HASEGAWA 1:72 MITSUBISHI A6M8 TYPE 54/64 ZERO
'INBOX Review'

 

Reviewer: Johan De Wolf  (rec.models.scale)   

Kit Details

History

Most modelers will be aware of the history of earlier Zero versions, but this last one is less well known. I certainly never heard of it until I stumbled upon this box. All through its development the Zero gained more weight through added armor and heavier armament. It never got a bigger engine though. After the relative ineffectiveness of the A6M5c and A6M6c the Japanese Navy finally realized that a more powerful engine was needed if the Zero was to keep up with the new allied fighters. So it gave permission to install the 1500hp Kinsei 62 engine. Due to the larger diameter of this engine a new cowling was fitted. Partly because of this and partly to safe weight, the fuselage guns where omitted The carburettor intake was enlarged and a bigger prop was fitted with a larger spinner. Wing armament stayed the same as on the type 52. The wings itself were modified to be able to carry two 150l drop tanks. This freed the fuselage centerline for installing a 500kg-bomb mounting. Two prototypes where completed in April 1945. Flight-testing revealed no serious problems but the oil cooling system was revised. Top priority was given to a production order for 6300 machines but none was completed before the end of the war.

The kit

Packed in a familiar Hasegawa box you will find a bag with 5 grey sprues, a bag with the resin parts and a bag with the white metal prop. The clear parts are bagged together with the decals and a further two bags with the etched parts and white metal cannons barrels. The injection-molded parts show a little flash here and there, but have crisp detail. The canopy is thin and very clear. The resin parts are bubble free but a bit less crisp than the plastic parts. A slight rub down is needed for the white metal parts, to get rid of the mould seam. The etched parts are of high quality, as are the decals. The fit of the parts is excellent. The clear instructions are in the usual Hasegawa style and leave no questions.

Accuracy

The dimensions are spot on. Others before me have already commented on great accuracy of the new mold Hasegawa Zeros. This one is no different because it is basically an A6M5 with a new engine. However I have not been able to find a picture of the M8 version so I can’t comment on the new engine. Although the new engine is not that much bigger, the finished model surely looks like a Zero on steroids. The new engine spoils the thoroughbred lines of the previous versions, and makes the aircraft look a lot more potent and menacing.

Construction 

No points given for guessing what’s first. The cockpit is made up of a floor with molded-on side console and rudder pedals, a stick, a seat, the rear bulkhead and an instrument panel. The only details on the floor are no less than 5 ejector pin marks (tsk tsk tsk Mr. Hasegawa). There is no detail on the cockpit walls either but again two, this time slight, ejector marks. On the drawing, the instrument panel is shown without the gun breaches. This is correct. However the kit part still has the breaches molded on, so cut them off. There are decals for the side console and instruments. Why the etched set doesn’t contain seatbelts is beyond me. A missed chance if you ask me. Next the fuselage is closed up and the deck in front of the cockpit can be added. Don’t forget to remove both gun barrels here. The engine is still the same as in the A6M5 kit and it looks decidedly too small in the new cowling. Although the larger spinner covers up most of the front, you still might want to look for an after market Kinsei. The wings and landing gear are as per M5 kit. The bomb is made up out of a resin body with etched fins and detonators. It will look very good. The drop tanks are also resin parts. Finally the metal prop, the canopy and various other bits and pieces can be installed.

Painting and Decals

Colour calls are in Aqueous Hobby Color, Mr. Color numbers and generic term only. No FS or other, more widely available, references. Over here, where neither of these paintbrands is available, this is a bit of a problem.

Painting details are given throughout construction. The decal sheet gives two options: Markings for the second prototype, and fictitious markings for a what-if machine based with the Yokosuka aircorps. Both machines are painted in dark green over pale grey (green?), with a black cowling and a brown prop.

Conclusion

Another fine Hasegawa kit. The only thing missing from the Zero line now is an A6M1. I know there was a kit by Gartex but its difficult to find and even without the collectors’ value it costs its weight in gold. Talking about price, this Hasegawa kit is not exactly cheap either, and for this price I would have expected a little more cockpit detail.

References

 

SMAKR Home  |  What's New  |  Submissions  | Information Requests |  News  |  Links  |  Reference Corner  |  Site Info 
1/72 Reviews  |  1/48 Reviews  |  INBOX Reviews