal white fuselage bands, red-brown and aluminum spinner.
It was with the 203rd Flying Group, Ohmura Air Base 1945.
6. A Zero with yellow serial no. of a Japanese character -1118 on the rudder, with a red-brown and aluminum spinner.
It was with the Genzen Flying Group, Genzen Air Base 1945.
Trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions. The have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees.
Dark-green letter A tree holds: propeller, engine, cowling, figures (6 of them are standing and waving their caps), cockpit floor, landing-gear legs and pants, elevators, wheels, dashboard, seat etc. (44 parts)
This kit holds 3 dark-green trees and a clear tree in 2 stapled-shut clear cello bags, the decal sheet, 2 instructions and a color kit catalog.
The 2 instructions are identical except for the languages. One is in English and the other all in Japanese.
Both are single-sheets that accordion-fold out into 6 pages in 7" x 11" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the model made up in the box art scheme, over the Zero's history, with 2 small illustrations of Zero type 21 and type 32.
Page 2 has general instructions down a left hand column. From the right side of the page to page 4 there are a total of 10 assembly steps.
Pages 5 & 6 are the marking and painting instructions.
Page 5 has a 3-view of the box art subject (already described above).
Page 6 has 6 side profiles of Zeros, all are in dark-green over grey under-carriages, with black cowlings.
1. A Zero with white serial no. 32-57 on the rudder, aluminum spinner.
It was with the 332nd Fighter Group, Nauru Air Base, Dec. 1944.
2. A Zero with yellow serial no.252-51 on the rudder and a red-brown spinner.
It was with the 316th Squadron, 252nd Flying Group, Kokubu Air Base, May 1945.
3. A Zero with white serial no. 03-09 on the rudder and a green spinner.
It was with the 303rd Squadron, 203rd Flying Group, pilot CPO Tanimizu, Kagoshima Air Base, June 1945.
4. A Zero with yellow serial no. 3D-135 on the rudder and a red and aluminum spinner.
It was with the 1st Squadron, 302nd Flying Group, Atsu Gin Air Base, August 1945.
5. A Zero with a yellow serial no. 03 over 79 on the rudder, two diagonal white fuselage bands, red-brown and aluminum spinner.
It was with the 203rd Flying Group, Ohmura Air Base 1945.
6. A Zero with yellow serial no. of a Japanese character -1118 on the rudder, with a red-brown and aluminum spinner.
It was with the Genzen Flying Group, Genzen Air Base 1945.
Trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions. The have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees.
Dark-green letter A tree holds: propeller, engine, cowling, figures (6 of them are standing and waving their caps), cockpit floor, landing-gear legs and pants, elevators, wheels, dashboard, seat etc. (44 parts)
There are 2 dark-green letter B trees.
The first one holds: wings, bomb, seat etc (9 parts)
The second one holds: fuselage, drop tank, seated pilot figure, exhaust pipes, cowling flaps, fire wall, air intake etc. (21 parts)
The first one holds: wings, bomb, seat etc (9 parts)
The second one holds: fuselage, drop tank, seated pilot figure, exhaust pipes, cowling flaps, fire wall, air intake etc. (21 parts)
The clear tree holds an open and closed version canopy (4 parts)
The decal sheet and catalog complete the kit contents.
Parts fit the box tight in all 4 directions.
Detail is engraved. Flaps are all molded solid.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.