SPA Modeler

BlackSheep214 wrote:I did that kit. A note for you to be aware of.... Center belly tank is too big and visually, it doesn’t give the nose gear door enough room to properly open and close visually. Look at my thread in the Jets Group Build section...

Oooh i see what you mean.
I wonder is it too big or mounted too far forward on the pylon?

Not sure. I should have compared the belly tank from another 1/72 scale Viper kit I was doing in that Group Build.

Well, today I got in a good airbrush session and got the base colors applied. Tamiya XF-11 JN Green and XF-12 JN Gray thinned with Mr Levelling Thinner. And then I used Testors Enamel square bottle black on the cowling.





I’m gonna let it dry overnite, then I’ll mask off the wings to do the yellow leading edge ID stripe

Thank you Bruce. This is coming along nice and quick.

Which kit/scale is this Stik?

It’s this kit, 1/48 Hasegawa

So that's only the second issue of the 1/48 Hasegawa A6M5 from about 1983, Carlos, as I am sure you already knew. I sometimes forget how late Hasegawa started making airplanes in that scale. The oldest Hasegawa 1/48 A6M5 I have is from 1989, the fourth issue. It is in U S and British markings for the TAIC and the ATAIU intelligence units.

Yes I saw the family tree on Scalemates. I have another boxing of the same kit in my stash, before I knew that they were the same kit. Plus I have a later retooled Hasegawa A6M5 that offers a wing armament change option, the drum or belt fed wing cannons. Both kits have different marking options than this one.
It’s interesting that Hasegawa didn’t get into the 1/48 kit market until the early 80’s or so. Tamiya was there in the early 70’s after switching over from 1/50. And of course you also have Fujimi, Nichimo, and Otaki/Arii for other Japanese model companies that pre dated Hasegawa in 1/48 aircraft kits.

Looking good, Carlos!