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  #1  
Old 01-02-2023, 12:42 PM
georgerutherford1861 georgerutherford1861 is offline
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1/72 Nobi Modified Tainan Ku A6M2

Happy New Year everyone!

I have been working on this one for a while, still have a ways to go but felt like posting a progress report.

This model started as Nobi's A6M5, which I attempted to modify to get an A6M2 for earlier in the war. At first I thought this would only mean modifying the wings for greater wingspan, but then I also found it would need a modified cowl as well. So, this is the result so far, with the A6M5 for comparison.

This aircraft was ditched outside of Milne Bay on August 27, 1942. Having just received Michael John Claringbould's Navy Zero profiles book at Christmas, I found that this aircraft had previously been F-130 with the Number 4 Ku, and therefore the tail numbers should be thinner. Also, apparently I have the aircraft manufacturer stencils too far back and I am missing some stenciling on the wing upper surfaces as well. Oh well, lots of lessons learned.

I am pretty proud of the reshaped cowling, it is not entirely complete yet because there is a scoop at the bottom of it that I have to add. Now, it is back to work to finish up the tail (there are fairings that wrap around the base of both the horizontal and vertical stabilizers), the cowling, the cockpit, and then the drop tank and landing gear.

Doug
Attached Thumbnails
1/72 Nobi Modified Tainan Ku A6M2-img_7401.jpg   1/72 Nobi Modified Tainan Ku A6M2-image0.jpg   1/72 Nobi Modified Tainan Ku A6M2-image1.jpg   1/72 Nobi Modified Tainan Ku A6M2-image2.jpg   1/72 Nobi Modified Tainan Ku A6M2-image3.jpg  

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  #2  
Old 01-02-2023, 01:28 PM
Don Boose's Avatar
Don Boose Don Boose is offline
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Happy New Year, Doug!

Excellent modification and build. Many thanks for the historical background info.

Had New Year's Eve/Anniversary dinner with Jim and Katherine Di Crocco (it was also the day after Jim's birthday). Jim and Katherine had just returned from a month-long trip to Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. Jim sends greetings. As mentioned previously, he now teaches the Pacific War Strategy elective and graduate seminar and is nearly finished with the final chapter of his thesis.

Don
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Old 01-02-2023, 05:02 PM
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Rata Rata is offline
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So far so good Doug.
That overall grey of the early IJN aircraft always eluded me as a plastic modeller. Apparently there was more than one shade depending on the manufacturer.
I always fell back on the old modelling maxim: If it looks right then it probably is right.
And yours certainly looks right!

Garry G
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  #4  
Old 01-03-2023, 10:35 AM
georgerutherford1861 georgerutherford1861 is offline
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Thanks for the comments.

Don, glad to hear that Jim is just about complete with his thesis, having the elective to look forward to will hopefully be nice and relaxing for him.

Garry, my moderate dive into IJN aircraft colors became a bit bewildering, and I was only sticking a toe in the water so to speak. I ended up just putting all my faith into purchasing a pdf on the subject called "Painting the Early Zero-Sen" available on Aviation of Japan 日本の航空史: Painting The Early Zero-Sen - PDF e-guide It does give a good color that sort of ends up being a chameleon depending on the lighting. And the beauty of a card model is that I did not have to mix up any paints to try and match it!

Doug
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Old 01-03-2023, 12:24 PM
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Don Boose Don Boose is offline
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Doug -

That Aviation of Japan painting guide looks like an exellent reference. I am going to try to get a copy. Until then, I rely on the late Jim Lansdale's "Zero Camouflage Schemes" Zero Camouflage Schemes by James F. Lansdale

As for actually capturing what Zero designer Horikoshi Jiro called hairyokushoku ("dimly-shining ash green"), I figure if it's light gray with a greenish tannish tint, it's probably in the ball park.

Don
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Old 01-03-2023, 01:43 PM
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That's a great modification and build!
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Old 01-03-2023, 05:09 PM
RyanShort1 RyanShort1 is offline
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If I recall correctly, this was a fun and good build over a decade ago.

Mitsubishi A6M2 - 21 Zero by Emil Zarkov :: ModelArt :: Card Models :: ZarkovModels Store
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  #8  
Old 05-22-2023, 10:36 AM
georgerutherford1861 georgerutherford1861 is offline
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This one is finally complete, after 14 or 15 variations on the air intake under the cowling.

This one comes with my usual removable landing gear (using thin gauge floral wire). For the actual landing gear these are inserted into rolled paper tubes that are glued into place inside the wings. One of the pictures shows these removed.

Anyway, I had a lot of fun with this one, even if my modifications were a bit of a struggle the stock parts went together quite smoothly.

Now, to finish my 2nd Lou Coatney Shiratsuyu destroyer before hopefully moving on to an early VMF-124 Corsair.

Doug
Attached Thumbnails
1/72 Nobi Modified Tainan Ku A6M2-img_8194.jpg   1/72 Nobi Modified Tainan Ku A6M2-img_8195.jpg   1/72 Nobi Modified Tainan Ku A6M2-img_8198.jpg   1/72 Nobi Modified Tainan Ku A6M2-img_8201.jpg   1/72 Nobi Modified Tainan Ku A6M2-img_8204.jpg  

1/72 Nobi Modified Tainan Ku A6M2-img_8203.jpg   1/72 Nobi Modified Tainan Ku A6M2-img_8199.jpg   1/72 Nobi Modified Tainan Ku A6M2-img_8202.jpg   1/72 Nobi Modified Tainan Ku A6M2-img_8200.jpg   1/72 Nobi Modified Tainan Ku A6M2-img_8197.jpg  

1/72 Nobi Modified Tainan Ku A6M2-img_8196.jpg  
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  #9  
Old 05-22-2023, 10:48 AM
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Michael Mash Michael Mash is offline
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Very cleanly crafted.
Well done.
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  #10  
Old 05-22-2023, 12:46 PM
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Don Boose Don Boose is offline
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Excellent work, Doug!

I am glad to see V-130 completed.

Don
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