discussion Airfix 1/72 Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero

[flyjoe180]

As I had already built an Airfix A6M2b in the 'hemp' scheme, and a Hasegawa A6M5c in green and grey, I decided to do something a little different with my final Airfix Zero.

This particular aircraft was discovered languishing on Kara airstrip along with Japanese maintainers, and was taken as a war prize by personnel of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in September 1945. Deemed airworthy, it was test flown by a Japanese Navy pilot. Against orders to leave the aircraft where it was, Wing Commander W.R. Kofoed of the RNZAF flew the Zero to Piva Airstrip in Bougainville in the Solomon Islands Archipelago whilst wearing surrender markings. Most RNZAF personnel had never seen a Japanese fighter up close, so was a centre of intrigue at Piva.






Shipped to New Zealand, the Zero was later allocated the RNZAF military serial "NZ6000". Eventually it was deemed non-airworthy. After years of wearing spurious paint schemes and subsequent neglect, the aircraft was homed in the Auckland War Memorial Museum. In 1997 it underwent a substantial restoration and received an authentic paint scheme. Today ‘NZ6000’ still resides there, next to a Spitfire XIV.


The black & white photos are from the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum archives. The shot of the Zero in the museum is mine.

 

[flyjoe180]

The process of the build was per the instructions. Tony (@Yakface) is currently building one if you are curious about the build process.

The lower portions of the landing gear door were removed, and all armament drilled out. The aeroplane did not feature an antenna or have any radio equipment fitted. I painted it in the colours seen in the museum shot, then applied successive thin layers of white. The green surrender crosses were masked with tape.

I hope you enjoy my creation.

 

[flyjoe180]

 

[Steven000]

Nice one Joe, something very different indeed, cheers

 

[yak face]

Love this joe , a beautiful little build and rarely seen markings . Ive seen the Airfix Kate in the surrender markings too , makes a nice change. These little airfix 1/72nds are really hitting the spot for me lately and you seem to be on a red hot building streak - fantastic stuff , cheers tony

 

[Vaughan]

Very nice Joe and interesting subject and back story. Another great build and paint job. You are really churning them out. Waiting for the next finished build.

 

[Stefee]

Not my area of expertise but a lovely rendition of the aircraft.
May I ask why 1/2 the canopy frame is green and the other 1/2 white?

 

[Vaughan]

Joe forgot to say some great photos , which show the build off really well.

 

[Jim R]

That's a great result of an unusual subject. The two tone canopy is certainly different.

 

[flyjoe180]

Nice one Joe, something very different indeed, cheers

Cheers Steven, glad you like it

Love this joe , a beautiful little build and rarely seen markings . Ive seen the Airfix Kate in the surrender markings too , makes a nice change. These little airfix 1/72nds are really hitting the spot for me lately and you seem to be on a red hot building streak - fantastic stuff , cheers tony

Cheers Tony. It is a very enjoyable kit. I haven't seen the Airfix Kate in surrender markings.

Very nice Joe and interesting subject and back story. Another great build and paint job. You are really churning them out. Waiting for the next finished build.

Cheers Vaughan, I'm glad you like the background information and the Zero.

Not my area of expertise but a lovely rendition of the aircraft.
May I ask why 1/2 the canopy frame is green and the other 1/2 white?

Thank you. No idea why the canopy was only half painted, probably two men with two interpretations? Ran out of white paint? It is also unique in that the front end was not totally painted white. There were a lot of variations in the applied surrender schemes on a wide variety of Japanese aeroplanes in the Asia/Pacific theatre.

 

[flyjoe180]

Joe forgot to say some great photos , which show the build off really well.

Thanks again Vaughan. I take all my photos on my smartphone with the models sitting on a cheap cake stand.

 

[flyjoe180]

That's a great result of an unusual subject. The two tone canopy is certainly different.

Cheers Jim. Yes, it is unique, and makes a nice variation on my shelf against the others.

 

[colin m]

You've done it again Joe. A great finish and an interesting history.

 

[Lee Drennen]

Nice bird

 

[HAWKERHUNTER]

Another great build Joe. I would imagine at 1/72 that it was very small to work on.

 

[flyjoe180]

You've done it again Joe. A great finish and an interesting history.

Thanks Colin, glad it was of interest to you

Nice bird

Cheers Lee

Another great build Joe. I would imagine at 1/72 that it was very small to work on.

Cheers Steve. Yes, one of the smaller fighter kits that's for sure.