In Box Review of Tamiya 1/48th Scale
Japanese Nakajima A6M2-N Type 2 "Rufe" Fighter
Kit no. 61017
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1973
Available from Section 8 Hobbies for $13.20, at Mega Hobby for $13.53, at Kit Linx for $13.19, at Spru Bros. for $13.49 and 2 guys on the web for $10.00 each.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1973
Available from Section 8 Hobbies for $13.20, at Mega Hobby for $13.53, at Kit Linx for $13.19, at Spru Bros. for $13.49 and 2 guys on the web for $10.00 each.
HISTORY:
The Nakajima A6M2-N (Navy Type 2 Interceptor/Fighter-Bomber) was a single-crew floatplane based on the Mitsubishi A6M Zero Model 11. The Allied reporting name for the aircraft was Rufe.
The A6M2-N floatplane was developed from the Mitsubishi A6M Type 0, mainly to support amphibious operations and defend remote bases.
It was based on the A6M-2 Model 11 fuselage, with a modified tail and added floats. A total of 327 were built, including the original prototype.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Interceptor/fighter-bomber floatplane
National origin: Japan
Manufacturer: Nakajima Aircraft Company
First flight: 7 December 1941
Introduction to service: 1942
Primary user: Imperial Japanese Navy
Number built: 327
Developed from: Mitsubishi A6M Zero
The Nakajima A6M2-N (Navy Type 2 Interceptor/Fighter-Bomber) was a single-crew floatplane based on the Mitsubishi A6M Zero Model 11. The Allied reporting name for the aircraft was Rufe.
The A6M2-N floatplane was developed from the Mitsubishi A6M Type 0, mainly to support amphibious operations and defend remote bases.
It was based on the A6M-2 Model 11 fuselage, with a modified tail and added floats. A total of 327 were built, including the original prototype.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Interceptor/fighter-bomber floatplane
National origin: Japan
Manufacturer: Nakajima Aircraft Company
First flight: 7 December 1941
Introduction to service: 1942
Primary user: Imperial Japanese Navy
Number built: 327
Developed from: Mitsubishi A6M Zero
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 "Rufe" flying over the ocean and a big shell burst in the water. Way in the back-ground there is a pale view of a ship and a Japanese Mitsubishi F1M "Pete" biplane floatplane.
The "Rufe" is overall light-grey with a black cowling and 2 white fuselage bands. The "Pete" is dark-green with 2 white fuselage bands.
One side panel shows a color side-view profile of a "Rufe" that is dark-green with a black cowling. It has yellow Y2-142 on the rudder. The top of it's rudder flap is white. This is followed by Japanese text and a color illustration of the pilot figure in 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 "Rufe" flying over the ocean and a big shell burst in the water. Way in the back-ground there is a pale view of a ship and a Japanese Mitsubishi F1M "Pete" biplane floatplane.
The "Rufe" is overall light-grey with a black cowling and 2 white fuselage bands. The "Pete" is dark-green with 2 white fuselage bands.
One side panel shows a color side-view profile of a "Rufe" that is dark-green with a black cowling. It has yellow Y2-142 on the rudder. The top of it's rudder flap is white. This is followed by Japanese text and a color illustration of the pilot figure in the kit.
The other side panel has color box-arts of 4 other Tamiya aircraft kits in 1/48th scale: a British H.S. Harrier GR. Mk. 1, a Nakajima Hayate "Frank", a Kawasaki Hughes H-500 helicopter and a Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero fighter.
No kit numbers are given for these 4.
No kit numbers are given for these 4.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
The kit contains 4 pale-grey trees and a clear tree in 2 stapled-shut clear cello bags, the decal sheet and 2 instructions.
The main instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 pages in 7" x 11" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the model made up. It is overall light-grey with a black cowling. It has a black code of YII-105 on the rudder and 2 white fuselage bands, over a lot of Japanese text.
Actually, the whole 2 instruction sheets are all in Japanese only.
Page 2 through 4 gives a grand total of 9 un-numbered assembly steps.
Page 5 gives a top view and 3 side views of "Rufe's" that are overall light-grey with black cowlings.
1. The box art scheme (already described above).
2. A "Rufe" with black tail code of a backwards letter E-180.
3. A "Rufe" with black tail code D-105 or you can make it D-101.
One side panel of a "Rufe", that is dark-green over a grey under carriage is illustrated, with a black tail code 36-104 is at the bottom of the page.
Page 6 has a top view of the "Rufe" in the green and grey scheme and 3 side views of the "Rufe" in that scheme.
1. A "Rufe" with no markings.
2. A "Rufe" with yellow tail code Y2-102 (the scheme shown on the side panel of the box (already described above).
3. A "Rufe" with black tail code YII-105.
No units are given for any of these.
The kit contains 4 pale-grey trees and a clear tree in 2 stapled-shut clear cello bags, the decal sheet and 2 instructions.
The main instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 6 pages in 7" x 11" page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the model made up. It is overall light-grey with a black cowling. It has a black code of YII-105 on the rudder and 2 white fuselage bands, over a lot of Japanese text.
Actually, the whole 2 instruction sheets are all in Japanese only.
Page 2 through 4 gives a grand total of 9 un-numbered assembly steps.
Page 5 gives a top view and 3 side views of "Rufe's" that are overall light-grey with black cowlings.
1. The box art scheme (already described above).
2. A "Rufe" with black tail code of a backwards letter E-180.
3. A "Rufe" with black tail code D-105 or you can make it D-101.
One side panel of a "Rufe", that is dark-green over a grey under carriage is illustrated, with a black tail code 36-104 is at the bottom of the page.
Page 6 has a top view of the "Rufe" in the green and grey scheme and 3 side views of the "Rufe" in that scheme.
1. A "Rufe" with no markings.
2. A "Rufe" with yellow tail code Y2-102 (the scheme shown on the side panel of the box (already described above).
3. A "Rufe" with black tail code YII-105.
No units are given for any of these.
The 2nd instructions sheet is a single-sheet marking and painting guide, printed on both sides in color on slick-coated paper in 10" x 10" format, folded to fit the box.
Trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions.
There is one letter A tree and three letter B trees.
Light-grey letter A tree holds: the upper wing halves, motor, figures, elevators, propeller, spinner, cowling, dashboard, seat, cockpit floor, bulkhead etc. (23 parts)
There is one letter A tree and three letter B trees.
Light-grey letter A tree holds: the upper wing halves, motor, figures, elevators, propeller, spinner, cowling, dashboard, seat, cockpit floor, bulkhead etc. (23 parts)
The 1st light-grey letter B tree holds: fuselage and large pontoon (4 parts)
The 2nd light-grey letter B tree holds the wings bottom (1 part)
The 3rd light-grey letter B tree holds: the small wing pontoons, beaching dolly parts and wheels, ladder, bombs, tailwheel etc. (25 parts)
The clear tree holds 2 alternate canopies etc. (6 parts)
The decal sheet completes the kit's contents.
Detail is engraved and the flaps are all molded solid.
Highly recommended.