SPA Modeler

I've been looking forward to this GB since it was first suggested, so here's my first entry - My first Japanese aircraft; Airfix's 1/72 A6M2 Zero.



Picked up for £5-00, this seems to be a nicely detailed little kit with three sprues...



I know a lot of people have commented on the deep panel lines of this earlier generation of NT Airfix kits, but honestly, in my experience with them they look a lot better under some paint and shouldn't be anything to worry about.



I was going to get an AM decal set for this kit, as I prefer the overall greeny-grey scheme used at the time of the attack on Pearl Harbour, however as this little kit contains Cartograf decals it'd be a shame to waste them, so I'll go with the box scheme - at least it's nice and colourful!



The canopy is one piece, but as this'll be oob with the pilot, I doubt you'd see anything if I left it open anyway!

I've also ordered a MIG/AMMO (or whatever they're bloody called these days!) IJN paint set. I'd have rather had an Hataka set, but they don't make one. I just hope these paints are okay.

Anyway - on with the build!

Cheers!

I will enjoy watching this one. The quality of the new Airfix kits is pretty nice. Even Cartograph decals on this one! So you sure can have a nice build with what comes in the box.

This is going to be fun to watch. Bring it on Stuart!

Thanks Gents - I think it'll be fun.

Alas I've been painting the Living room today, along with working, so no progress to report - yet.

Looks like a fun build. Oddly enough and not related, I'm building my first Japanese plane since I was 19 or so - a Tamiya Raiden and I have a zero in the stash. I did the same thing you did and pulled the trigger on all the correct paints so may be more in the future (there's a new RUFE coming )

That's cool - I've seen the Raiden thread and looking forward to seeing it finished.

I think getting a set might just be easier than faffing about trying to match - I'll probably end up doing more IJN aircraft anyway

Great choice! Great a/c, too.

What was your old screen name on here?

Um, well when I started it was Portman, however I can't remember if it was anything else before you changed it to Stuart. Dare I ask why?b

Yeah, that’s it! For some reason I could not recal what it was.

I know how you feel about not getting started as soon as you want to. I'm still trying to sort through all the spare parts I have and get them all organized into containers to make them easier to find.

Hopefully soon.