Hasegawa 1/72 Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero Type 22 "Rabaul"

HASEGAWA 1:72 MITSUBISHI A6M3 ZERO TYPE 22 "RABAUL"
'INBOX Review'

Reviewer: Carlos Giani (carlos_giani2002@yahoo.de)

Aircraft: In an effort to improve the A6M2 Zero fighter's performance, Mitsubishi installed a 1113HP sakae 21 engine with a two speed supercharger and larger Hamilton Standard propeller, and designed it the A6M3. A more rounded and slightly larger cowling was installed, with the carburettor intake at the top. To increase manoeuvrability and help compensate for the added weight of the engine, the folding wing tips were removed and fired over. This version is known as the type 32. The new engine used very little more fuel at cruise, but considerably more during combat than the Sakae 12 engine. The clipped wing increased speed only slightly and the climb rate was reduced somewhat, along with its turning radius. Only 343 type 32s were produced, and they saw service in the Solomon Island campaign.

In early 1942 it was decided to restore the wing tips and folding mechanisms. Extra fuel was added to each wing and this version is known as the type 22. It preceded the earlier type 32, but was held back because of type 32 production. The type 22 had the longest range of any Zero version produced, and was superior to the 32 in all respects. 560 type 22 Zeros were produced, and also served during the Solomon campaign.

Parts: In a standard top-opening box first of all you get 53 bagged medium grey parts, distributed among 5 sprues. The reason for this is Hasegawa's policy to cover the types 11, 21 and 22 Zero versions using some common sprues, while the specific parts are supplied in smaller sprues (i. e. in this subject you get one sprue with just the cowling, and another sprue with just an extra lower wing). 8 parts won't be used for this kit, and they are clearly identified in the instruction's sprues layout. In a second bag you get the decals sheet and the canopy, this having fine framing and being very transparent. The parts are crisp molded, very little flash is present, panel lines are finely engraved and surface detail is excellent, as you would expect from newer Hasegawas.

Construction offers no surprise to Hasegawa „connoisseurs“. Basic cockpit consisting of floor with molded-on pedals, seat , control stick, rear bulkhead (I should rather write „rear framing“) and instrument panel with decal (to big, as usual). This is trapped between the two fuselage halves, and an extra piece constitutes the front fuselage cover, due to the molded-on machine gun's barrels. A little surgery must be done at the fin's rear edge substituting a cut-out with a new piece put on, the cutting lines being finely engraved on the inner side of the fins (molded integrally in each fuselage half).

Three piece wing, two-row radial engine slid into the cowling, two 1-piece stabilizers, well detailed gears struts, wheel bay doors consisting of three pieces each, two-halves extra fuel tank with molded-on pylon and some „tiny fittings“ round up the whole thing. The only unusual feature is the propeller, which consists of separate blades. They (fortunately!) don't but-match a resin hub, but a circular plate via pin and hole, and are then covered by the fairing; the blades and the fairing are version-specific.

Instructions: Classical Hasegawa fold-out paper sheet, containing brief history in Japanese and English, general information /recommendations, sprues layout, color chart in Gunze / Mr. Color numbers, 9 easy-to-follow construction steps and colouring /decaling four-view diagram for two exemplars. Detail color codes are throughout given.

Versions: Two versions, both assigned to the Rabaul Flying Group on 1943, the codes being (7-101) and (4-125) Upper surfaces „Mitsubishi dark green“ (?), lower surfaces „Mitsubishi green“, this obviously being a printing error since the corresponding Gunze color (N° 61) is „IJN grey“ *

Decals: A small sheet, with good-register roundels, unit numbers and a few stencilling. They look good.

Detail: As stated above, extensive and well executed.

Options: Although the wheel wells (which are enclosed and have structural detail) are too shallow to accommodate the wheels, I presume that the bay's doors will fit snugly if you build a wheels-up subject. There are no other options.

Impressions: Looks great, and having read Mr. Hudak´s and Mr. Papworth´s reviews, I'm sure this kit will also build up nearly „shaken-out-of-the-box“.

Recommendations: A good chance for an easy, stress-free quality build, maybe between a couple of short-runs or so. Recommended to every skill level.

(*) My old Humbrol cross-chart matches this with N° 146 Gloss Aircraft Grey, which seems too dark to me. Both the IPMS Stockholm and Mark's (SMAKR) cross-reference charts match IJN grey with Humbrol 147, a much lighter shade than 146.

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